Dealing With Water: Know The Rules

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