Always check the local Rules
Have you ever found your ball under a staked tree? Many courses have newly planted trees that need to be protected, which are usually identified with stakes or tape (as shown in the image above). If you come across a tree like this, you’ll usually find the club has a Local Rule on the scorecard or pinned on a noticeboard. It’s usually taken from Appendix I, Part A of the Rules of Golf and deems the tree to be an immovable obstruction.

What can you do?
If the tree has been deemed an immovable obstruction, you are allowed free relief and may drop within one club-length of the nearest point of relief, no nearer the hole. Your nearest point of relief is when the tree no longer physically interferes with your lie, stance or swing.