Golf rule: Afraid of losing the ball, can the golfer take a penalty at the tee box and go straight to the drop zone?

Situation:

In a stroke play golf tournament, golfer A approaches the 17th hole with a four-stroke lead and only one ball remaining. Unaware of the rule allowing players to borrow a ball from their playing partners, golfer A, faced with a long par-3 hole with a water hazard, inquires whether they can skip their tee shot and proceed directly to the drop zone, effectively treating it as their third stroke. By doing so, golfer A would avoid losing their final ball, maintain a two-stroke lead, and be in a safer position to reach the green. So, is what golfer A wants to do legal?

Reply:

This is a creative solution, but it's against the rules.  Think of a drop zone like a golf tournament; to participate, you need to be on the guest list.  According to Rule 17.1b, to reach a drop zone, the ball must first enter a penalty area associated with that drop zone.  Additionally, the "one-ball rule" is rarely enforced in casual golf rounds. It's primarily used in professional and elite amateur tournaments. So, unless you're playing in a high-level tournament, you can usually borrow a ball from your playing partners if you run out.