What happens if your ball hits a tree and comes back?

The situation

You hit a shot into the trees and it ricochets straight back at you — landing near your feet, hitting your body, or bouncing off your bag. You're not sure if there's a penalty for any of this.

The rule

Hitting a tree is a normal part of golf. Under Rule 9.1a, the ball is played from wherever it comes to rest. No penalty for the ricochet itself. If the ball bounces back and accidentally hits you, your caddie, or your equipment, Rule 11.1a applies: still no penalty. Play the ball from wherever it finishes. The only situation involving a penalty would be if you were standing in the ball's path in a way that seemed deliberately designed to stop it — but a genuine ricochet that catches you by surprise is fully accidental and completely fine.

Real example

You punch a shot at a tree 30 yards ahead. It comes straight back, hits your shin, and drops a yard in front of you. No penalty — play your next shot from where the ball stopped. Count the stroke you made hitting the tree as one shot. Your ball is now a yard in front of you.

What to do on the course

• Count the stroke and play from where ball ended up — even if it's behind you
• No extra penalty for the ball hitting you on the way back
• If the ball ricocheted back and went out of bounds or into a penalty area, those rules apply from the new position
• There is no "replay" option just because the ricochet was unlucky

Penalty

No penalty. Play the ball from where it came to rest.