Drop zone rule

[PJ87]

Question

playing today something came up with one my PP

par 3, 145 yards over water

PP steps up hits into the water

takes a drop from point of entry hits again into water

when we get to green we find a drop zone for the hole..... in front of the water

we all agreed to let him take a drop from there instead and he got a point on the hole

was this right? is it like a provisional?

there was nothing on the card about a drop zone but it was clearly marked when we got to the green but not mentioned on the tee

 

[rulefan]

Question

playing today something came up with one my PP

par 3, 145 yards over water

PP steps up hits into the water

takes a drop from point of entry hits again into water

when we get to green we find a drop zone for the hole..... in front of the water

we all agreed to let him take a drop from there instead and he got a point on the hole

was this right? is it like a provisional?

there was nothing on the card about a drop zone but it was clearly marked when we got to the green but not mentioned on the tee

1 - stroke off the tee hit into water
2 - penalty drop
3 - stroke from in front of water hit into water
4 - penalty drop on DZ
5 - stroke from DZ
6 -->

Unless the missing local rule had said a drop from the DZ was compulsory. In which case it gets a bit more complicated

 

[PJ87]

1 - stroke off the tee hit into water
2 - penalty drop
3 - stroke from in front of water hit into water
4 - penalty drop on DZ
5 - stroke from DZ
6 -->

Unless the missing local rule had said a drop from the DZ was compulsory. In which case it gets a bit more complicated

We agreed that because there was no mention of the drop zone he could forget about the drop in front of the water

Sounds like wrong call now but seemed unfair he was punished for us not knowing about a drop zone

Given the choice anyone would pick drop zone considering it meant playing a 30 yard chip for 3

 

[rulefan]

Further to my post above, the positioning of the DZ is contrary to the rules.

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.

 

[PJ87]

I noticed all the drop zones were on the other side of water hazards on the par 3s

 

[rulefan]

I noticed all the drop zones were on the other side of water hazards on the par 3s

If the course is in the CONGU area, no comps would be qualifiers.

 

[Colin L]

We agreed that because there was no mention of the drop zone he could forget about the drop in front of the water

Sounds like wrong call now but seemed unfair he was punished for us not knowing about a drop zone

Given the choice anyone would pick drop zone considering it meant playing a 30 yard chip for 3

You can of course be sympathised with for not know the drop zone was there since, as rulefan points out, it shouldn't have been there! Sadly, however, the player has to count the first penalty drop and shot from the water hazard.

 

[PJ87]

this is where I find golf rules baffling and inconsistent

if you were on the tee and hit a ball but unsure where it is you play a provisional

if you get up there and find its gone in a ditch you didnt see that has stakes you dont play the provisional you play a drop from the hazard

dont understand why this cant be applied to this situation

 

[Colin L]

this is where I find golf rules baffling and inconsistent

if you were on the tee and hit a ball but unsure where it is you play a provisional

if you get up there and find its gone in a ditch you didnt see that has stakes you dont play the provisional you play a drop from the hazard

dont understand why this cant be applied to this situation

The reason you don't carry on with a provisional is that you don't have to find your original ball in a water hazard. Provided you know or are "virtually certain" that your ball is in the hazard it isn't "lost" in the sense used in the rules and you must proceed in the same as if you had found your ball by dropping under the water hazard rule [26]. Which you did. But that is less expensive than playing your provisional. If you put your tee shot into a water hazard and cannot find it as in your situation, you are playing three after your penalty drop whereas playing your provisional would be your 4th shot.

Anyway what your friend did was different. He played correctly under the water hazard rule by taking a drop behind the hazard but unfotunately drowned that ball as well. He then played correctly by dropping in the newly found DZ. The only point at which he could have played a provisional was from the tee if he thought his ball could be out of bounds or lost. Had he done so he would have had to abandon it when he became certain that his original ball was in the water hazard. He broke no rules; he was just unaware of the DZ first time round and you don't any concessions in golf for being unaware. Like the time I wondered why my 6 iron shot was so ridiculously short only to discover I had my 9 iron in hand. No concessions, no chance of a mulligan but a good chance of much friendly slagging in the bar.

