Rules Column: Patti Daskalos

You might see the letters ‘DZ’ when you play, but what do those letters actually mean?

A DZ is a Dropping Zone – which is a special relief procedure adopted by the Rules Committee when there may be practical problems with players using normal relief options under a Rule.

      For example, for a penalty area located next to a bunker, the committee may have a DZ option if your ball enters the penalty area where the penalty area and bunker coincide. In this situation, you are already taking a penalty stroke for playing outside the penalty area, and it could be excessively punitive to also have you play from the bunker. The Dropping Zone could give you an additional option for relief.

      You have probably seen signs for Dropping Zones on the course on a forward Tee or a circle painted on the ground. Some courses provide Dropping Zones for everyday play. Other times DZs are provided for tournament play. Usually, you will find notifications about DZs on a course scorecard for casual play. For tournament play you will find it on the Notice to Players. Read the text regarding the use of the Dropping Zone carefully, as a DZ can be used as an extra option, or the only relief option.

      How do you use a Dropping Zone correctly? Here are a few things you need to know.

      1.  You do not have to stand in the Dropping Zone when dropping a ball or hitting the ball you dropped.

      2. Even if the Dropping Zone is located in a Teeing Area, the ball is to be dropped. A player must not use a Tee or place the ball in the DZ. If you play a ball from the DZ that has been placed, or from which you hit from a Tee, the General Penalty applies. (Remember it is called a Dropping Zone)

      3. The ball must be dropped in the relief area defined as the DZ. It must come to rest in the DZ. A ball that rolls out of the Dropping Zone and comes to rest outside the Dropping Zone must be re-dropped. If your dropped ball does not first strike the ground inside the DZ— it also must be re-dropped regardless of where it comes to rest to avoid penalty.

4. Keep in mind that if the Dropping Zone is defined by a line on the ground, the line is inside (or part of) the dropping zone. If you drop your ball in the DZ and it comes to rest on the line, that ball is correctly dropped and is in play.