Rules question · Rule 17.3 · Medium
Ball embedded in a penalty area: do I get free relief?
Your ball is embedded in its own pitch-mark in the soft bank inside a red penalty area. What may you do?
Answer
Play it as it lies or take penalty relief from the penalty area for one penalty stroke
There is no free relief for an embedded ball in a penalty area. The same applies to abnormal course conditions and to an unplayable ball. Your only relief is under Rule 17 for one penalty stroke.