Rules Center Ball Found in Tree LookingUp

Dear John: What am I supposed to do when my ball gets hung up in a tree (see pictures)?

We’ve all experienced our ball taking off, straight for the trees. Sometimes we get down there, looked around, and do not see the ball. Then, we look up....

So, what now? You always have the choice of playing the ball as it lies, which is exactly the route Sergio Garcia decided to take back in 2013 during the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Garcia scaled the tree, identified his ball, and the made the bold decision to play it as it lies. He then got a club and proceeded to backwards one-handed knock the ball out of the tree.

Now before you decide to give this a try yourself, be wary that it did cause some soreness and pain for Garcia’s shoulder, which ultimately led to his withdrawal from the championship. Also, keep in mind the sturdiness of the tree you are looking at before you think you can climb it. So maybe think twice before making your decision.

Taking a different route for a similar situation was Patrick Reed in the Dubai Desert Classic just this year. Though there is some controversy over the entire situation (why marking and identifying your ball correctly is so important), Reed decided scaling the tree to hit was not an option and ultimately declared the ball unplayable. He continued his play of the hole under Rule 19.2c - Lateral Relief, taking a one-stroke penalty under the rule.

There are still more options of relief besides the two taken here in these examples. In fact, you ultimately have 4 options to proceed playing the hole. Read the excerpt from Let’s Get It Right to learn more.

John explains all of your relief options -->

Dear OutOnALimb: Nice Shot! This situation looks relatively straightforward. The player finds a ball nine feet above the ground and identifies it via their mark on the ball. Or, maybe another player or spectator actually saw the ball go there (Clarifiaction 7.2/1). He or she may play the ball as it lies with an improvised stroke. Alternatively, the player may declare the ball unplayable with the following options per Rule 19.2:

1. Stroke-and-Distance Relief (Rule 19.2a), playing from the spot of their previous stroke under penalty of one stroke. If from teeing area, anywhere within the teeing area and the ball (or another ball) may be teed (Rule 14.6a). If from the general area, a penalty area, or a bunker, the ball (or another ball) must be dropped and played from within the same area, no nearer the hole and within one club-length of the spot of the previous shot (Rule 14.6b). If the spot isn’t known, it must be estimated.

2. Back-on-the-Line Relief (Rule 19.2b) with no limit as to how far behind the ball the the player may drop the ball on the course, dropping and playing the original ball (or another ball) on any area of the course , agaain with a one-stroke penalty.

3. Lateral Relief (Rule 19.2c), dropping and playing the original ball (or another ball) within two club-lengths of a reference point on the ground directly below the ball, no nearer the hole, and on any area of the course with a one-stroke penalty.

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