Dear Linda,
Our club has a rule that I believe to be unfair.
On a par 3 water hole, if you are playing in a tournament, you must take two tries to get over the water. If you hit two balls in the water, you can then walk around to the drop area on the other side of the water and taking another stroke, continue to play. So it's 1 in, 2 out, 3 in, 4 out, 5 to walk around, and you're hitting 6. Have you ever heard of having to add a stroke when you go to a drop area? Thank you.
Lulu
Dear Lulu–
The procedure that the Committee is requiring you to follow is not under the Rules of Golf.
Under the Rules, this is how you should proceed:
1. Hit your tee shot. Tee shot goes into the water.
2. Proceed under any of the relief options in Rule 26-1, or play your next shot from the established Dropping Zone.
3. Count 1 stroke from the tee, and one penalty stroke for taking relief from the water. Your next shot (whether under 26-1 or from the Dropping Zone) is your third shot on the hole.
Under the Rules, you may not require a player to hit a second shot from the tee if there is an option to play from a Dropping Zone.
There is no such thing as adding an additional penalty stroke to your score for playing from a Dropping Zone.
Linda
Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
