Rules question

[trickymicky69]

If a ball goes into a stream to the side of the hole (running the length of the hole) can the ball be played from its finish position?

I.e If it floats 200 yds down the stream and then stops, can I play it from there?
Or is it a drop from where it goes in?, unless I actually play the ball from where it ends up?

Hope that makes sense!

[Bryan SD2]

I'm going to say play it (from within the hazard) from where it stops at. But I think you'll confuse people with the term FLOATS. I'm guessing you mean the current of the stream moves the ball some distance before it stops...

[trickymicky69]

I'm going to say play it (from within the hazard) from where it stops at. But I think you'll confuse people with the term FLOATS. I'm guessing you mean the current of the stream moves the ball some distance before it stops...

Exactly what I meant.

Ball moved in the current all the way down to greenside and stopped. It would put me at a major advantage to play it.

[Fourputt]

Exactly what I meant.

If you are talking about playing the ball as it lies from the water where it stopped then yes. If you take the drop under Rule 26-1, then you have to go back to where it crossed into the hazard.

[trickymicky69]

If you are talking about playing the ball as it lies from the water where it stopped then yes. If you take the drop under Rule 26-1, then you have to go back to where it crossed into the hazard.

So can I play the ball form the hazard and then declare it unplayable when I cant get it out?

[James_Black]

So can I play the ball form the hazard and then declare it unplayable when I cant get it out?

I don't think so.

Your in a hazard so you have to either play it or drop from where it entered. I'd say dropping would be the smartest move (unless it's a really shallow stream).

[Fourputt]

So can I play the ball form the hazard and then declare it unplayable when I cant get it out?

You cannot declare a ball unplayable under Rule 28 when it lies in a water hazard. If you choose to not play the ball as it lies in the hazard, then you must proceed under one of the options in Rule 26-1 and drop outside of the hazard. That means that your point of reference for option b or c is the spot where the ball last crossed into the hazard. Where it actually came to rest is irrelevant.

26-1. Relief for Ball in Water Hazard It is a question of fact whether a ball that has not been found after having been struck toward a water hazard is in the hazard. In order to apply this Rule, it must be known or virtually certain that the ball is in the hazard. In the absence of such knowledge or certainty, the player must proceed under Rule 27-1. If a ball is in a water hazard or if it is known or virtually certain that a ball that has not been found is in a water hazard (whether the ball lies in water or not), the player may under penalty of one stroke: a. Play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5); or b. Drop a ball behind the water hazard, keeping the point at which the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind the water hazard the ball may be dropped; or c. As additional options available only if the ball last crossed the margin of a lateral water hazard, drop a ball outside the water hazard within two club-lengths of and not nearer the hole than (i) the point where the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard or (ii) a point on the opposite margin of the water hazard equidistant from the hole. When proceeding under this Rule, the player may lift and clean his ball or substitute a ball.

[trickymicky69]

You cannot declare a ball unplayable under Rule 28 when it lies in a water hazard. If you choose to not play the ball as it lies in the hazard, then you must proceed under one of the options in Rule 26-1 and drop outside of the hazard. That means that your point of reference for option b or c is the spot where the ball last crossed into the hazard. Where it actually came to rest is irrelevant.

Okay.

So if I take the shot, ball leaves the water and then enters the hazard again can I then drop back from the hazard? I would still then only be playing four? Correct? Its just the tee shot was into the hazard, so i dropped one and at that point I hit three, but I still had a big shot to even get near the green with the forth

[Dvazzz]

On a par 3 once over water during a tournament i hit my ball between 2 rocks that were laying on the ridge of the water. I had to take a drop according to the grounds director. If the piece the ball is next to is not "man-made" apparently you cannot take a club length, you need to drop. So i dropped, shot 3 and wound up with a 5 on a par 3 155. Idk if that helps but that came during actually tournament play.

[zeg]

On a par 3 once over water during a tournament i hit my ball between 2 rocks that were laying on the ridge of the water. I had to take a drop according to the grounds director. If the piece the ball is next to is not "man-made" apparently you cannot take a club length, you need to drop. So i dropped, shot 3 and wound up with a 5 on a par 3 155. Idk if that helps but that came during actually tournament play.

You can never take relief by dropping within the hazard as you could, e.g., from an immovable obstruction outside the hazard. If an object is man-made (i.e., it's an obstruction), you may move it if it's movable, otherwise you get no relief. If it's unplayable, you have to use one of the options available under rule 26-1.

(You can drop into a hazard if you're taking relief FROM another hazard, e.g., if there's one along the line away from the hole where your ball crossed the margin, but you can't take a club length or two club-length from within the hazard under other rules.)

[Ignorant]

If a ball goes into a stream to the side of the hole (running the length of the hole) can the ball be played from its finish position?

Rule 14-6 says:

14-6. Ball Moving in Water When a ball is moving in water in a water hazard, the player may, without penalty, make a stroke, but he must not delay making his stroke in order to allow the wind or current to improve the position of the ball. A ball moving in water in a water hazard may be lifted if the player elects to invoke Rule 26. This means first of all that it is not allowed to wait the ball float 200yds and then play it, unless of course the stream is too strong so it is not possible to make a stroke at the ball. So, in essence, you need to play the ball from the stream while it is moving OR invoke Rule 26 and drop the ball according to the options of that Rule with one penalty.

[zeg]

If it floated/drifted the 200 yards while he was approaching it or otherwise doing ordinary preparation, I don't think there's a problem. If it drifts, then comes to a rest, you'd be fine as long as you weren't sitting around waiting for it to reach greenside...

[Fourputt]

Okay.

If the ball crosses out of the hazard then crosses back in the point of reference for your drop would be where it

last crossed the margin of the hazard.