Hi Linda
I've been learning a lot about the rules of the game since I
subscribed to your daily rules question and answers.
Now it's time for me to ask a question.
We've had a run of dry weather with the result that some of
the water hazards are quite low. On one of our holes there is a carry of around
100 meters over water if you drive down the right side of the fairway. If you
clear the water there is a short steep bank leading to the green.
I misjudged the carry and landed just short of the green and
in the hazard, just short of the red stake, and my ball plugged. I was able to
take my stance in the hazard but thought that playing the ball was high risk so
asked my opponent (match play) if I could take a 2-club penalty drop. He agreed
so I dropped in the hazard and took my penalty.
A similar question would be if the ball hasn't plugged but
is lying in an unplayable position - can one take a penalty drop from the
position of the ball?
Regards
Lou from Knysna, South Africa
Dear Lou,
You stated that you took relief for a ball embedded in a
hazard. There is no relief for a ball
that is embedded in a hazard [Rule 25-2]. If you are unable to hit the ball
as it lies, you must proceed under one of the relief options provided in the
water hazard rule, Rule 26-1. There are no other options.
However, since this is match
play, you are off the hook. There is no penalty in match play when both
opponents are ignorant of a Rule. If you and your opponent agree on a procedure
that may be incorrect, it is often not a problem. The problem arises when both
opponents know a Rule and agree to exclude it, which does not seem to be the
case in your narrative [Rule 2-5, Note 1].
Your second question asks about relief for a ball that is not
embedded but is nevertheless unplayable in a hazard. The answer is you may not
invoke the unplayable ball rule in a hazard [Rule 28]. Your only relief options
are those listed in Rule 26-1.
Linda
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