According to the rules, what penalty applies if a player drops an unplayable ball and it comes to rest in the same spot?

When a player declares a ball unplayable, they have specific options to drop a new ball according to the rules of golf. If the player chooses to drop the ball under the unplayable ball rule, they incur a one-stroke penalty. This penalty applies regardless of where the new ball comes to rest. Therefore, if the dropped ball ends up in the same spot from which it was originally unplayable, the player still adds one penalty stroke to their score. This is fundamental in maintaining the integrity and structure of the game, ensuring that there are consequences for the player’s decision to declare the original ball unplayable.

Other situations such as losing the hole or returning to the teeing area would not apply in this scenario, as the rules are specifically designed to handle the unplayable ball situation with a penalty stroke being the appropriate consequence.