Whats the rule on this?

[Eleven]

Hit my approach over water, and it barely cleared the pond, but the ball lodged into the base of the retaining wall where it abruptly ended.

So as the banks of the pond slope gently, the wall runs along the bank, but only half the distance. Where it ended, there was some erosion, and the ball actually became wedged under the end of the wall.

Here is a google maps shot of the hole, the arrow points to the end of the wall, I was hitting from the bottom to the top. The ball must have hit the bank and rolled back under the end of the wall, I couldn't see another way it could become stuck.

My only way to hit the ball would be left handed (I am right) and I would have had to turn the club around and hit toe-first. We didn't know the rules, so my son and his friend told me to take a drop ala 'cart path'.

Was this a 'drop and take a stroke' situation? or was this more like the cart-path rule?

[vct33]

It's definitely a stroke via the unplayable lie rule. I just need to think about where you would take the drop. Based on that picture, I'm not sure where you could drop within two club lengths no closer to the hole. Thus, you may need to drop back across the water.

EDIT: Actually, your ball may have technically been within the hazard. I'm not sure the unplayable lie rule applies. If it's within the hazard and cannot be played, then you definitely need to drop behind the water.

[Eleven]

My approach shot was from about 2x the distance to the green that the large tree in the fairway is. (the one right under the arrow). I was hitting from the left side of that tree.

Sounds like my only real option was to drop back on the other side of the water. There was only about 6 inches of dry land on the other side of my ball from the green itself :)

[Game]

Yeah.. If it is behind stakes then it's in the hazard and I would recommend dropping line of sight at a good distance for one of your clubs that you hit well at the one stroke penalty. Your only other alternative is two club lengths no closer to the hole (1 stroke penalty) or hit it without grounding the club lefty style and pray. I know I'd be dropping line of sight.

[Fourputt]

My approach shot was from about 2x the distance to the green that the large tree in the fairway is. (the one right under the arrow). I was hitting from the left side of that tree.

I'd say that you are correct. Since the ball was lying in a hazard, no relief from the obstruction. The last place where the ball crossed the margin of the hazard was on the side of the pond away from the hole, so you would have to go back there for your drop under Rule 26-1.