Rules question · Rule 17.1e · Expert
No play zone interferes with your stance in a penalty area: is there free relief?
Your ball lies in a red penalty area at the edge of a reed bed that the club has marked as a no play zone. The ball itself is outside the no play zone and is easily playable. To take your stance, though, you would have to stand in the no play zone. What is the ruling?
Answer
You may take free relief within the penalty area or penalty relief outside it for one stroke
If a no play zone interferes with your stance or swing, you must not play the ball as it lies, even if the ball itself is outside the zone. You have two options: penalty relief outside the penalty area for one stroke, or free relief within the same penalty area. For free relief, you drop within one club-length of the nearest point of complete relief, not nearer the hole. If the ball itself lies in the no play zone, this free option does not exist.
Based on: Rule 17.1e(2)