Rules for Water Hazards

[SammmeBee]

I understand the difference between yellow and red/lateral water hazards but if I hit onto a green and manage to spin it back into the water what are my options if:

1) Hazard is yellow (ie in front of the green)

2) Hazard is red (ie to the side of the green)

 

[Twire]

1) Hazard is yellow (ie in front of the green)

You will need to drop backwards behind the hazzard, keeping the LAST place it crossed, (i.e. where it spun back in) in line with the pin, and you can go back as far as you like.

2) Hazard is red (ie to the side of the green)

As above, but with an extra option of being able to drop out sideways (greenside) from where it last crossed, 2 club lengths no nearer the pin.

 

[Sailor]

Always the same, Sam, Rule 26,

For your ball into yellow marked hazard. Play the ball as it lies if that is possible and if not take a line from the flag to the point where your ball LAST crossed the margin of the hazard and go backwards along that line as far as it suits you and drop and play it on that line.

This could mean that you may drop it on the greenside bank of a hazard (within the hazard) marked by stakes or a yellow line if there is room, because the hazard starts at the line drawn or a line between the two adjacent stakes. (A line defines the extremity of the hazard and stakes tell you if there is a hazard there, if no line.) If you can’t drop on the greenside bank then off you go to the other side of the water looking for that same line.

For a ball in a lateral (red staked) hazard relief is granted on the near side within two club’s length of the point where the ball last crossed the line of the hazard not nearer the hole! If not possible off to the opposite bank and follow the same procedure as before.

If any of those conditions cannot be met then in both cases you have the option of returning to the place from which you last played and dropping A ball because the original ball does not have to be recovered.

A penalty of one stroke is incurred.

 

[Fyldewhite]

This could mean that you may drop it on the greenside bank of a hazard (within the hazard) marked by stakes or a yellow line if there is room, because the hazard starts at the line drawn or a line between the two adjacent stakes. (A line defines the extremity of the hazard and stakes tell you if there is a hazard there, if no line.) If you can’t drop on the greenside bank then off you go to the other side of the water looking for that same line.

Not sure this is sound. It's hard to envisage a point on the green side of the hazard that wouldn't be nearer the hole. You can't drop in the hazard, you wouldn't be taking relief under the rule.

For a ball in a lateral (red staked) hazard relief is granted on the near side within two club’s length of the point where the ball last crossed the line of the hazard not nearer the hole! If not possible off to the opposite bank and follow the same procedure as before.

You can drop either side, up to you.

Twire's description above seems spot on to me.

 

[SammmeBee]

This could mean that you may drop it on the greenside bank of a hazard (within the hazard) marked by stakes or a yellow line if there is room, because the hazard starts at the line drawn or a line between the two adjacent stakes. (A line defines the extremity of the hazard and stakes tell you if there is a hazard there, if no line.) If you can’t drop on the greenside bank then off you go to the other side of the water looking for that same line.

You had me until this bit? Drop a ball in a hazard, in a hazard?

So if it's red I can drop it onto the green (if the green is within 2 lengths obviously)?

 

[JustOne]

I thought that if you were lucky and there WAS a place you could drop within two club lengths then you do so TWICE (stop it as soon as it has crossed the hazard line) and then place. If there's nowhere to drop then you head straight to the other side.

A.F.A.I.K the only time you can drop in a hazard is when you are in a bunker and then you HAVE TO drop it within the bunker.

 

[viscount17]

This could mean that you may drop it on the greenside bank of a hazard (within the hazard) marked by stakes or a yellow line if there is room, because the hazard starts at the line drawn or a line between the two adjacent stakes. (A line defines the extremity of the hazard and stakes tell you if there is a hazard there, if no line.) If you can’t drop on the greenside bank then off you go to the other side of the water looking for that same line.

You had me until this bit? Drop a ball in a hazard, in a hazard?

So if it's red I can drop it onto the green (if the green is within 2 lengths obviously)?

you can't 'drop' on a green, you can only place, if the rules under which you are 'dropping' allows, eg casual water or immoveable obstruction

anywhere else 20-c states 'A dropped ball must be re-dropped, without penalty, if it: (iii) rolls onto and comes to rest on a putting green;