No-play zones: Sample court rules
Question how to proceed
A player hits his tee shot, the ball comes to rest 50cm in front of a protected biotope (red/green) in the terrain (semi-rough).
The player cannot stand or swing in the direction of the flag due to the prohibition of rescue, although he could chip back sideways.
There are no unusual space conditions around the ball position.
Rule 16.1b is recommended "if permitted".
Does this mean that "if permitted" there must be exceptional space conditions, if there are no exceptional space conditions Rule 16.1b is not permitted? (i.e. no free drop)
"Allowed" means if his ball came to rest outside the no-play zone and he is hindered by it either in his stance or swing.
Possibilities for defining no-play zones -- see the sample court rules
A no-play zone is a defined part of unusual court conditions (see Rule 16.1f) or a penalty area (see Rule 17.1e) from which play is not permitted.
A player must claim relief if
-his ball is in a no-play zone, or
a no-play zone interferes with his intended stance or swing when playing a ball outside that zone (see Rules 16.1f and 17.1e).
E-8 Establishing no-play zones
Purpose: There may be parts of the court from which the management wishes to prohibit play. In this case, each of these areas must be treated as either an "unusual court condition" or a "penalty area".
The match management may use no-play areas for any reason, for example
- to protect game, animal habitats and biotopes,
- to prevent damage to young trees, flower beds, sod gardens, sod-covered areas or new plantings,
- to protect players from danger,
- to protect historically or culturally significant sites.
See sections 2G and 5B(5) for more information on no-play zones and how they should be marked.
Unusual court conditions: Model court rule
"The area marked with [specify how the area is labelled, for example, posts with green heads] is a no-play zone to be treated as an unusual court condition. If obstructed by the no-play zone, non-penalised relief must be claimed in accordance with Law 16.1f."
Penalty area model court rule
No-play zone Penalty Area Hole 4 (see Hard Card point 3) Entering and playing prohibited!!!
"The area in the red penalty area, marked by red stakes with green caps on hole 4, is a no-play zone. If the ball comes to rest in the no-play zone in the affected penalty area, the ball may not be played and the player must take relief with a penalty stroke in accordance with Rule 17.1d or 17.2.
If the ball is outside this no-play area and the player's stance or swing would be affected by this no-play area, the player must take relief under Rule 16.1b, c or d without penalty, if permitted.
E-9 Defining the out-of-bounds area as a no-play zone
Purpose: Although a player may not play a ball out of bounds, there may be areas in the out-of-bounds area that the referees designate as no-play zones, for example, to prevent players from damaging something growing in the area and interfering with the play of a ball on the court. In this case, the player must take relief without penalty if his ball is on the court but the space of his intended stance is out of bounds in the no-play zone or if his swing touches something in the no-play zone.
Model court rule E-9
"[Describing an out-of-bounds area to be treated as a no-play zone] is a no-play zone and the player must take penalty-free relief under Rule 16.1f(2) if his ball is on the court and something in the no-play zone interferes with the player's intended stance or swing. The player may not play his ball as it lies.
E-10 Protection of young trees
Purpose: To prevent young trees from being damaged by a player's shot, the referee may declare them a no-play zone. A player must claim non-penalised relief under Rule 16.1f if he suffers any kind of obstruction as described in Rule 16.1 from such a tree declared a no-play zone.
- If the player's ball is in a penalty area, he must either take penalty relief under the court rules within the penalty area or take a penalty stroke under Rule 17.1. Such trees should be identified by stakes, ribbons or in some other clear way.
If the tree has grown in size and no longer requires this protection, the court management should cancel the court rule and/or remove the identifying stake or tape from the tree.
Sample court rule E-10
"The young trees marked by [describe marking] are no-play zones:
- If a player's ball lies anywhere on the court other than in a penalty area and lies against or touches such a tree, or such a tree interferes with the player's stance or intended swing, the player must claim relief under Rule 16.1f.
- If the ball is in a penalty area and such a tree obstructs the player's stance or the space of his intended swing, he must either take relief with a penalty stroke under Rule 17.1e or relief without penalty under Rule 17.1e(2).
But also under this restriction:
No relief if it is clearly unreasonable to play the ball or interference is solely because a player chooses a club, stance or direction of play that is clearly unreasonable in the circumstances.
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