Golf Rule Question On Unplayable Golf Ball

Golf Nut, I can think of two circumstances where, after a shot, the golf ball can land farther away from the hole:
1) In the woods, you hit a tree, the ball bounces behind you farther into the woods.
2) Around the green, you catch the ball thin and hit it over the green into the woods/behind a tree.
In these circumstances, can you declare the golf ball unplayable and take the “stroke and distance” penalty? The confusing thing for me is that after taking a stroke, you would actually be dropping closer to the hole in these cases.

It seems kind of crazy doesn’t it? Can you invoke this rule to end up closer to the hole than where your last golf shot landed? Well the answer is, actually, yes.
Rule 28 deals with a “ball unplayable”. And the rule reads “The player may deem his ball unplayable at any place on the course, except when the ball is in a water hazard.” And the rules state that the golfer is the person that makes the call on declaring the golf ball unplayable.
So this golf rule implies that the answer to your question is yes. But I still was wondering the same thing that you were. So I wanted to double check. And in the rules of golf, there are things called decisions. These are situations and questions that clarify interpretations of the rules. And one of these answers your question.
Decision 28/8 discusses a golf ball striking an object and landing farther away from the hole. And it says that, yes, a golfer may declare his golf ball unplayable in this situation.
Thanks for the question and enjoy the upcoming golf season!