In match play, rather than adding strokes, the usual penalty is loss of the hole except for penalties assessed for relief from a hazard or a lost ball.
Situations in which a penalty may be assessed include, but are not limited to: When a penalty is incurred because the ball has been lost or hit into an unplayable area, the player plays a new ball or moves the current one according to the rules governing the situation in which the substitution or placement occurs.
This may be from the spot at which they hit the ball into that position (a stroke and distance penalty), a playable point directly in line with the hole and behind its current position, or in some circumstances at a point two club lengths or less and no closer to the hole from which the ball crossed the boundary of the unplayable condition.
However, under certain circumstances during informal games, especially involving novice players, the penalty stroke is not counted; the player simply drops a ball at the spot of the last hit and plays again.
This is an unmitigated violation of several rules of the game which would normally call for disqualification from sanctioned play; however, in a friendly setting, it can help make the game more enjoyable and increase pace of play, as it reduces time spent searching for a ball and limits having to play from extremely disadvantageous lies.