| Water hazards probably account for more
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| | the hazard.
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| penalty strokes than anything else in
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| | The Controversy
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| golf. But water hazards-as dealt with
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| | A major source of controversy is
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| under Rule 26-often lead to controversy
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| | establishing where the ball last crossed
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| when interpreting the rule. So I'm
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| | the hazard, not where the ball entered
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| careful to review the topic in my golf
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| | the water, which could be relevant in
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| lessons and discuss it in my golf tips.
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| | situations in which where a ball lands on
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| The controversy stems from interpreting
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| | the ground, then rolls back into the
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| where the ball last crossed the water's
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| | water.
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| edge. Since the decision affects where
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| | The easiest way to deal with this type of
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| you take a drop, it makes sense to have a
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| | problem is to determine the point where
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| good understanding of the rule,
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| | the ball was last on, or over, dry land,
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| especially if a match is on the line or
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| | before it crossed the hazard. Next,
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| your working on a personal best.
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| | determine if the point is between the red
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| The Rules
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| | or yellow stakes. If it is, you can
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| Golf's rules define a water hazard as
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| | decide on the best course of action from
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| "any sea, lake, pond, river, ditch,
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| | that spot.
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| surface draining ditch, or other open
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| | The additional dropping option for a
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| water course (whether or not containing
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| | lateral water hazard, however, means that
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| water), and anything of a similar
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| | the ball can sometimes be dropped on
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| nature." Courses mark water hazards with
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| | either side of the hazard, as long as it
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| yellow stakes and lines. But the rules
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| | is within two club lengths of where the
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| don't stop there, as I mention in my golf
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| | ball crossed the edge of the hazard and
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| tips and during my golf lessons; they
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| | no closer to the hole. That can make a
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| also discuss a lateral water hazard.
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| | difference when you finally determine
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| The rules define a "later water hazard"
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| | where to drop the ball. Unfortunately, no
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| as part of a water hazard "so situated
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| | golf instruction can help you make that
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| that it is not possible, or is deemed by
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| | decision.
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| the committee to be impracticable, to
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| | Hitting out of the water is rarely an
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| drop a ball behind the water hazard in
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| | option-and it's not a choice I recommend
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| accordance with Rule 26-1b." In other
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| | in my golf lessons and golf tips-but it
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| words, it's a water hazard that doesn't
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| | has been known to happen. Payne Stewart
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| lie between the tee and the green. The
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| | chose to play the ball from a water
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| course marks these off by red stakes or
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| | hazard during the final hole of his 1989
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| lines.
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| | Ryder Cup Match with Jose Maria Olazabal.
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| The Remedies
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| | The attempt failed and he lost the hole
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| If you hit into water you do one of four
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| | and the match. Think carefully before
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| things:
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| | choosing this option.
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| 1.You can play the ball as near as
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| | Grounding the Club
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| possible to the spot from which the
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| | If a player chooses to hit from the water
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| original ball was played.
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| | hazard, he or she can't ground the club
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| 2.You can drop a ball behind the water
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| | at any stage of address. Grounding the
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| hazard, keeping the point at which the
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| | club may be unintentional, but it's still
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| ball entered the water's edge, directly
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| | a breach of the rules and subjects the
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| behind the hole and the spot where the
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| | player to a penalty-two-strokes in medal
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| ball is dropped. There's no limit to how
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| | play and the loss of the hole in match
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| far back the ball may be dropped, as long
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| | play. The rule resembles that covering
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| as the point of crossing lies between the
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| | the grounding of a club in a bunker.
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| drop and the hole.
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| | Knowing the rules governing water hazards
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| 3.You can play the ball as it lies in the
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| | won't necessarily lower your golf
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| water hazard.
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| | handicap. But it will give you an idea
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| 4.If a ball goes into a lateral water
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| | your remedies next time you hit into the
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| hazard, you can drop a ball away from the
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| | water. Since you can be penalized for
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| hazard but within two club lengths of the
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| | violating the rules, think carefully
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| point from which the ball last crossed
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| | before deciding. If you're in a
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| the water. However, the ball can't come
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| | tournament and you're confused about what
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| to rest any closer to the hole than the
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| | to do, don't hesitate to talk with
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| point at which the original ball crossed
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| | officials.
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