Hello Linda,
Thanks for your very helpful website.
Our question:
A player makes a shot over a large water hazard (100m, yellow
stakes) and the balls lands inside at the very end of the hazard. There is no
water in the hazard and the ball is embedded in the mud.
Can the player declare the ball unplayable and, with one-stroke
penalty, drop in the hazard, or has he to return to the spot were the ball
crossed the hazard border?
Thanks
Greetings
Lou from Belgium
Dear Lou,
A player may declare his ball unplayable anywhere on the
golf course except in a water hazard
[Rule 28]. If the player is unable to hit his ball as it lies in the hazard, he
must choose one of the relief options available to him in Rule 26-1. As this
ball was embedded in a yellow-staked hazard, the player has two relief choices,
both under penalty of one stroke:
• Play another ball under stroke and distance
• Drop a ball on the flagline
Both options will require the player to hit his ball over
the hazard.
Please note that the player is not entitled to embedded-ball
relief [Rule 25-2]. Relief for an embedded ball is limited to closely-mown
areas through the green. If the Local Rule that extends relief for an embedded
ball to all areas of the course that are through the green is in effect, the
player would still not be entitled to relief – water hazards are not “through the green.”
Linda
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