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Dealing With Water: Know The Rules

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



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