Rules query

[andycap]

I went for a solo practice round on Sunday and was asked if i would like to join a 2 ball , which i gratefully accepted. Asked what my handicap was i explained that i am a fairly new member , having a course of lessons and needed to put 3 cards in for my handicap.They asked if i would like to put a card in and they would sign it so i accepted and on the whole i played quite well .But
On the 2nd hole stroke index 1 ,i decided to lay up short of water leading to an elevated green , played a wedge over the water but caught it a bit thick, the ball cleared the water , caught the upslope and rolled back into the water
I assumed that i would have to play again from the fairway side of the water but was told that as i had cleared the water before the ball went in i could drop over the other side. It didn't seem right as wherever i dropped my ball i was nearer the hole from where the ball came to rest.
Was they right?

Also must add , one of the guys played off 8, must of been at least 60 and was an absolute joy to watch. He hit the ball miles, hit most fairways and greens from ridiculous distances . Fades, draws, driver off the fairway, superb.
A real inspiration .

 

[slowhand]

In your situation you have 2 choices:

You can either replay the shot from where you hit your last shot, or you can take the line from the flag through the point where the ball entered the hazard, and drop anywhere along that line, as long as it is not closer to the hole than the point the ball entered the hazard. In short, after your penealty drop the hazard must be between you and the hole, so in this case you were advised incorrectly.

 

[Adjani]

Heard good things about your course andycap, i`m not a millon miles away if you want to invite me for a game

 

[Imurg]

This is a pretty straightforward one really. Slowhand's got it right but anyone who's been playing for any length of time should know it. Your 8 handicapper is a plank and needs to read his rule book

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Does that apply to both red and yellow staked hazards? I'm guessing so or as the OP said he'd have been dropping back nearer the hole even if it cleared the hazard and then rolled back in. I'm sure the answer given is right but I'm doubting myself and haven't access to a rule book at this moment in time

 

[andycap]

Adjani,
You are more than welcome to come over for a game, as is anyone here . I'm available most weekends , although i,m away for the next two.
Weekend afternoons are best as most of the members go out a.m . I think it's £15 for members guests

 

[andycap]

I'm of the same opinion as slowhand , but wasn't sure enough to challenge a seasoned golfer and regular comp player, also having just started a round with two strangers and trying to quickly get in to the zone of playing for handicap i wasn't really able to think about all the options . But it has niggled away at me since.
Thanks for your replies

 

[slowhand]

Caveat to my earlier answer:

If it is a lateral water hazard (running along the side if the fairway, rather than a hazard across the fairway) you can drop out to the side within 2 club lengths of the point the ball entered the hazard, no nearer the hole, in addition to the other 2 options.

 

[Imurg]

The OP did imply that the water was in front of the green and not alongside but I take your point Sir!
Maybe that's where the mistake came from. If they got the rulings round the wrong way?

 

[slowhand]

That's what I thought when I made my first post, which is why I didn't mention lateral hazards in my first post, but I thought I'd add it for completeness.

 

[jammydodger]

It all depends on whether it was yellow or red stakes , answer that question and then we'll be able to give him the definitive answer.

 

[Smiffy]

It all depends on whether it was yellow or red stakes , answer that question and then we'll be able to give him the definitive answer.

Looking at the hole in question it appears that the water hazard the OP is talking about is both

http://81.179.240.58/ballardsgore1/images/Holes-Big/02.jpg

 

[Fyldewhite]

First answer to this from slowhand is correct. You can never drop a ball under the rules closer to the hole than either where it lies (unplayable/GUR etc) or the place where it last crossed the margin of a hazard (Yellow or Red). Period.

 

[DCB]

slowhand,

Have a look at the definitions of each type of hazard in the Definitions section of the rule book.

 

[Fyldewhite]

Having now looked at the link posted by Smiffy it seems that the hazard is red one side (near the green) and yellow the other. Not sure why and I'd check the wording of any local rules but assuming the diagram is reasonably accurate then it may well be possible to drop on the green side of the hazard, within 2 cubs and not nearer the hole. It's all down the the geometry of exactly where the ball crossed the line and the position of the flag. If it isn't possible then the drop should be under the 'go back in line' option as previously stated. The additional option for lateral hazards, 'opposite margin of the water hazard equidistant from the hole' doesn't apply here due to the hazard not really being lateral at all (I'm sure the committee have their reasons, perhaps to speed up play etc).

 

[HomerJSimpson]

So are we saying that if the ball definitely crossed the whole margin of the hazard, i.e. landed short fo the green and was seen to roll back in that the drop on the green side of the hazard was correct.

 

[Fyldewhite]

So are we saying that if the ball definitely crossed the whole margin of the hazard, i.e. landed short fo the green and was seen to roll back in that the drop on the green side of the hazard was correct.

Yes, it appears it may be. There is no such term as 'whole margin', where it <u>last</u> crossed the margin is red so the 2 clublength option is available and it may be possible to drop no nearer the hole. For example if the ball crossed the margin towards the left end of the pond and the flag was on the right of the green it's likely that the above could be done. If however it crossed bang in the middle and the flag was in the middle it probably wouldn't be possible. Like I said above it depends on the geometry.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I'm aware that there is no defined "whole margin" and was trying to ensure we were aware it had crossed the hazard and the red lines on the far bank first. Otherwise the only option would be to proceed under the options for yellow staked hazards.

 

[Twire]

I'm aware that there is no defined "whole margin" and was trying to ensure we were aware it had crossed the hazard and the red lines on the far bank first. Otherwise the only option would be to proceed under the options for yellow staked hazards.

From the OP

On the 2nd hole stroke index 1 ,i decided to lay up short of water leading to an elevated green , played a wedge over the water but caught it a bit thick, the ball cleared the water , caught the upslope and rolled back into the water.

 

[Imurg]

I don't get how you can have a normal water hazard on the tee side of the lake and a lateral water hazard on the green side. Doesn't make much sense to me and is asking for trouble. Surely the word lateral means running the along the length of the hole not across it.

Imagine at Augusta if the 15th was like this - water hazards tee-side but lateral green-side?