Water Hazard Penalty?

[Bellante]

Playing in our monthly medal one of my playing partners miss-hits his shot into a yellow staked water hazard. When we get to the hazard we find his ball and he's had a bit of luck, its lying OK on the top of some mud with some thin wispy bits of grass close by and he decides to play it. Careful not to ground his club he plays his shot and does well to get the ball out, but on his takeaway he had lightly brushed some of the grass and although perhaps a bit harsh I think this is a penalty. He disagrees and feels it's OK to touch the grass, or any other part of the hazard, whilst actualy in the process of taking his shot, either on his back-swing or the down-stoke.

Can anyone please clarify who is right, penalty or no penalty?

Thanks
Bellante

 

[Canary_Yellow]

Playing in our monthly medal one of my playing partners miss-hits his shot into a yellow staked water hazard. When we get to the hazard we find his ball and he's had a bit of luck, its lying OK on the top of some mud with some thin wispy bits of grass close by and he decides to play it. Careful not to ground his club he plays his shot and does well to get the ball out, but on his takeaway he had lightly brushed some of the grass and although perhaps a bit harsh I think this is a penalty. He disagrees and feels it's OK to touch the grass, or any other part of the hazard, whilst actualy in the process of taking his shot, either on his back-swing or the down-stoke.

Can anyone please clarify who is right, penalty or no penalty?

Thanks
Bellante

I think there is no penalty.

Rule 13-4 states that the player must not test the condition of the hazard or touch the ground prior to a stroke (the definition of stroke does not include the backswing, so ok to touch the ground on the downswing but not the backswing) - see decision 13-4/31. However, decision 13-4/8 makes it clear that it's ok to touch long grass so long as the club is not resting on (i.e. it's weight supported) the grass, if it is resting this is treated as grounded. Equally decision 13-4/4 says it's ok to touch the grass when making a practice swing in a water hazard, so long as not improving lie or testing the ground condition.

To fully answer the question, touching the grass should be ok, touching the ground on the backswing is not ok. So he was right with regard to the shot he played, but not with regard to the rule.

 

[duncan mackie]

Just to round out the likely confusion over and above CYs measured response, where trouble occurs is when the club causes a Loose Impediment to move on the backswing ie a twig or unconnected dried grass stems etc
Unfortunately they can easily hide in grass and only become an issue when a swish in the grass sends them flying!

 

[Canary_Yellow]

Just to round out the likely confusion over and above CYs measured response, where trouble occurs is when the club causes a Loose Impediment to move on the backswing ie a twig or unconnected dried grass stems etc
Unfortunately they can easily hide in grass and only become an issue when a swish in the grass sends them flying!

I hadn't thought of that! That's a very tricky one to judge, particularly as you say, in relation to unconnected dried grass stems or something equally light and easily moved but not necessarily visible.

I suppose the answer is if in doubt, take a drop out of the hazard.

 

[duncan mackie]

I hadn't thought of that! That's a very tricky one to judge, particularly as you say, in relation to unconnected dried grass stems or something equally light and easily moved but not necessarily visible.

I suppose the answer is if in doubt, take a drop out of the hazard.

There are a lot of factors that should affect the decision to play from a water hazard - sadly many consider too few and simply moan when the full consequences become apparent!