 

[PJ87]

I think clubs should put a sign on tee saying if you hit the water please use the drop zone

How else would you know there is one

 

[duncan mackie]

I think clubs should put a sign on tee saying if you hit the water please use the drop zone

How else would you know there is one

All clubs should have their permanent local rules on their card....and any temporary ones on a noticeboard labelled Local Rules.

As has been noted, these particular dropping zones seem unusual - are you sure they were a standard option for any ball entering these hazards over any margin?

Which course was it?

 

[PJ87]

All clubs should have their permanent local rules on their card....and any temporary ones on a noticeboard labelled Local Rules.

As has been noted, these particular dropping zones seem unusual - are you sure they were a standard option for any ball entering these hazards over any margin?

Which course was it?

Stock brook manor golf club

When we got over there we found 3 drop zones

One for the second hole (par 4 for the ditch in front of green) a drop zone for hole 4 (this par 3) and for hole 7 which was the other par 3 that had a ditch in front

We hadn't noticed the drop zone for 2 until this hole but I remembered it for 7 incase (didn't need it tho)

 

[rulefan]

Are all the DZs between the water hazard and the green?

 

[PJ87]

Are all the DZs between the water hazard and the green?

Yes they were the other side of the hazard

 

[rulefan]

Is it your club?

 

[PJ87]

Is it your club?

No otherwise I'd of known it was there when my pp hit the water lol

Society event

 

[mikejohnchapman]

On a somewhat related topic is the line defining the DZ part of the DZ?

I ask because a popular DZ gets fairly hammered especially if near the green. I presume if you drop in the DZ and it rolls out you redrop - but what about if it stays on the line?

Like hazards I presume the line is part of the DZ

 

[Colin L]

On a somewhat related topic is the line defining the DZ part of the DZ?

I ask because a popular DZ gets fairly hammered especially if near the green. I presume if you drop in the DZ and it rolls out you redrop - but what about if it stays on the line?

Like hazards I presume the line is part of the DZ

Two answers.
A ball striking the line when dropped would satisfy the requirement for it to be hit the course in the DZ as the line is within the DZ
It is not, however, a requirement that the ball stays in the DZ after the drop. It can roll out of it but no more than 2 club lengths and, although you didn't ask, it can come to rest nearer the hole than the point where it struck the ground.

Here's what is said in Appendix A:

Note: When using a dropping zone the following provisions apply regarding the dropping and re-dropping of the ball:
(a)The player does not have to stand within the dropping zone when dropping the ball.
(b)The dropped ball must first strike a part of the course within the dropping zone.
(c)If the dropping zone is defined by a line, the line is within the dropping zone.(d)
The dropped ball does not have to come to rest within the dropping zone.
(e)The dropped ball must be re-dropped if it rolls and comes to rest in a position covered by Rule 20-2c(i-vi).
(f)The dropped ball may roll nearer the hole than the spot where it first struck a part of the course, provided it comes to rest within two club-lengths of that spot and not into any of the positions covered by (e).
(g)Subject to the provisions of (e) and (f), the dropped ball may roll and come to rest nearer the hole than:
its original position or estimated position (see Rule 20-2b);
the nearest point of relief or maximum available relief (Rule 24-2, 25-1 or 25-3); or
the point where the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard or lateral water hazard (Rule 26-1).

 

[rulefan]

Note: When using a dropping zone the following provisions apply regarding the dropping and re-dropping of the ball:

(a)
The player does not have to stand within the dropping zone when dropping the ball.

(b)
The dropped ball must first strike a part of the course within the dropping zone.

(c)
If the dropping zone is defined by a line, the line is within the dropping zone.

(d)
The dropped ball does not have to come to rest within the dropping zone.

(e)
The dropped ball must be re-dropped if it rolls and comes to rest in a position covered by Rule 20-2c(i-vi).

(f)
The dropped ball may roll nearer the hole than the spot where it first struck a part of the course, provided it comes to rest within two club-lengths of that spot and not into any of the positions covered by (e).

(g)
Subject to the provisions of (e) and (f), the dropped ball may roll and come to rest nearer the hole than:

• its original position or estimated position (see Rule 20-2b);
• the nearest point of relief or maximum available relief (Rule 24-2, 25-1 or 25-3); or
• the point where the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard or lateral water hazard (Rule 26-1).

 

[rulefan]

Snap.