Penalty strokes off the tee

[Husband]

I know this should probably go in the ruling section, but I'm also looking for each of your thinking when re-hitting the dreaded tee shot that you muffed into the woods.

Do you have the choice of a re-hit or a drop, regardless of the hole?

A couple scenarios to consider...

1) Teeing off on a par 5, my drive goes OB. It seems more beneficial to drop at the last point where the ball was in bounds, and be hitting my 3rd shot from (hopefully) a couple hundred yards closer to the hole.

2) Teeing off on a par 3, my shot goes into the OB behind the hole. Do I have to re-hit from the tee box or can I drop behind the green just within the OB line? Again, it seems smarter to be hitting 3 from a few dozen yards from the hole rather than again from the tee box.

2b) What if there is a defined drop area? Do I have to use the drop area?

Also, to mix it up... do you re-hit the same club or do you guys reconsider and lay up?

Thanks!

[DenisO]

This game would be A LOT easier if we could drop at the point of entry when it goes into white staked OB As far as I know, you hit from the same spot you took your last shot if you know your ball is OB. Both scenarios you teeup again, and if theres a drop zone on your par 3, it's only for when the ball goes into the water hazard.
Someone will correct me if I'm wrong

[Husband]

Thanks DenisO! I was under the same impression before, but I noticed that some players play their penalty strokes differently. I wanted to know what the official rule was, and, if there was any discretion in the matter, what was the best decision.

It seems kind of unfair to be able to drop the ball where you think it was last with only 1 stroke penalty. Seemed too easy to save bogey.

[Kilroy]

I know this should probably go in the ruling section

Please post in the proper forums. Thank you.

[gbower]

DenisO is correct in that for a ball out of bounds you must play from where your previous shot was from (stroke and distance). A drop zone doesn't have to be used but is one of your options if you go into the hazard.

[AAA]

DenisO is correct in that for a ball out of bounds you must play from where your previous shot was from (stroke and distance). A drop zone doesn't have to be used but is one of your options if you go into the hazard.

It is only an option if there is a drop zone. More often than not there isn't.

[AAA]

Do you have the choice of a re-hit or a drop, regardless of the hole?

Rule 27. Ball Lost or Out of Bounds;
27-1. Stroke and Distance; Ball Out of Bounds;


a. Proceeding Under Stroke and Distance
At any time, a player may, under penalty of one stroke, play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5), i.e., proceed under penalty of stroke and distance.
Except as otherwise provided in the Rules, if a player makes a stroke at a ball from the spot at which the original ball was last played, he is deemed to have proceeded under penalty of stroke and distance.
b. Ball Out of Bounds
If a ball is out of bounds, the player must play a ball, under penalty of one stroke, as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5).

Link to Rule 27 in full

http://www.usga.org/Rule-Books/Rules-of-Golf/Rule-27/