Ask Linda #28 - relief from lateral hazard

Dear Linda,
I want to make sure I understand lateral hazards correctly. If your ball goes into the lateral hazard (marked with red stakes) you take a drop from the point where the ball went in 2 club lengths, no closer to the hole. Do you start your measuring from the edge (of water) or from the red stakes or from the red line if you're lucky enough to have one?
Thanks,
Lulu

Dear Lulu,

Let's not make things any worse for you than they already are. It's bad enough to have landed in the hazard. When you drop your ball, you are paying for your faux pas with a penalty stroke. It would be cruel and unusual punishment to make you take your drop in the hazard. Those red stakes or lines mark the edge of the hazard. When you drop, you will start measuring your two club-lengths from those red stakes or lines.

You mention being lucky to have red lines. At some clubs, you may be lucky to have stakes! In the case where you have no hazard markers, and your ball is clearly in a hazard, then look for the spot where the ground starts breaking down to form a hazard, pretend you're a USGA official and plant your imaginary red stakes along that break, then drop your ball within two club-lengths no closer to the hole. During a match or a tournament, you would seek the approval of your opponent or fellow competitors before dropping; in casual, everyday play I'm sure your friends will trust your judgment as to where to drop.

Best advice? Keep it in the short grass.

Linda

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