Hi
Linda,
I am
fairly new to this fantastic game and had been having driving lessons to great
effect.
I was
playing at Halifax GC in Yorkshire and on one of the holes the tee was behind
some derelict farm buildings. I hit a sweet straight drive but because of the
obstructing farm buildings I didn't see the ball land.
About
270 yards down the fairway was an open ditch (a staked hazard). This was a
large deep ditch with heather and long grass. After spending 5 minutes looking
for my ball on and around the fringes of the fairway I concluded that the
only place the ball could be was in the hazard. However my playing partners
told me, because nobody had seen the ball enter the hazard I would have to go
back and play 3 off the tee.
I
begrudgingly accepted this but didn't continue playing the hole as we were
playing Stableford scoring. I thought this was unfair. What do you think?
Also,
one of my playing partners told me if I was playing a provisional ball I was
not allowed a practice swing. Is this right?
Many
thanks.
Lou
Dear
Lou,
The
Water Hazard Rule states that you must have knowledge or virtual certainty that
your ball is in a hazard in order to proceed under one of the relief options in
Rule 26-1. Let’s see how this might apply to your situation.
“Knowledge”
does not apply in your case, since no one saw the ball enter the hazard.
However, “virtual certainty” may
apply. Assuming everyone in your group agrees that your drive was hit straight
down the fairway and far enough to reach the hazard, you must consider the
course conditions in front of the hazard. If the entire area adjacent to the
hazard boundary is closely mowed so that a ball that is not found short of the
hazard can be presumed to be in the hazard, you are permitted to assume that
the ball is in the hazard [Decision 26-1/1].
However,
if the area adjacent to the hazard boundary consists of rough, fescue, tall
grasses, nearby bushes, or other trouble such that a ball that cannot be found
may be lost in this pre-hazard area, you may not assume the ball to be in the
hazard. After the five-minute time limit is reached, you must play another ball
under stroke and distance (return to where you hit your previous shot and add a
one-stroke penalty to your score).
The answer
to your second question is that your playing partner is incorrect. You may take
a practice swing (or more than one) before or after any stroke you make
on the golf course [Note 1 at the end of Rule 7]. If you have just hit an
errant shot, you will more than likely want to rehearse the shot before you try
it again with your provisional ball. Go right ahead and take that practice
swing.
Linda
Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
