Rule of the Week
Week of Aug 7 to 11, 2017 

Decision 26-2/2 - Ball Played from Within Hazard Comes to Rest in Same Hazard After Exiting Hazard


QUESTION: 
In the diagram, a player has played a ball from Point A (the teeing ground) into the lateral water hazard at Point B. The ball last crossed the margin of the hazard at Point C.The player elects to play the ball from the hazard and he succeeds in getting her/his ball out of the hazard, but it re-enters the hazard at Point E. The ball comes to rest at Point D and it is not playable. What are the player's options?

ANSWER: The player may under penalty of one stroke:

a)    drop a ball at Point B and play again from there, playing 4 (Rule 26-2a(ii)); or

b)   drop a ball anywhere on dotted line E-G and play from there, playing 4 (Rule 26-2a(ii)); or

c)    drop a ball within two club-lengths of and not nearer the hole than Point E, playing 4 (Rule 26-2a(ii)); or

d)   drop a ball within two club-lengths of and not nearer the hole than Point F, playing 4 (Rule 26-2a(ii)) ... (equidistant point on the opposite margin) ; or

e)   play another ball from Point A (the teeing ground), playing 4 (Rule 26-2a(i)).


Point E is the reference point for proceeding under Rule 26-1b or 26-1c as it is the point where the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard.

If the player drops a ball at Point B and the ball comes to rest at a spot from which he judges he cannot play, he may, adding an additional penalty of one stroke, either 

  • drop a ball anywhere on the dotted line E-G ( flagline ), 
  • drop a ball within 2 club-lengths of and not nearer the hole than Points E or F, or 
  • play another ball from Point A (the teeing ground), playing 5. (Revised)
Personal Notes:
  1. Have more fun playing golf by not hitting you ball into hazards in the first place.
  2. If you do hit into a hazard, take your lumps and play smart. 
  3. Play one more round each week.  It will lengthen your life expectancy.  
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Happy golfing and remember the Rules of Golf Matter
About Golf Saskatchewan
As the Provincial Sport Governing Body (PSGB), Golf Saskatchewan will provide leadership in driving participation, engagement, capacity, and excellence in our sport.

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Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7L 7K7
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Authored by Brian Lee, Executive Director of Golf SK

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