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rules
Rules of Golf
Rules of Golf Explained with John Paramor: What are your options for an unplayable lie?

published: Oct 4, 2021

|

updated: Oct 3, 2023

Rules of Golf Explained with John Paramor: What are your options for an unplayable lie?

Steve CarrollLink

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Found your ball in a no-swing zone? The former European Tour chief referee is on hand to help with this common problem

unplayable lie rules of golf

In this Rules of Golf Explained series in association with TaylorMade, I’m joined by former European Tour chief referee John Paramor to discuss various situations in which you might find yourself on the golf course and how you deal with them within the boundaries of the game’s laws. In this episode, I’ve found my golf ball in an unplayable lie and I’d like to know my options.

Golf ball in an unplayable lie? Here’s what happens now

Have you ever found your golf ball in an unplayable lie and not known what to do?

Well that’s exactly what has happened to me in this episode of Rules of Golf Explained.

Firstly, I have managed to identify it as my ball, which is a good start. From here, John explains what must happen next.

Watch the video above for his full explanation.

This Rules of Golf series was filmed in association with TaylorMade at Sunningdale Heath Golf Club.

You can find more videos of John helping me out of sticky rules situations on the NCG YouTube channel on the Rules of Golf Explained playlist.

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About the author

Steve Carroll
Steve Carroll

A journalist for more than 25 years, Steve has been immersed in club golf for almost as long.

A former club captain, he has passed the Level 3 Rules of Golf exam with distinction having attended the R&A’s prestigious Tournament Administrators and Referees Seminar.

Steve has officiated at a host of high-profile tournaments, including Open Regional Qualifying, PGA Fourball Championship, English Men’s Senior Amateur, and the North of England Amateur Championship. In 2023, he made his international debut as part of the team that refereed England vs Switzerland U16 girls.

A part of NCG’s Top 100s panel, Steve has a particular love of links golf and is frantically trying to restore his single-figure handicap. He’d like to tell you he floats around 10. The reality is more like 13.

Steve plays at Sandburn Hall, in York, and is a country member at Close House in Newcastle. He has served on various club committees during his time in the game, and is the current Rules Secretary at Sandburn.

Having studied history at Newcastle University, he became a journalist having passed his NCTJ exams at Darlington College of Technology. He began his career working on weekly papers in Newcastle, before joining the York Press in 2001. After five years as a news reporter, he joined the sports desk – specialising in horse racing and snooker – and was Digital Sports Editor when he joined National Club Golfer in 2016.

What’s in Steve’s bag: TaylorMade Stealth 2 driver, 3-wood, and hybrids; Caley 01T irons 4-PW; TaylorMade Hi-Toe wedges, Odyssey 2Ball Microhinge putter.

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