Determining Area of Course Where Ball Lies

The area of the course where a player’s ball lies affects the Rules that apply in playing the ball or taking relief.

A ball is always treated as lying in only one area of the course:

-If part of the ball is in both the general area and one of the four specific areas of the course, it is treated as lying in that specific area of the course.

-If part of the ball is in two specific areas of the course, it is treated as lying in the specific area that comes first in this order: penalty area, bunker, putting green.

The General Area

The general area covers the entire course except for the four specific areas of the course described in Rule 2.2b.

It is called the “general area” because:

- It covers most of the course and is where a player’s ball will most often be played until the ball reaches the putting green.

- It includes every type of ground and growing or attached objects found in that area, such as fairway, rough and trees.