How must you proceed if you hit your ball into a water hazard?

 

We have a large number of water hazards at Maison Blanche and, judging by the

questions I am frequently asked and from what I see on the course, this situation

causes some confusion. However the relief procedure is clear and straight-forward.

 

If you are able to still play the ball in the water hazard, then of course you may do so.

But be careful not to ground your club or touch the water with your club prior to

making a stroke, otherwise you would be penalized two strokes under Rule 13-4.

 

As is always the case, under penalty of one stroke, you may drop and play another

ball from the spot where you last played (Rule 26-1a).

 

Generally though, the player does not want to lose the distance and so, again under

penalty of one stroke, the relief procedure described by Rule 26-1b should be

applied. This tells us to:

 

Drop a ball behind the water hazard, keeping the point at which the original

ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard directly between the hole and

the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind the

water hazard the ball may be dropped.

 

This option is valid for *all* water hazards, whether they are marked with yellow

stakes or red stakes.

 

If the hazard is marked with red stakes (lateral water hazard) then more options

are available under Rule 26-1c as follows:

 

As additional options available only if the ball last crossed the margin of a

lateral water hazard, drop a ball outside the water hazard within two

club-lengths of and not nearer the hole than (i) the point where the original

ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard or (ii) a point on the opposite

margin of the water hazard equidistant from the hole.

 

Finally, on holes 5, 8, 9 and 15 at Maison Blanche, there are dropping zones which

provide a further alternative for dropping a ball.

 

So, it should be clear that the only points of reference to be used when dropping

another ball are:

 

  1. The precise position of the flagstick on the green of the hole being played
  2. The last point of entry of the ball into the hazard.

 

Here are some examples of relief procedures to be applied in specific examples at

Maison Blanche. Many thanks to Joseph Stojan, who provided the illustrations.

 

                                                                                                                  Lio Frost-Ainley

                         

                                                         

                                                        

                                     

        11th Hole    Picture 1                                                                   Picture 2

 

         Picture 1

 

1.      The player’s ball has crossed the margin of the first lake at point “A”. The ball has gone over the dam between the two lakes and has come to rest in this second part of the hazard. Many players are under the impression that because the ball has come to rest in a hazard marked with red stakes, they can exercise the options under Rule 26-1c. This is not correct. Where the ball comes to rest is irrelevant as far as Rule 26 is concerned. The points of reference are “A” and the hole, and the player must drop a ball back on the line shown.

2.      In this example the player has hit a shot across the edge of the first lake towards the fairway. The ball has then sliced to the right and has gone into the second lake at point “B”. The ball may not have actually touched the fairway before going into the hazard, but as long as it is clear that it passed over the fairway side of the stakes beforehand, then the point of entry is “B” and, since the stakes are red, the player may drop another ball within 2 club-lengths of this point, not nearer the hole.

 

    Picture 2

 

  1. Although the player’s ball has cleared the first lake, it has struck the ground before clearing the margin of the red stakes. Therefore the last point of entry is point “A”. He must drop a ball back on a line with this point and the hole.
  2. This player has been more fortunate. His ball has cleared the lake and the margin of the red stakes. In this case, the player may drop a ball within 2 club-lengths of point “B”, not nearer than the hole.

 

 

                                                      

 

                                                                      15th Hole

 

 

                                                           

1.      The player’s ball has been hit into the lateral hazard on the left of the green. He may drop a ball within 2 club-lengths of point A, not nearer the hole. Depending on the position of the hole, this might limit the area in which to drop either only to the left or only to the right of point “A”. The player may have to drop very close to the margin of the red stakes to avoid going closer to the hole. You cannot systematically measure 2 club-lengths at right angles to the hazard!

2.      In this example, the ball has been hit well short of the green and so the last point of entry is “B”. A ball must be dropped back on the line as shown, or the player may instead drop a ball in the dropping zone.

3.      Here, the player’s ball has cleared the water hazard, but after hitting the ground beyond the yellow stakes, the ball has spun back into the water at point “C”. This situation seems to cause much confusion, but the solution is similar to example 2. A ball must be dropped back on the line between the hole and “C”. In this specific case, the line would oblige the drop to be made a long way to the right, towards the 12th hole. This is why the dropping zone was created, and it probably provides the better option.

 

                                                     

9th Hole    Picture 1                                                                   Picture 2

           Picture 1

 

  1. The player’s ball has crossed the margin at “A”, and ended up in the section of the hazard marked with red stakes.  Where the ball finishes is irrelevant. All that matters is the last point of entry in the hazard. Accordingly, a ball must be dropped back on the line joining the hole and point “A”.
  2. The player’s ball has cleared the water hazard and passed over the fairway, before hooking back to the left, entering the hazard at point “B”.  The player may drop a ball within 2 club-lengths of point B, not nearer the hole.  Remember though that, especially from the Men’s tees it can be difficult to estimate point “B” and indeed whether that point is beyond the yellow and red stake that marks the changeover in definition of the water hazard. If there is any doubt, then the ball should be dropped in accordance with Rule 26-1b, on the tee-side of the water hazard.

 

     Picture 2

 

  1. The player’s ball has crossed the margin at “A” in the section of the hazard marked with yellow stakes. A ball must be dropped back on the line joining the hole and “A”, or the player may elect to use the dropping zone.
  2. The player’s ball has cleared the water hazard, but after hitting the ground beyond the yellow stakes, the ball has rolled back into the water at point “B”.  A ball must be dropped back on the line between the hole and “B”. In this case, the line would oblige the drop to be made on the sloping ground adjacent to the path. This is why the dropping zone was created, and it probably provides the better option.