Overflowing Hazard

[jammag]

With all this rain we have had recently, yesterday when I was out playing my ball landed in a place that I wasnt sure if it was in the hazard or not. My ball landed outside of the yellow stakes to mark the hazard how ever with all the rain we have had the hazard had overflowed and there for had more water than the stakes marked. My ball was in water about an inch deep my playing partners said they didnt think I was in the hazard so was able to use the standing water/preferred lies route and move it under no penalty. Is this correct?

 

[Colin L]

Any water outwith the margins of hazard that has overflowed is casual water and you can take relief under Rule 25-1b.
Decision 25/2 confirms this for you.
http://www.usga.org/Rule-Books/Rules-of-Golf/Decision-25/#25/2