Measuring Two Club-Lengths Isn't Itself A Rules Violation
By Staff Writer
2 min read
Key takeaways
- Measuring two club-lengths is not itself a breach of the Rules of Golf.
- Two club-length lateral relief applies to unplayable-ball drops under Rule 19 and red-penalty-area drops under Rule 17.1d, both under penalty of one stroke.
- Free relief from an abnormal course condition or immovable obstruction allows only one club-length from the nearest point of complete relief, with no penalty.
- Playing from outside the correct relief area carries a general penalty under Rule 14.7a: two strokes in stroke play, loss of hole in match play.
Whether measuring two club-lengths instead of one costs a golfer a penalty depends entirely on which kind of relief they were taking, not on the act of measuring itself.
When does a two club-length drop apply?
A two club-length lateral drop is correct procedure in two situations. Under Rule 19, a golfer taking an unplayable ball, a ball lost in a bush, for example, can drop within two club-lengths of the original ball's spot, no closer to the hole, under penalty of one stroke. Under Rule 17.1d, a ball in a red penalty area allows the same two club-length lateral drop, measured from the estimated point where the ball crossed the edge of the penalty area, also under penalty of one stroke.
When is only one club-length allowed?
Free relief changes the measurement. Relief from an abnormal course condition or an immovable obstruction is measured at one club-length from the nearest point of complete relief, with no penalty stroke attached. Measuring two club-lengths in that situation and dropping within it is not itself a breach — the rules only penalize what happens next.
The act of measuring is not a breach of a golfing rule; playing from the wrong place is.
If a ball dropped under free relief lands within the correct one club-length area and is played from there, there is no penalty even if the golfer initially measured out two club-lengths. The general penalty under Rule 14.7a — two strokes in stroke play, loss of hole in match play — applies only if the golfer then plays a shot from outside the correct relief area, whichever length that area was supposed to be.
Frequently asked questions
Is it a penalty to measure the wrong number of club-lengths?
No. Measuring itself is not a rules breach. The penalty, if any, comes from playing a shot from outside the correct relief area.
What is the penalty for playing from a wrong place under Rule 14.7a?
It's a general penalty: two strokes in stroke play or loss of hole in match play.
When can a golfer take a two club-length drop?
For an unplayable ball under Rule 19, or for a ball in a red penalty area under Rule 17.1d — both under penalty of one stroke.
How far can a golfer drop for free relief?
One club-length from the nearest point of complete relief, with no penalty stroke.
- rules of golf
- unplayable ball
- red penalty area
- free relief
- rule 14.7a
- club-length relief
