Water Hazard Question

fonda

Was playing a casual round with friends at the weekend and one who would be a more experienced golfer than me said, that if you bounce into a regular water hazard that you can drop behind the hazard, but if the ball goes directly in you must drop from where the original shot was taken.

I have searched through the rules but can't find anything about this bouncing. I thought that no matter how you went into the hazard you had the option of dropping within 2 club lengths, going as far back as you want keeping the line with the flag or replaying from the original position.

Is he wrong or is there another rule about bouncing that he is taking up wrong? Or am I wrong?

Russman

It doesn't matter whether it bounces in or goes in on the fly, the important thing is where the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard.

The only thing I can think your friend might be referring to is, say, if there is a pond short of a green and the ball lands on the green side of the hazard but rolls back into it, then thats where it last crossed the margin, whereas if it pitches straight in, then obviously it last crossed on the fairway side, so thats where the drop will be.

BoardsMember

The two club lenths only relates to a lateral water hazard, red stakes/lines.

With a water hazard (non lateral), you have three options: hit again, hit from within, or drop as far back along the line between the pin and the point that the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard.

The lateral gives two additional options, drop within two club lengths from where you last crossed the margin. Or go to the other side of the lateral water hazard, at a point that is equidistant from the point your ball last crossed the margin.

The fact that a ball might have bounced on the way in is irrelevant.

fonda

Russman wrote: »

It doesn't matter whether it bounces in or goes in on the fly, the important thing is where the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard.

The only thing I can think your friend might be referring to is, say, if there is a pond short of a green and the ball lands on the green side of the hazard but rolls back into it, then thats where it last crossed the margin, whereas if it pitches straight in, then obviously it last crossed on the fairway side, so thats where the drop will be.

I thought I had heard of that rule of the ball crossing the hazard and rolling back into the hazard, I had a feeling that he had heard that rule and mixed it up, was going to challenge him on it the other day, but was not sure myself so wanted to check it out first.

AldilaMan

Your friend may be more experienced than you but you know the rules better than he

A New earth

Barry Rhodes explains quite clearly

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yo0Iq1JvXA

fonda

A New earth wrote: »

Barry Rhodes explains quite clearly

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yo0Iq1JvXA

Good explanation, will download that onto the iphone and show him next time we are out playing.

AldilaMan

fonda wrote: »

Good explanation, will download that onto the iphone and show him next time we are out playing.

Surely you wouldn't use your phone on the golf course :rolleyes:

fonda

AldilaMan wrote: »

Surely you wouldn't use your phone on the golf course :rolleyes:

No never will show him before we start of course