Skip to content

Rule 16.1f

No play zone

Also searched as: NPZ, environmentally sensitive area, protected area, green-topped stakes

A part of the course where the Committee has prohibited play. A no play zone is always part of either ground under repair or a penalty area.

Clubs set up no play zones to protect wildlife, plants and sensitive areas, such as young trees, flower beds or newly seeded areas, or to keep players out of danger. They are usually marked with green-topped stakes: blue with green tops for ground under repair, red or yellow with green tops inside a penalty area.

Your stance and swing count too. If your ball is outside the zone but you would have to stand or swing in it, you must not play that way. Take relief where the Rules allow it, or deem the ball unplayable. If your ball is in a penalty area in that case, you may, as an exception, drop without penalty inside the same penalty area.

The term was introduced with the new Rules in 2019. Before 2019 clubs protected such areas with Local Rules.

Step by step

  1. 1In the general area. Free drop within one club-length of the nearest point of complete relief.
  2. 2In a bunker. Free drop in the bunker, or back-on-the-line relief outside the bunker for one penalty stroke.
  3. 3On the putting green. Place the ball at the nearest point of complete relief without penalty.
  4. 4In a penalty area. No free relief. Take relief from the penalty area for one penalty stroke.