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Assuming that from the tee the ball last crossed the
margin of the hazard at the point labeled "A" and is in the hazard.
The Rules of Golf (Rule 26) are very
clear. Hole 24 has a lateral water hazard denoted by red stakes, a
golfer who hits a ball into this hazard from the tee box has five options, paraphrased as follows: |
|
1 |
Play the ball from within the hazard |
| 2 |
Under penalty of one stroke, re-hit a ball from
the original spot |
| |
Note: the three options below all assume that
the original ball last crossed the margin of the hazard at point A above,
and that point B is exactly as far from the hole as point A. Point A
depends on the flight of the ball and can be anywhere along the red line. |
| 3 |
Under penalty of one stroke, drop a ball as far
behind point A as desired but keeping point A directly between the hole and
the spot where the ball is dropped |
| 4 |
Under penalty of one stroke, drop a ball within
two club lengths of point A (no nearer the hole) |
| 5 |
Under penalty of one stroke, drop a ball within
two club lengths of point B (no nearer the hole) |
Common misconceptions -- these are wrong, so
don't do them:
Do not drop a ball in the fairway about even with where the ball ended up inside the
hazard -- it does NOT matter where the ball is in the hazard, only where
it last crossed the margin of the hazard (golf speak for "where the ball
crossed the red line or boundary of the hazard").
Do not drop more than two club lengths from the margin (red line or
natural border) of the hazard.
On this hole it probably means you are going to be dropping into the deep
rough and with a very uneven lie. That's why it's called a "hazard"!
Don't consider or discuss the 'line of flight relief" -- there is no
such thing and those words don't even appear in Rule 26.
If the ball is just barely in the hazard do NOT apply the "unplayable
lie" rule to get the ball out -- it does not apply to balls in a hazard (and
anyway, the rule is technically rule 28 "ball unplayable" -- there is no
"unplayable lie" rule!)
If playing the ball from within the hazard -- no moving, bending, or
breaking of anything growing or fixed, or removing loose impediments, see
rule 13 |
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For our SMGA events we
have decided to add a “drop area” to Hole 24 as an additional relief option
under Rule 26-1, “Relief for ball in water hazard”. This drop area will be a
marked and mown area on the fairway side of the lateral hazard behind the red
tee box. We plan to post a reminder sign in the tee box, and clearly mark the
drop area. |
| 6 |
If your tee shot on
Hole 24 ends up in the hazard, you may, under penalty of one stroke, drop a ball
in the drop area, and play on. This is an additional option to the ordinary
relief afforded by the five Rule 26 options discussed above. |
