Water Hazard or not?

[DrvFrShow]

This thing isn't marked. Not with red lines. Not with yellow lines. Or stakes.

The scorecard says: Water Hazards: Defined by yellow stakes and/or yellow lines.

Underneath the water is asphalt. It is a shallow drainage pond, but it is not marked as a hazard of any kind, and seems to be there for looks. If it is not marked at all, how does one play this if one is unlucky enough to duff their tee shot?

[wadesworld]

26/3

Unmarked Water Hazard

Q. An unmarked ditch on the left of a hole is in bounds, but the left-hand margin is out of bounds. Accordingly, it is impossible to drop behind the water hazard under Rule 26-1b . A player's ball comes to rest in the ditch. Is the player restricted to playing the ball as it lies or proceeding under Rule 26-1a ?

A. It is the responsibility of the Committee to define accurately the margins of water hazards and lateral water hazards – see Rule 33-2a . However, if the Committee has not done so, the ditch is, by definition, a lateral water hazard and the player should be permitted to proceed under Rule 26-1c(i) .

I read this as, "if it contains water, or appears to normally contain water but is currently dry, by definition, it's a water hazard."  You would determine what you believe to be the natural margins of the water hazard and then proceed under 26-1.

Typically in a case like your picture, the hazard line would be drawn on the grass, just outside of the concrete/rock sides. I would think this would be defined as a lateral water hazard.

[rogolf]

Definition of a water hazard:

A “ water hazard ’’ is any sea, lake, pond, river, ditch, surface drainage ditch or other open water course (whether or not containing water) and anything of a similar nature on the course . All ground and water within the margin of a water hazard are part of the water hazard .

If it meets that definition, it's a water hazard, whether marked or not.

[DrvFrShow]

So this is a lateral water hazard by definition because it is unmarked. I think you'd take the drop. You definitely wouldn't want to hit off the blacktop. That clears up this issue. Thanks.

[David in FL]

So this is a lateral water hazard by definition because it is unmarked. I think you'd take the drop. You definitely wouldn't want to hit off the blacktop. That clears up this issue. Thanks.

No.  Because it meets the definition of a water hazard , therefore, whether marked or not, it is a water hazard.

It would be interesting for you to ask why it's not marked the next time you're in the Proshop.  Is it never marked, or did the lines just get obscured when they last mowed, and haven't been replaced because it's at the end of the season?

[Rulesman]

As the requirement of a regular WH can be satisfied if the ball last crosses the margin at the tee or green ends, then perhaps those ends should be marked yellow and the sides parallel to play marked red.

[DrvFrShow]

I've played the course for two seasons and it has never been marked.

The reason it hasn't been marked probably is because from the men's tee it would always play as a yellow by default since the men have to hit directly over it. However, from the women's tee box, one could hook a shot into the side. Common sense would dictate a drop outside like a lateral hazard in that case. And since no boundary lines exist, I would guess that the boundary would be the edge of the blacktop or water, which ever is higher at the time.

[turtleback]

So this is a lateral water hazard by definition because it is unmarked. I think you'd take the drop. You definitely wouldn't want to hit off the blacktop. That clears up this issue. Thanks.

Just to clarify, not all unmarked water hazards are laterals.  That was the case in that particular decision but it not universal.  For example, say you are teeing off and there is a little unmarked pond between you and the fairway.  That pond would be treated as a regular water hazard as it has none of the distinctive characteristics.of a lateral.

The problem arises when there is an unmarked hazard that is closer to the line between regular and lateral hazard.  In a competition the committee should be consulted as to how to play it.  If it is not a competition then the USGA has said informally in response to email inquiries, that where there is no committee the group can act as its own committee and make the determination.

I just wanted to make sure you were not left with the impression that any unmarked hazard is a lateral.

[gblackwell]

Looks pretty clearly like a regular, nonlateral water hazard to me. Even if you go in the side, it would not be impossible or impracticable to drop behind the hazard. I don't see this as playing anything but yellow. Of course, the committee's opinion is the one that counts.

-Greg

[Rulesman]

Looks pretty clearly like a regular, nonlateral water hazard to me. Even if you go in the side, it would not be impossible or impracticable to drop behind the hazard. I don't see this as playing anything but yellow. Of course, the committee's opinion is the one that counts.

-Greg

Hole hard right. Ball enters right side near green end.

But the committee would see it on the ground (as it were).