16
USGA certified rules expert Marcella Smith tackles one of golf’s most commonly misunderstood situations: what happens when your ball disappears into the trees. In this short rules quiz, she explains whether you’re actually required to go looking for it — and what your options are if you’d rather not.
Marcella Smith – Know The Rules
When your ball lands in a patch of trees or thick bushes, the last thing you might want to do is go in after it. Marcella Smith breaks down the rules clearly, explaining the stroke and distance option and why the decision you make is final once taken.
Key Takeaways
You are not required to search
You are not required to search
If your ball goes into an area you’d rather not play from, you can choose immediately to play again under stroke and distance — no searching required.
Stroke and distance is final
Once you’ve put another ball into play under stroke and distance, you cannot change your mind, even if someone then finds your original ball in a more playable position.
The correct terminology matters
The ball you’ve decided not to play is not called “lost” and you cannot say you’re “abandoning” it — you are simply playing again under stroke and distance from the spot of your last shot.
Next time your ball heads for the trees, remember you have a clear choice: search or don’t search, but once you drop and play under stroke and distance, that decision stands. This video is ideal for golfers at any level who want to feel confident about the rules when a shot goes astray.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
