Thursday, July 19, 2012

Ask Linda #491-Correct relief from water hazard?


Hi Linda,

Here is a scenario: a player hits his ball off the tee and landed in a thick grass next to a lateral water hazard. Assuming his ball might be lost in the grass, he played a provisional ball, which ended in the middle of the fairway. He proceeded to look for his original ball, which he found in the water marked with red stakes. He did not choose to drop a ball within two club-lengths from the point where his ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard but instead opted to hit from the tee box. Did he proceed correctly? What happens to the provisional ball?
Thank you for your clarification.
Lou

Dear Lou,

The procedure was absolutely correct, Lou. One of the relief options for a ball in a water hazard is to hit a ball from where you hit your previous shot. If that location is the tee, the ball may be re-teed. The player should pick up his provisional and toss it back in his bag. Don't count any of the shots played with the provisional.

Well done!

Linda
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