During the first round of the Turkish Airlines Open, a Rolex Series Event on the European Tour, Matt Wallace’s golf ball became stuck in a tree on the 15th hole of the The Montgomerie Maxx Royal Golf Course. But what happens if your golf ball gets stuck up a tree?
It all depends on whether or not you can identify your golf ball.
If the golfer CAN identify their golf ball, then they can take “Unplayable Relief” under Rule 19 of R&A’s Rules of Golf, which is one penalty stroke.
Rule 19 covers the player’s several relief options for an unplayable ball. This allows the player to choose which option to use – normally with one penalty stroke – to get out of a difficult situation anywhere on the course (except in a penalty area).
If a golfer does take relief, they can take stroke-and-distance relief, which means they have to take the ball back-on-the-line of relief under Rule 19.2b.
The golfer can also opt to play the ball from its original position, again at the cost of a stroke.
However, if a golfer CANNOT find their ball, they must play another ball from where the previous stroke was taken and adding one penalty stroke under Rule 18.2.
