Drop zone or not?

[Midnight]

On a par 3 over the water, tee shot clears the water but hits the bank going up to the green( hazard markers are at top of the bank).

If you can not find the ball in the bank do you drop one in the drop zone or do you have to go back to the tee as this would be the only place to drop the ball on the line it went in i.e lost ball

I did the last option the other day but my playing reckons i should of dropped in drop zone.

Cheers

 

[doublebogey7]

Is the ball within the confines of the hazard?

 

[Midnight]

Is the ball within the confines of the hazard?

yes it was below the hazard markers mate.

 

[doublebogey7]

yes it was below the hazard markers mate.

Then you would be able to use the dropping zone regardless of whether or not you are able to find the ball.

 

[woody69]

Your FC was right, however going back to the tee is still an option if you wish

The rule is:

[h=1]Dropping Zones[/h]
As provided in Appendix I, Part B of the Rules of Golf, a Committee has the authority to establish special areas on which balls may be dropped when it is not feasible or practicable to proceed exactly in conformity with Rule 24-2b or 24-3 (Immovable Obstructions), Rules 25-1b or 25-1c (Abnormal Ground Conditions), Rule 25-3(Wrong Putting Green), Rule 26-1 (Water Hazards and Lateral Water Hazards) or Rule 28 (Ball Unplayable).
For example, if there is a lateral water hazard behind a green and there are certain places where a ball may cross the margin at which there is no way of dropping a ball within two clublengths not nearer the hole, the Committee may decide that it is impracticable for a player to proceed in accordance with Rule 26. In these circumstances, the Committee could establish a dropping zone and adopt the following Local Rule:
“If a ball is in or it is known or virtually certain that a ball that has not been found is in the lateral water hazard behind the 13th green, the player may:
(i) proceed under Rule 26-1; or
(ii) as an additional option, drop a ball, under penalty of one stroke, in the dropping zone.

PENALTY FOR BREACH OF LOCAL RULE:
Match play – Loss of hole; Stroke play – Two strokes.”​

​

 

[Midnight]

Then you would be able to use the dropping zone regardless of whether or not you are able to find the ball.

Thanks , for some reason I thought the drop zone was only if you went in the water. Cheers for clearing it up.

 

[Midnight]

Your FC was right, however going back to the tee is still an option if you wish

The rule is:

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Cheers mate.

 

[chrisd]

Just out of interest, why do you have a drop zone?

 

[Midnight]

Just out of interest, why do you have a drop zone?

i think it was introduced as some players could not get the tee shot over the water and there was not any bail out to make it any easier.
I played with a lad who is 78 he was having a really good round, he got to this hole and took 8 balls before giving up.

 

[Colin L]

On a par 3 over the water, tee shot clears the water but hits the bank going up to the green( hazard markers are at top of the bank).

If you can not find the ball in the bank do you drop one in the drop zone or do you have to go back to the tee as this would be the only place to drop the ball on the line it went in i.e lost ball

I did the last option the other day but my playing reckons i should of dropped in drop zone.

Cheers

You have your answer, that it was perfectly in order to take the option of playing from where played your previous stroke and go back to the tee. I would mention, however, that this is not because it is “on the line it went in.” Where the ball crossed the margin of the water hazard is irrelevant when taking the stroke and distance option.

Normally you have two options when your ball is known to be in a water hazard : stroke and distance and dropping your ball anywhere behind the hazard back along the line from the hole through where your ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard. That is not the same as the "line it went in.” The only time the two lines would coincide would be when your ball goes absolutely straight towards the hole.

Here you have, under a Local Rule, the additional option of a dropping zone. Chris asks why, and because of your answer, I would also ask where. A dropping zone cannot legitimately be established in a position where you no longer have to carry part of the water hazard.

 

[rulefan]

Thanks , for some reason I thought the drop zone was only if you went in the water. Cheers for clearing it up.

There is no difference between the water and dry land within the margin of a water hazard. A ball is simply in the WH.

 

[Canfordhacker]

A dropping zone cannot legitimately be established in a position where you no longer have to carry part of the water hazard .

Interesting. We have one on a par 3 where the water hazard is beyond the green. It's not practical to get people to travel round the water onto the next hole to drop behind the hazard.

 

[rulie]

Interesting. We have one on a par 3 where the water hazard is beyond the green. It's not practical to get people to travel round the water onto the next hole to drop behind the hazard.

It seems the discussion is about a "water hazard" meaning it is marked with yellow stakes or yellow lines.
There are different situations for a "water hazard" and a "lateral water hazard". A "lateral water hazard" is a water hazard where it is not possible, or the Committee considers it impracticable, to drop a ball behind the water hazard. A lateral water hazard is marked with red stakes or lines.

