Lateral Water Hazard Rule

stockdam

The options for dropping out of a water hazard under a one stroke penalty are as follows:


a. Play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the
original ball was last played ; or

b. Drop a ball behind the water hazard, keeping the point at
which the original ball last crossed the margin of the water
hazard directly between the hole and the spot on which
the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind the
water hazard the ball may be dropped; or

c. As additional options available only if the ball last crossed
the margin of a lateral water hazard, drop a ball outside
the water hazard within two club-lengths of and not
nearer the hole than (i) the point where the original ball
last crossed the margin of the water hazard or (ii) a point
on the opposite margin of the water hazard equidistant
from the hole.




I understand this all except the very last point. You can drop the ball on the other side of a lateral water hazard (but not a normal water hazard; a lateral water hazard runs up along-side the fairway) .............what does the margin mean? I think it means inside the line defining the hazard. In that case it is important that the line is far enough away from the hazard so that you can take a stance. I'm not sure if there is always a line marking the margin.

I have used this rule before to drop on the fairway side of the hazard.

george67

it basically means if the ball enters from that side . if a drawn ball crosses the hazard then draws back to the hazard and lands and enters hazard the ball can be dropped from other side .where with a water hazard you would have to drop where it first crossed the water .
regards

stockdam

Yes but you can drop the ball within two clublengths of where the ball last crossed into the hazard. You can't drop it within two clublengths of the other side.....you have to drop it on the margin..........I was asking for clarification of what the margin meant and if there's always a line defining it.

FlutterinBantam

A lateral water hazard is defined by red stakes.

Usually is is parallel to the hole being played.

The margin is the area either bounded by the red lines or an imaginary line between the red stakes.

You can drop within two club lengths on the other side

Basically there are 5 options

play the ball in the hazard

drop within two clublengths from where ball last crossed hazard

Similarly drop opposite as described above.

Play a ball under penalty keeping the spot between you and the flag where the ball last crossed the margin (boundary) of the hazard.


Go back and play from where the original ball was played from.

Now that's that cleared up, no ifs buts maybes, thems the rules

stockdam

Yes I just read what I'd written above and it's two clublengths from either side........I must have dyslexia.