Ball played in water hazard (wh) or lateral water hazard (lwh)

[dv7834]

During our round today, a hypothetical scenario was discussed:

A ball is within a WH or LWH and the player decides to play it as it lies.  The result of his stroke is that the ball remains within the hazard but is now in a worse position, one which negates an attempt at another stroke.  How does the player now proceed?  Is the original point of entry into the hazard still in effect as far as taking a drop etc., or would the new position of the ball within the hazard determine where a drop could take place?

Apologies if this has been covered in a previous thread but I found nothing referring to this situation.

[turtleback]

Originally Posted by dv7834

During our round today, a hypothetical scenario was discussed:

A ball is within a WH or LWH and the player decides to play it as it lies.  The result of his stroke is that the ball remains within the hazard but is now in a worse position, one which negates an attempt at another stroke.  How does the player now proceed?  Is the original point of entry into the hazard still in effect as far as taking a drop etc., or would the new position of the ball within the hazard determine where a drop could take place?

Apologies if this has been covered in a previous thread but I found nothing referring to this situation.

Decision 26-2/1 spells out thre options in great detail. It is too long to quote here so I'll give you a link:

http://www.usga.org/Rule-Books/Rules-of-Golf/Decision-26/#26-2/1

[Fourputt]

Originally Posted by dv7834

During our round today, a hypothetical scenario was discussed:

A ball is within a WH or LWH and the player decides to play it as it lies.  The result of his stroke is that the ball remains within the hazard but is now in a worse position, one which negates an attempt at another stroke.  How does the player now proceed?  Is the original point of entry into the hazard still in effect as far as taking a drop etc., or would the new position of the ball within the hazard determine where a drop could take place?

Apologies if this has been covered in a previous thread but I found nothing referring to this situation.

The simple answer is yes, as long as the ball didn't cross the hazard margin and then come back in on the stroke played from within the hazard.  The point of reference is always the last point where the ball crossed into the hazard.  If the ball never left the hazard, then it's the point where it originally entered.  If it left the hazard, sliceded back in, hit a tree and bounced back in, or in any other way recrossed the margin, then it's the point where it last crossed the margin on it's return.