What happens if my ball is deliberately deflected from the fairway?

When a player or their caddie deliberately stops or deflects your ball in motion from off the putting green — and the ball would have come to rest in the general area — Rule 11.2c(1) applies. You estimate that spot, drop within one club-length no nearer the hole, and the deflector incurs the general penalty (two strokes in stroke play, loss of hole in match play). This differs from spectator interference (Rule 11.1b), where no one is penalized and you simply place the ball at the estimated spot.

How to take relief

First, decide where the ball would have stopped if it hadn't been hit or stopped on purpose. That reference point must be in the general area — fairway, rough, or any other part of the course that isn't a penalty area, bunker, or putting green. From there, measure one club-length no nearer the hole and drop. The ball must stay in the general area after the drop; if it rolls into a bunker or penalty area, re-drop once, then place where it first struck the ground on the second drop.

Penalty for the person who deflected it

The player (or their caddie) who deliberately deflected or stopped the ball gets the general penalty: two strokes in stroke play, loss of hole in match play. This applies even if the deflection happened off the putting green and the ball was heading for the general area. The penalty is separate from your relief — you still drop as described above.

Exceptions that change the answer

• Match play and the ball had no reasonable chance of being holed → The concession or tie-hole rules (Rule 3.2a(1) or 3.2b(1)) apply instead of Rule 11.2c, so no penalty under this Rule.
• The ball was moving in temporary water or a penalty area and you lifted it for relief → No penalty for lifting the moving ball (Rule 10.1d Exception 3).
• Someone deliberately moves the flagstick to affect a ball in motion → That is covered by Rule 11.3, not Rule 11.2c.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to find the exact spot where the ball would have stopped?

No. Use your best judgment to estimate the spot in the general area where the ball would have come to rest. That estimate becomes your reference point for the one-club-length relief area.

What if my estimated spot is in a bunker or penalty area?

Rule 11.2c(1) only applies when the ball would have stopped in the general area. If it would have stopped in a bunker or penalty area, a different rule (11.2c(2) or 11.2c(3)) applies instead.

Can I clean the ball before dropping?

Yes. Whenever you take relief under Rule 11.2c, you may clean the ball before dropping it.

What if the person who deflected it was my opponent in match play?

Your opponent gets loss of hole. You still estimate the spot and drop in the general area as normal.

Does it matter if the deflection was by a spectator or outside influence?

Rule 11.2c only covers deliberate deflection by a player, caddie, or someone attending the flagstick. If an outside influence (spectator, animal) deliberately deflects it, Rule 11.1b applies — you drop at the estimated spot with no penalty to anyone.