There are water hazards on some courses where it is difficult, if not impossible, to know whether a ball has entered or cleared the hazard. There is a Local Rule that golf committees may want to consider adopting for such conditions that would help to speed up play and lessen player aggravation. It is a fairly intricate rule, so I am going to copy it in its entirety for you, and then reword it to make it easier to understand.
Here is the rule, which can be found in the back of the Rules of Golf in Appendix I, Part B:
“1. Water Hazards; Ball Played Provisionally Under Rule 26-1
If a water hazard (including a lateral water hazard) is of such size and shape and/or located in such a position that:
(i) it would be impracticable to determine whether the ball is in the hazard or to do so would unduly delay play, and
(ii) if the original ball is not found, it is known or virtually certain that it is in the water hazard,
the Committee may introduce a Local Rule permitting the play of a ball provisionally under Rule 26-1. The ball is played provisionally under any of the applicable options under Rule 26-1 or any applicable Local Rule. In such a case, if a ball is played provisionally and the original ball is in a water hazard, the player may play the original ball as it lies or continue with the ball played provisionally, but he may not proceed under Rule 26-1 with regard to the original ball.
In these circumstances, the following Local Rule is recommended:
“If there is doubt whether a ball is in or is lost in the water hazard (specify location), the player may play another ball provisionally under any of the applicable options in Rule 26-1.
If the original ball is found outside the water hazard, the player must continue play with it.
If the original ball is found in the water hazard, the player may either play the original ball as it lies or continue with the ball played provisionally under Rule 26-1.
If the original ball is not found or identified within the five-minute search period, the player must continue with the ball played provisionally.
PENALTY FOR BREACH OF LOCAL RULE:
Match play - Loss of hole; Stroke play - Two strokes.”
Here is my explanation (translation, if you prefer):
The following conditions are required in order for a Committee to adopt this Local Rule:
1. It is difficult or impossible to know whether a ball hit toward the hazard has entered the hazard.
2. There is no rough area adjacent to the hazard where the ball might be lost. In other words, if you don’t find the ball you can be certain that it is in the hazard.
If these two conditions are met, then under this Local Rule a player would be permitted to hit a provisional ball under any of the relief options under Rule 26-1 for a ball in a water hazard. (Ordinarily, a player is not permitted to use any of these relief options unless it is known or virtually certain that the ball is in the hazard.)
If the player decides to play a provisional ball under this Local Rule, then the next step depends on where or if the original ball is found:
1. If the original ball is found outside the hazard, the player must continue play with the original and abandon the provisional.
2. If the original ball is found in the hazard, the player must either play the original as it lies in the hazard, or continue play with the provisional ball.
3. If the original ball is not found or identified, the player must continue with the provisional ball.
Note that if the player has hit a provisional ball under this Local Rule, he may not drop yet another ball under any of the relief options for a ball in a water hazard if he does not find his original ball or he finds it unplayable in the hazard. He must continue play with the provisional ball.
If the player has to continue with the provisional ball, count the original stroke, one penalty stroke, and all strokes with the provisional, which is now the ball in play.
Under this Local Rule, a player can immediately choose one of the relief options for a ball in a water hazard when he hits his provisional ball. If he does not find his ball in the hazard or on the other side, he will continue play of the hole with his provisional ball. No time will be wasted backtracking across the hazard or back to the spot where he hit his previous ball.
