Hello Linda,
Need help with this situation that happened during a
tournament.
Player hit her approach shot to the green and came up short
inside the water hazard. She was able to take her stance "inside"
the hazard, between the water and the yellow stake, but her ball was
directly behind the yellow stake. One of the women said she could NOT
remove the yellow stake because she was inside the hazard. I felt
she could remove the stake but I could not find the Rule. What is the
answer?
Thank you for all of your help.
Lulu from South Carolina
Dear Lulu,
Water hazard stakes (both yellow and red) are defined as
obstructions [Definition of “Water Hazard”]. Rule 24, “Obstructions,” divides
obstructions into “Movable” and “Immovable.”
Movable Obstructions
Players are permitted to take relief from movable
obstructions by moving them [Rule 24-1]. There is no stated prohibition against
removing a movable obstruction when the ball lies in a hazard, so the player is
permitted to remove a movable stake when her ball lies in a hazard.
Immovable
Obstructions
Rule 24-2b allows players to take relief from an immovable
obstruction except when the ball lies in
a water hazard. Note 1 adds that the player has two choices: play the ball
as it lies, or take relief under Rule 26-1. A player removing an immovable
obstruction incurs a penalty of loss of hole (match play) or two strokes
(stroke play).
The question now is whether the stakes are movable or
immovable, so back to the Definitions. An obstruction is defined as “movable” if it may be moved without unreasonable
effort, without unduly delaying play and without causing damage. Basically,
if you grasp the stake and it slides out easily, it is “movable;” if you have
to yank on it, it is “immovable.” However, be aware that the Committee has the
option to declare movable obstructions “immovable” via a Local Rule, and they
are often inclined to do so with water hazard stakes. Be sure to check the
Local Rules before tampering with a hazard stake.
Linda
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