Rules Question

AdpRo

Following on from the Moral Dilemma tread I have a rules question.

In the Byron Nelson last night, both players in the final group went into the water which was marked as red stakes. Why was one player allowed to go back as far as he wanted in line with where the ball crossed and the other only 2 club lengths? Why could Jason Day move to the other side of the pond before dropping his ball the 2 club lengths? I am guessing that he was still in a direct line where it crossed but not nearer the hole? Seems a bit strange to me!

Another question, what is the difference between red and yellow stakes? is it right that you can still play your ball from both so long as you don't ground the club?

f22

When your ball is in a water hazard (yellow stakes), under penalty of one stroke, you 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.

If the hazard is a lateral water hazard (red stakes) under penalty of one stroke, you can drop a ball WITHIN two club-lengths of the point where the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard, not nearer the hole.”
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Without seeing the incident in question, my guess is that Jason Day's ball hi the bank before dropping back into the water, thus giving him a two clublength drop (no nearer the hole) from his point of entry.

PhilipMarlowe

Where to start?

Firstly, water hazard = yellow stakes and lateral hazards = red stakes.
You have a few options:
Yellow stakes (water hazard)
1. play the ball as it lies in the hazard, can't ground your club.
2. play again from where you hit your previous shot, drop (or tee up if you went in from the tee box) and add 1 penalty shot.
3. drop out of the hazard under penalty and keep the point where you (last) entered the hazard and the flagstick in line. Go back as far as you like on this imaginary line.

Now, because of course layout and design, keeping the flagstick and where you entered the hazard in line is not always possible. Hence you get lateral water hazards, marked by red stakes.
With these red stakes, you get extra options.... you have all the ones from above plus:
4. Drop out sideways within 2 clublengths from the point where you last crossed into the hazard (not nearer the hole) under penalty.
5. Drop out on the other side of the lateral hazard at a point equidistant from the hole, 2 clublengths, 1 shot penalty...

AdpRo

Cheers, basically Day used option 5 and the other guy used option 3 as far as I can tell!