Quiz Time | Relief or Racket?

The Final Word – Did You Ace It?

1. Tuft Trouble

Question: You find your ball perched atop a tuft of grass in the general area, but there’s an old gum nut underneath. Can you remove it before playing your shot?

Answer: Yes, loose impediments can be removed anywhere on the course, except in specific restricted areas, and even if under your ball, as long as the ball does not move.
R&A Rule Reference: Rule 15.1 – Loose Impediments

2. Provisional Predicament

Question: You hit your tee shot into some dense bushes, and you’re not sure if your ball is lost outside a penalty area or out of bounds. What must you do before playing another ball to avoid penalty?

1. Play a provisional ball before you search
2. Search for up to 5 minutes before deciding
3. You can play a ball from anywhere if you think it’s lost
4. Announce your intent after you find the ball

Answer: A. You must play a provisional ball if you think your original ball might be lost outside a penalty area or out of bounds — and you want to save time and avoid penalty if the original ball can’t be found. If you don’t, and the ball is lost or out of bounds, you must go back and replay the original shot with penalty strokes added.

R&A Rule Reference: Rule 18.3 – Provisional Ball

3. Wetlands Woes

Question: Your tee shot slices into the wetlands marked with red stakes/line. What are your playing or relief options?

1. Replay from the tee (stroke and distance)
2. Drop within two club-lengths of where the ball crossed into the penalty area (lateral relief)
3. Take back-on-the-line relief (drop behind entry point, any distance back)
4. All of the above

Answer: D. All of the above — red stakes or lines indicate a lateral penalty area and allow all three relief options (each with a one-stroke penalty), plus you may play the ball as it lies if possible.
R&ARule Reference: Rule 17.1 – Relief from Lateral Penalty Area