Ball line Hole

Question: What to do if a ball dropped in the correct manner comes to rest outside the relief area.

It is recommended to mark the reference point when dropping the ball in the area of the BALL - HOLE line. If this is not done (probably predominantly in amateur tournament golf), the following explanation can be found in the rule book:

If the player drops a ball without having chosen this point, the point on the line at the same distance from the hole as the place where the dropped ball first touched the ground is treated as the reference point.

I would interpret this as follows: If the dropped ball first touches the ground exactly on the ball-hole line, this is clear. If the ball comes to rest in the relief area, it is in play. If it rolls only slightly closer to the hole, the ball must be dropped a second time with the reference point - first contact with the ground - from the first drop.

Rule 14.3c(2) applies in principle
(2) What to do if a ball dropped in the correct manner comes to rest outside the relief area.
If the ball comes to rest outside the relief area, the player must drop a ball a second time in the correct manner. If this ball again comes to rest outside the facilitation area, the player must complete the facilitation procedure by placing a ball according to the procedures for placing a ball back in Rules 14.2b(2) and 14.2e as follows:

-The player must place the ball at the spot where the ball dropped for the second time first touched the ground.
-If the dropped ball does not lie in this place, the player must place the ball in this place a second time.
-If the ball dropped for the second time again does not stop at the spot, the player must drop a ball at the nearest spot where the ball stops, subject to the restrictions in Rule 14.2e.

Facilitation back on the line: Playing a ball from outside the facilitation area.
There is a sample court rule E - 12 for this purpose
In a back-on-the-line relief, there is no additional penalty if a player plays a ball that has been dropped in the relief area prescribed by the relevant rule (Rule 16.1c (2), 17.1d (2), 19.2b) or 19.3b), but the ball came to rest outside the relief area as long as the ball is within one club length of the place where it first touched the ground when it was dropped.

This exemption from the penalty also applies if the ball is played closer to the hole than to the reference point (but not if it is played closer to the hole than to the location of the original ball or to the estimated point at which the ball last crossed the relief area).

This Model Course Rule E - 12 does not alter the procedure for claiming back-on-the-line relief under a relevant rule. This means that the reference point and relief area is not changed by this Model Court Rule and that Rule 14.3c (2) can be used by a player who drops a ball in the correct manner and comes to rest outside the relief area.

Short form of the Model Court Rule E - 12
Ball played from outside the relief area when Back On the Line Relief is taken: Pattern Pitch Rule E-12 is in effect.

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