Rules question · Rule 19.2a · Hard
Unplayable ball: can I go back to the tee?
Your second shot ends up in a dense bush, and you decide the ball is unplayable. Neither back-on-the-line nor lateral relief gives you a usable spot. May you go back to the teeing area for one penalty stroke?
Answer
No, stroke-and-distance relief only takes you to where your last stroke was made
With stroke-and-distance relief you play from where your last stroke was made, here the spot of your second shot. You cannot go back any further. If nothing else works, you can take lateral relief several times, adding one penalty stroke each time.