oltimer
Assistant Pro
Is it One or Two club lengths from entry point from this no play area, - as a red area it seems to be two but as a no play area just One.
The DefinitionIs it One or Two club lengths from entry point from this no play area, - as a red area it seems to be two but as a no play area just One.
clearly current local rules out of date, many thanks for detailed response, much appreciatedYour red stake area is a penalty area. As you say it is a "no play area", it must also a No Play Zone. That should be defined in your Local Rules. (There are no longer areas called ESA. Any area you wish to prohibit play from for whatever reason has to be defined as a No Play Zone (NPZ).
A NPZ must be in either an abnormal course condition (such as GUR) or a penalty area and mandatory relief is taken according to which - 16.1b for abnormal course conditions or 17.1d for penalty areas. As your NPZ is in a penalty area, you have three relief options: 1) stroke & distance, 2) back on the line or 3) lateral. For 1), the reference point is the spot from which you made your last stroke and the relief area is one club length (teeing area rules apply if your last stroke was from the teeing area). For 2) the reference point is where your dropped ball first touches the ground and the relief area is one clublength. For 3), the reference point is where the ball last crossed the edge of the penalty area and your relief area is two club lengths.