| Water hazards probably account for more penalty | | | | ball crossed the hazard. |
| strokes than anything else in golf. But water | | | | The Controversy |
| hazards-as dealt with under Rule 26-often lead to | | | | A major source of controversy is establishing where |
| controversy when interpreting the rule. So I'm careful | | | | the ball last crossed the hazard, not where the ball |
| to review the topic in my golf lessons and discuss it | | | | entered 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 the | | | | then rolls back into the water. |
| ball last crossed the water's edge. Since the decision | | | | The easiest way to deal with this type of problem is |
| affects where you take a drop, it makes sense to | | | | to determine the point where the ball was last on, or |
| have a good understanding of the rule, especially if a | | | | over, dry land, before it crossed the hazard. Next, |
| match is on the line or your working on a personal | | | | determine if the point is between the red or yellow |
| best. | | | | stakes. If it is, you can decide on the best course of |
| The Rules | | | | action 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 other | | | | hazard, however, means that the ball can sometimes |
| open water course (whether or not containing | | | | be dropped on either side of the hazard, as long as it |
| water), and anything of a similar nature." Courses | | | | is within two club lengths of where the ball crossed |
| mark water hazards with yellow stakes and lines. But | | | | the edge of the hazard and no closer to the hole. |
| the rules don't stop there, as I mention in my golf | | | | That can make a difference when you finally |
| tips and during my golf lessons; they also discuss a | | | | determine 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 a | | | | Hitting out of the water is rarely an option-and it's |
| water hazard "so situated that it is not possible, or is | | | | not a choice I recommend in my golf lessons and golf |
| deemed by the committee to be impracticable, to | | | | tips-but it has been known to happen. Payne Stewart |
| drop a ball behind the water hazard in accordance | | | | chose to play the ball from a water hazard during the |
| with Rule 26-1b." In other words, it's a water hazard | | | | final hole of his 1989 Ryder Cup Match with Jose |
| that doesn't lie between the tee and the green. The | | | | Maria 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 Remedies | | | | this 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 spot | | | | If 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 the | | | | breach of the rules and subjects the player to a |
| water's edge, directly behind the hole and the spot | | | | penalty-two-strokes in medal play and the loss of the |
| where the ball is dropped. There's no limit to how far | | | | hole in match play. The rule resembles that covering |
| back the ball may be dropped, as long as the point | | | | the 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 can | | | | you an idea your remedies next time you hit into the |
| drop a ball away from the hazard but within two club | | | | water. Since you can be penalized for violating the |
| lengths of the point from which the ball last crossed | | | | rules, think carefully before deciding. If you're in a |
| the water. However, the ball can't come to rest any | | | | tournament and you're confused about what to do, |
| closer to the hole than the point at which the original | | | | don't hesitate to talk with officials. |