Basic rules question - unplayable and a pond

[darkhunter139]

I hit a ball today that ended up on the very edge of the pond.  I could not get good footing at all to hit the ball but I decided to try anyway because I did not know how else to play it.  I ended up hitting a terrible shot that went 4 feet and into the pond and had to take a drop hitting 5.

Would I have been allowed to just declare that unplayable and take a drop with a one stroke penalty instead of trying to hit it?

[Fourputt]

Originally Posted by darkhunter139

I hit a ball today that ended up on the very edge of the pond.  I could not get good footing at all to hit the ball but I decided to try anyway because I did not know how else to play it.  I ended up hitting a terrible shot that went 4 feet and into the pond and had to take a drop hitting 5.

Would I have been allowed to just declare that unplayable and take a drop with a one stroke penalty instead of trying to hit it?

Was the ball inside the hazard line?  If so,then you would have to use Rule 26 (water hazard).  If the ball was outside the hazard line then you could declare the ball unplayable under Rule 28.

[darkhunter139]

Thank you!

I believe it was inside the hazard line yes.  Either way you would go about playing it almost the same way (By dropping it behind the hazard maintaining a straight line) correct?

[Fourputt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkhunter139

Thank you!

I believe it was inside the hazard line yes.  Either way you would go about playing it almost the same way (By dropping it behind the hazard maintaining a straight line) correct?

Rule 26 gives 2 options for a regular water hazard (marked with yellow stakes and lines), and an additional option for a lateral water hazard (marked with red stakes or lines).  They are:

Quote:

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 .

The the options are slightly different for Rule 28.  Option 'a' is the same, but 'b' and 'c' use the point where the ball actually lies as the starting reference point, rather than the point where the ball last crossed into the hazard (because in this case the ball does not lie in a hazard).   You cannot use Rule 28 if your ball lies in a water hazard. You must either play it as it lies or proceed under Rule 26.