In preparation for a recent tournament I decided to refresh my understanding of the rule book and found the Optional Relief rule's (803.05(C)) location in the rule book to be a bit confusing.

Basically a player can at anytime decided NOT to play their thrown disc from its lie, and can instead do one of two things. They can choose to take an Optional Rethrow (803.06) or they may take Optional Relief (803.05(C)). Either option involves a one throw penalty. The only difference between the two is that with Optional Relief a player can move his or her shot anywhere on the line of play as long at the new lie is no closer to the basket. These two options are closely related and both should be considered before a player chooses either.

Since the Optional Rethrow and Optional Relief are so similar, I would suggest that they both be combined into a new rule, 803.06, with a section (A) for Optional Rethrows and (B) for Optional Relief. A player's understanding of how these two rules can be used would be clarified if the two rules were presented side by side.

Additionally, in the same way "Unplayable Lie" was replaced with Optional Rethrow, since "unplayable" was entirely at the player's discretion, I would suggest "optional relief" be replaced with "Optional [Remark?]" or something similar, since the rule doesn't require there be anything to take relief from. Technically, you could land in the middle of the fairway, move your lie to a better a position, and take a one stroke penalty.

One more issue with Optional Relief. Optional Relief provides a way to "game" some mandos. A local course (Hyland) has a mando that prevents an easy one shot anhyzer to the basket. Via the legal path, the tight fairway takes you 300' downhill, thick brush on both sides, and then doglegs left for another 100' feet or so. A tough 5, and a nearly impossible 4 (for me).

Using the optional relief rule rule a player can throw a short layup, maybe 20' and say they made the mando, they could then declare optional relief, move the disc 150' backward, up the line of play, to a point behind the T-Pad, and behind the mando, leaving themselves an even easier shot at the basket than they'd have had from the T-Pad.

Why make the twenty foot throw before taking optional relief? Are you not permitted to take optional relief from the teepad on the drive?

Optional Relief is in the rulebook where players normally would take it which is when they need more than 5m from a lie in a casual relief area. It's unclear whether the Rules Committee intended for Optional Relief to generally be available any time or just with casual relief. But, since the wording didn't restrict it to casual relief only, you are correct that maybe it should be combined with the Optional Rethrow rule. Or, leave it where it is but specifically restrict it as an extended relief option only for casual relief situations.

Can you officially make the mando just 20 feet in front of the tee on that hole? It sounds like the mando would be down where you need to dogleg left so you couldn't just declare you made it after throwing 20 feet. But, if you can game it the way as you state, then the mando is simply in the wrong position or another one is needed farther down the fairway. The line of play for Optional Relief when a mando is involved is directly at the mando object, not the basket, until you have officially passed it.

The rules committee is working on a full re-write for submission to the board and combining the optional relief is one of the many changes already included. We are also proposing wording to the effect that any throw from the tee side of a mando must pass the mando, regardless of whether it has previously been passed.

Your example of gaming the system is currently possible without Optional relief, you could throw just past the mando then turn around and throw as far back as you choose.