Ask Linda #55-lateral hazard not marked

Hi Linda…
If the tee shot lands on the ground and bounces into a water hazard running along the side of the fairway, and the hazard is not marked with either out-of-bounds stakes or lateral-hazard stakes, what is the correct thing for the person to do?
Thanks. Lulu

Dear Lulu,
If there are no out-of-bounds stakes, then your ball is not OB; it is in a lateral water hazard.

Since the hazard is not marked, you will have to imagine where the stakes defining the margin of the hazard would be placed. Don't let your imagination run too wild – if there were stakes, they would be placed where the ground breaks down to form the depression containing the water.

Please read Ask Linda #12, posted in January, for a full explanation on how to take relief from water hazards and lateral water hazards.

You might want to try to encourage the management at your golf course to mark the hazards. If you are playing in a competition at a course where the hazards are not defined, then there is really no way to insure that all competitors are taking relief in the same manner.

Linda

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