 

[Fyldewhite]

It seems the discussion is about a "water hazard" meaning it is marked with yellow stakes or yellow lines.
There are different situations for a "water hazard" and a "lateral water hazard". A "lateral water hazard" is a water hazard where it is not possible, or the Committee considers it impracticable, to drop a ball behind the water hazard. A lateral water hazard is marked with red stakes or lines.

We have a couple of such hazards on our course. We made them red a few years ago to give the player the extra option. If the hazard is behind the hole it is possible to have "nowhere to drop"....ie the point it crossed the hazard is at right angles to the hole and there's no angle for the two clublengths but this is quite rare and the ruling has helped speed up play, eliminated confusion and prevented unwittingly dropping in the wrong place which was common.

 

[Canfordhacker]

It seems the discussion is about a "water hazard" meaning it is marked with yellow stakes or yellow lines.
There are different situations for a "water hazard" and a "lateral water hazard". A "lateral water hazard" is a water hazard where it is not possible, or the Committee considers it impracticable, to drop a ball behind the water hazard. A lateral water hazard is marked with red stakes or lines.

It wasn't the type of hazard but Colin's comment regarding the positioning of the drop zone that I was highlighting. If both red and yellow staked hazards can have drop zones, then the positioning of the drop zone to keep the hazard in play becomes problematic by the very nature of the committee feeling it is impractical to drop behind the hazard....

 

[rulie]

It wasn't the type of hazard but Colin's comment regarding the positioning of the drop zone that I was highlighting. If both red and yellow staked hazards can have drop zones, then the positioning of the drop zone to keep the hazard in play becomes problematic by the very nature of the committee feeling it is impractical to drop behind the hazard....

Both water hazards and lateral water hazards can use drop zones. However, for yellow (water hazards) it is not permissible to have the drop zone beyond the hazard itself (ie, must still play over a portion of the water hazard). Different situations arise for red (lateral water hazards) and a drop zone does not need to be "behind" the hazard.

 

[doublebogey7]

Both water hazards and lateral water hazards can use drop zones. However, for yellow (water hazards) it is not permissible to have the drop zone beyond the hazard itself (ie, must still play over a portion of the water hazard). Different situations arise for red (lateral water hazards) and a drop zone does not need to be "behind" the hazard.

Can you point me to where in the rules it says that?

 

[rulefan]

[h=2]33-8/2[/h][h=4]Local Rule Allows Drop on Green Side of Water Hazard When Ball Fails to Clear Hazard[/h]Q.The design of a hole is such that a player must hit the ball about 100 yards in order to carry a water hazard. A Local Rule has been adopted to assist players who cannot drive over the hazard by allowing them to drop a ball, under penalty of two strokes, in a dropping zone that is located across the hazard. Is such a Local Rule authorized?
A.No. Such a Local Rule substantially alters Rule 26-1b as it allows the player to drop a ball on a part of the course (i.e., on the green side of the water hazard) that the Rule would not have permitted him to reach. Furthermore, the penalty for taking relief under the water hazard Rule (Rule 26) is one stroke, and may not be increased to two strokes by a Committee through a Local Rule – see Rule 33-8b.

 

[rulie]

Can you point me to where in the rules it says that?

See the Decision below, and be reminded that the Rules include the Decisions,
33-8/2

Local Rule Allows Drop on Green Side of Water Hazard When Ball Fails to Clear Hazard

Q.The design of a hole is such that a player must hit the ball about 100 yards in order to carry a water hazard. A Local Rule has been adopted to assist players who cannot drive over the hazard by allowing them to drop a ball, under penalty of two strokes, in a dropping zone that is located across the hazard. Is such a Local Rule authorized?

A.No. Such a Local Rule substantially alters Rule 26-1b as it allows the player to drop a ball on a part of the course (i.e., on the green side of the water hazard) that the Rule would not have permitted him to reach. Furthermore, the penalty for taking relief under the water hazard Rule (Rule 26) is one stroke, and may not be increased to two strokes by a Committee through a Local Rule - see Rule 33-8b.

Edit - see this was posted just earlier.

 

[Colin L]

It wasn't the type of hazard but Colin's comment regarding the positioning of the drop zone that I was highlighting. If both red and yellow staked hazards can have drop zones, then the positioning of the drop zone to keep the hazard in play becomes problematic by the very nature of the committee feeling it is impractical to drop behind the hazard....

My comment was about a water hazard. As has been explained, the situation is different for a lateral water hazard and its additional option of dropping within 2 club lengths on one side or other.