The player may consider his ball unplayable anywhere on the course, unless the ball is in a water hazard. Whether his ball is unplayable is solely the player's decision.
If the player considers his ball to be unplayable, he must, with a penalty stroke
(a) play a ball as close as possible to the spot from which the original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5); or
b) drop a ball any distance beyond the point where the ball was located, which point must be in a straight line between the hole and the point where the ball is dropped; or
c) drop a ball no closer to the hole within two club-lengths of where it was lying.
If the unplayable ball is in a bunker, the player may follow a, b or c of this rule. If he proceeds according to b or c, a ball must be dropped in the bunker.
If the player follows this rule, he may pick up his ball and clean it or use another ball.
PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULES:
Hole play - Hole loss; Counting play - Two strokes.
Status: 2018