Rule: Dropping ball on steep bank

Whyner

I can't stand it in the US Open thread so thought I'd get a Friday rules query going. They're everybody's favourite, don't deny it.

So you've hooked it into the water and are now entitled to drop within 2 club lengths not nearer the hole, only thing is, it's on a very steep bank. You know that when you drop it it's going to roll into the lake.

Do you watch 2 balls roll into the lake before placing the third?

LuckyGent88

Whyner wrote: »

I can't stand it in the US Open thread so thought I'd get a Friday rules query going. They're everybody's favourite, don't deny it.

So you've hooked it into the water and are now entitled to drop within 2 club lengths not nearer the hole, only thing is, it's on a very steep bank. You know that when you drop it it's going to roll into the lake.

Do you watch 2 balls roll into the lake before placing the third?

No. drop the ball and once the ball enters the hazard (go back over the line) you can stop it as far as i know(usually done by the caddy in the pro ranks). Repeat with the second drop and then place the ball in the position it landed with the drop.

PhilipMarlowe

Once it rolls inside the hazard (line) it's fair game to be stopped as posted above. You don't have to wait until it comes to rest (out of reach in the water probably). You have to try not to fall in while frantically trying to stop the ball with your foot.
Of course all this assumes a lateral water hazard (red stakes) which you never specified and for that you get DQ'ed and your handicap is suspended for 2 years for being a cheat.
The "2 club thing" only applies to lateral water hazards and not to water hazards (yellow stakes)...

Whyner

The bank is very steep, the hazard line is cut close to the lake and there is no rough to stop the ball...and I have no caddy

PhilipMarlowe

Root in your bag for 2 top flites.

Whyner

Licksy wrote: »

Once it rolls inside the hazard (line) it's fair game to be stopped as posted above. You don't have to wait until it comes to rest (out of reach in the water probably). You have to try not to fall in while frantically trying to stop the ball with your foot.
Of course all this assumes a lateral water hazard (red stakes) which you never specified and for that you get DQ'ed and your handicap is suspended for 2 years for being a cheat.
The "2 club thing" only applies to lateral water hazards and not to water hazards (yellow stakes)...

Do I get banned for a week for not specifying lateral water hazard?

So is my best bet to drop 2 commandos and then place my shiny Srixon?

Whyner

Licksy wrote: »

Root in your bag for 2 top flites.

I'm having timing issues with my responses, you're way ahead of me

getcover

Showing my complete ignorance here as a newbie golf recruit, but whats is the difference between red stakes and yellow stakes (besides the colour! )
Why is one situation cheating and the other situation not?

sodbuster77

getcover wrote: »

Showing my complete ignorance here as a newbie golf recruit, but whats is the difference between red stakes and yellow stakes (besides the colour! )
Why is one situation cheating and the other situation not?

If the ball enters a water hazard defined by red stakes you can take a penalty drop within 2 club lengths of the point of entry not nearer the hole.

If the ball enters a water hazard defined by yellow stakes you can take a penalty drop as far behind the point of entry as you like, keeping the point of entry between you and the hole.

PhilipMarlowe

getcover wrote: »

Showing my complete ignorance here as a newbie golf recruit, but whats is the difference between red stakes and yellow stakes (besides the colour! )
Why is one situation cheating and the other situation not?

My posts about cheating above may* have contained sarcasm...

But basically a water hazard has yellow stakes (and yellow lines).
You get these options under a one shot penalty (or play as it lies under no penalty!):
1. Re-Hit from previous place.
2. Figure out the point where your ball last crossed over the hazard line. Keep this point and the flag in line and go back behind the hazard as far as you like on this imaginary line and drop a ball into play.

Lateral water hazards (red stakes) don't usually offer up the ability to easily keep the point of entry and the flag in line (because they tend to be side-ways on to the hole) so with these you get the above mentioned options plus you can drop out within 2 club-lengths (not nearer the hole) from the point of entry. To confuse you even more, you can also drop out on the opposite side of a lateral hazard at a point equidistant from the point where you last crossed the margin (this one is rarely used buy it's handy to know).

Now, the most common mistake I see is a player picks his ball out of the hazard and tries to drop it in a line between where his ball ended up and the flag. This might not be far wrong bit sometimes it is way off. The important bit is where you last crossed over the line, not where you saw the splash or where your ball is in the drain...

PARlance

Thanks Licksy, new enough to golf too. Should you ask playing partner(s) to help define where it last crossed the line or is it up to yourself to decide?

I can imagine this rule may cause a few disputes and is very hard to police.