Alternative to Stroke and Distance (Local Rule E-5)
Also known as: alternative to stroke and distance, E-5 rule, e5 rule, two-stroke drop for out of bounds, drop where it went out of bounds, lost ball local rule, drop near where it went OB
Model Local Rule E-5 gives an extra option for a lost or out-of-bounds ball where a committee has adopted it. For two penalty strokes, drop in a zone between where the ball was lost or went out and the fairway, no nearer the hole. Without the Local Rule, stroke and distance applies.
The usual penalty for a lost ball or one out of bounds is stroke and distance. You add one stroke and replay from where you last hit. That walk back slows play, especially if no provisional was hit. E-5 gives a committee a way to keep groups moving. It is meant for casual rounds and club play, not elite or pro events.
To use it, find two reference points. The ball reference point is where your ball is estimated to have come to rest, or where it last crossed the boundary. The fairway reference point is the nearest point of the hole's fairway that is not nearer the hole. You may drop anywhere between lines from the hole through those two points, with two extra club-lengths on the outside of each line. The drop must be in the general area and no nearer the hole than the ball reference point.
You cannot use E-5 for a ball in a penalty area or for an unplayable ball. You also cannot use it for the original ball if you played a provisional. It can be used for a provisional that is lost or out of bounds. Committees often switch it off for competitions. Check the scorecard or local rules sheet. For handicap posting, follow your national association's guidance.
Tips by skill level
In a casual round where E-5 is allowed, it saves time after a lost tee shot. If you are not sure it applies, hit a provisional instead.
Decide on the tee. If you hit a provisional, E-5 is no longer available for the original ball, though it can still apply to the provisional.
Example
On a hole where E-5 is in effect, a golfer's drive goes out of bounds on the right. Instead of returning to the tee, she drops in the fairway level with where the ball crossed the boundary. With two penalty strokes, she is now playing her fourth shot.
Why it matters
E-5 saves a long walk back where a committee has adopted it. Knowing its limits keeps your score valid.
Common mistakes
- Using E-5 in a competition that has not adopted it
- Using it for a ball in a penalty area
- Hitting a provisional, then using E-5 for the lost original
- Dropping nearer the hole than where the ball was lost
Frequently asked questions
Can I just drop where it went out of bounds instead of going back?
Only if the course or competition has adopted Model Local Rule E-5. Then you may drop between where it went out and the fairway for two penalty strokes. Otherwise stroke and distance applies.
What is the E-5 local rule in golf?
It is an optional Local Rule giving an alternative to stroke and distance for a lost or out-of-bounds ball. You drop between where the ball went and the fairway for two penalty strokes.
Can I use the E-5 rule for a ball in the water?
No. E-5 does not apply to a ball in a penalty area or to an unplayable ball. Use the penalty area or unplayable options instead.
Sources
Related terms
- Lost BallA ball is officially lost if it isn't found within three minutes after the player or their caddie begins to search for it. Once that window closes, the golfer must take stroke-and-distance relief, replaying the shot from its original spot plus a one-stroke penalty.
- Out of BoundsOut of bounds (OB) is past the course boundary, usually marked by white stakes. A ball hit there is replayed from the original spot with a one-stroke penalty.
- Provisional BallA provisional ball is a backup shot played immediately when the original might be lost outside a penalty area or out of bounds. It saves the group from having to walk all the way back to the tee if the first ball genuinely can't be found.
- Local RuleA local rule is a course- or competition-specific change adopted by the committee running play. It commonly covers embedded balls, temporary conditions like winter rules, or unique course features the standard Rules of Golf do not address.
- Drop ProcedureThe modern drop releases the ball from knee height, straight down, into the relief area. It is simpler than the old shoulder-height drop but often done wrong.
- Ready Golf (Pace of Play)"Ready golf" means whoever is ready hits next, instead of strictly waiting for the golfer farthest from the hole. It is widely encouraged in casual and recreational rounds to keep pace of play reasonable.
Related guides & benchmarks
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