Rules of Golf - Lateral Water Hazards 04Jan09

[Ninjaw78]

In response to @82PeRK 2 months ago you state that the committee may denfine areas as lateral 'Red' and water 'Yellow; and thanks to you video we have two ponds incorrectly marked with red stakes and should be Yellow, however we also have a copse 300X100 feet which is RED staked around its perimeter ,it is situated in the middle of the course with access all round it, should this be Yellow Staked, it is played over from various areas on the course, I can't find any info' on this? Thanks

[9ty9]

@Ninjaw78 Let me start by saying that I do not claim any expertise on course set-up and recommend that you address your query to your national golfing body. In my opinion the options are to define the area as a lateral water hazard (penalty drop), GUR (free relief), out of bounds (stroke and distance penalty) or play the ball as it lies with players taking the ball unplayable penalty option if necessary. Personally, I do not think that designation as a water hazard is appropriate.

Barry

[82PeRK]

Thank you for all your information,

My last question is why are all hazards call water hazards even though there is no water or am i wrong about that??

[9ty9]

@82PeRK

A Committee may define any area as a (lateral) water hazard with (red) yellow stakes and/or lines even if it does not contain water. Nota all hazards are (lateral) water hazards; sand bunkers are also hazards in the Rules of Golf..

Barry

[82PeRK]

im i allowed to re tee on the tee box if it went in to a hazard (not water hazard) just a regular hazard that went into the trees????

[9ty9]

@82PeRK

The first point to note is that trees on a course are not hazards. The only hazards in the Rules of Golf are water hazards (yellow stakes and/or lines), lateral water hazards, (red stakes and/or lines) and sand bunkers.

However, Rule 27-1 states that at any time, a player may, under penalty of one stroke, play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5). This is proceeding under penalty of stroke and distance.

Barry Rhodes

[82PeRK]

@9ty9

yes i know that ,i should have wrote tree hazard with red stakes. my point is i was playin a par 3 and hit into the woods with red stakes but the stakes were 5 feet into the tree line and when i was dropping two club length it was rolling back into the tree line(to where i wouldnt have a shot or be able to make a proper swing) but when i was dropping it still wasnt rolling past the red stakes so i picked up and redropped twice and my buddy was charging me 2 strokes everytime.

[9ty9]

@82PeRK No, you should not have written, "tree hazard", as there is no such thing in golf. You should have written, "lateral water hazard with trees inside and outside the hazard". Providing your ball did not roll back either within the margin of the hazard or nearer to the hole when you dropped it, then you must play the ball as it lies or deem it unplayable under Rule 28 and drop it again. However, the penalty for doing so is one stroke and not two each time you do so.

[82PeRK]

@9ty9

OK thanks,

my next question is instead of taking a drop, could i just go back to the tee box and retee or just take a drop at the tee box.

[9ty9]

@82PeRK

When a player chooses to return to the teeing ground, under penalty of stroke and distance, the ball to be played must be played from within the teeing ground. It may be played from anywhere within the teeing ground and may be teed, Rule 20-5a.

Barry

[robertskwh]

may i ask is grounding of club means the club not even touching the grass? if yes then what happens if the hazard grass is a foot high?

[9ty9]

@robertskwh

Decision 13-4/8 tells us that grounding a club in a water hazard occurs when the grass is compressed to the point where it will support the weight of the club. But don't confuse anything that is growing with anything natural that is not attached. For example, a player may not touch loose leaves in a water hazard with their club as they prepare to make their stroke.

Barry Rhodes

(Author of the book '999 Questions on the Rules of Golf')

[kehlmeier]

Great videos. Good work. You make it very simple and easy to understand.

[billylds]

Longest club is fine.

[dominic2424]

Can the golfer use the longest club in his bag to determine the two club length distance or does he have to use the length of the club he will be using?

[dominic2424]

These are excellent videos and encourage more of them. I help with high school golfers and the standard rule book is difficult to work thru to find answers. Great job!

[l8tapex]

Thanks.

[1465johnw]

Thanks for your explanation. It was so clear and helpful.