Preferred or improved lie is allowed through the green (the whole area of the course except teeing ground, putting green and penalty areas). The ball may be lifted, cleaned and placed within 12 inches, no nearer the hole. USGA makes no distinction between rough and fairway.
In any rocky area or heavily rooted area that is not considered a penalty, where clubs could be damaged and the ball is playable, the lie of the ball can be improved by one club length not nearer the hole.
If a ball lies behind a tree, except for small staked trees, free relief is not granted, but the lie of the ball may be improved twelve (12) inches, no closer to the hole, with no penalty.
Our league has relaxed the rules where there is a penalty area that crosses the course. If you hit your ball into the penalty area, you may Play It Forward across the area within 2 club lengths of the hazard. Take a one stroke penalty.
● Ground under repair
● Mulch areas
● Your ball accidentally hits another player’s ball: Move the ball back to its original spot. Your ball remains where it ends up.
● Occasional Water: Water Standing on Course: Take free relief (no penalty) until the ground does not feel “squishy” under your feet and you are no longer in the water. Try not to go more than 2 club lengths and not nearer the hole.
● If the ball is in water in the bunker, move it clear of the water, but not out of the bunker, without penalty. Do not ground club.
● Grounded Club: You can ground in a penalty area, but not a bunker.
● Man Made Obstructions
○ Metal boxes, and birdhouses and yardage marker bases are temporary immovable obstructions. Free relief for stance, swing and line of sight. Pull the yardage markers out so they are not in the way. No penalty.
○ Ball on Cart Path: Free relief of swing and stance. When you take relief both your ball and your feet must be off the path. No penalty.
● Ball is in penalty area marked with red or yellow stakes
● Ball on bridge
● Moving ball in bunker except if ball is moved out of standing water
● Player hitting the wrong ball on the fairway.
● Ball out of bounds (white stakes), unless a player takes “stroke and distance”.
● Ball in the bunker - You may take the ball out of the bunker and place it behind the bunker in line with the flag, with a two stroke penalty. The lie of the ball can be improved no more than one club length from the edge of the bunker.