What happens if I take lateral relief for an unplayable ball in the trees?

Yes, you can take lateral relief. Drop your ball within two club-lengths of the reference point — the spot directly under your ball if it's up a tree — not nearer the hole, and add one penalty stroke.

How lateral relief works when your ball is in a tree

When you declare your ball unplayable in the trees, Rule 19.2c lets you drop within two club-lengths of the reference point. If your ball is sitting up in a branch, the reference point isn't the ball itself — it's the spot on the ground directly below it. Measure two club-lengths from that spot on the ground, not from the tree trunk or the branch. Your relief area can be in any part of the course — fairway, rough, even a bunker or penalty area — as long as it's not nearer the hole than that reference point.

Dropping and where the ball must stay

Drop from knee height anywhere in that two club-length relief area. The ball must first hit the ground inside the relief area and come to rest inside it. If the two club-length arc crosses into different areas of the course — say, part fairway and part rough — the ball has to stay in the same area where it first touched the ground. So if it lands in the rough, it can't roll out onto the fairway. One penalty stroke gets added to your score for taking this relief.

What if the drop doesn't give you a playable shot?

There's no guarantee the relief area will be better. If your dropped ball ends up in a terrible lie — back in the trees, in a bush, or even the same spot — that's your new situation. You can take unplayable ball relief again, but it'll cost you another penalty stroke each time. You're not stuck with the first drop, but every re-do adds a stroke.

Exceptions that change the answer

• You use a wheeled mobility device → The lateral relief area expands to four club-lengths instead of two (Rule 25.4m).
• You haven't found your original ball → You can't use lateral relief — you must take stroke-and-distance relief instead (Interpretation 19.2/5).

Frequently asked questions

My ball is stuck in a tree. Where do I measure the two club-lengths from?

Measure from the spot on the ground directly below where the ball lies in the tree — that's your reference point under Rule 19.2c.

Can I drop my ball in a bunker when taking lateral relief from the trees?

Yes. The relief area can be in any area of the course, including a bunker or penalty area, as long as it's not nearer the hole than the reference point.

What if my dropped ball rolls out of the two club-length area?

Re-drop. If it rolls out again after two drops, place it where it first struck the ground on the second drop.

Do I have to find my ball to take lateral relief?

Yes. You must know the exact spot of your original ball to use lateral relief. If you haven't found it, your only option is stroke-and-distance relief.

How many penalty strokes for lateral relief?

One penalty stroke. Add it to your score for the hole.