Drop Zone

[alleztom]

I've had a look on the forums and so far I've not found an answer to this.

Scenario as follows, par 5 hole dog legs hard left (about 80*), with water on the right and a hill and tree on the inside corner of the dog leg. If you hit in the water on the right there is a drop zone, as designated by the committee in accordance with the rules of golf. The drop zone does not give you a look around the corner of the hill, so there is an advantage of dropping on a particular side of the drop zone (ie as far down the hole as possible) in order to give the best angle around the tree/hill.

My question is what are the rules for dropping in a drop zone? Does the ball need to strike the ground inside the DZ? Not roll outside it? Not roll more than 2 club lengths (I assume it's 2 because it's dropping with a penalty for going in the water)? Haven't found an answer anywhere, looking forward to the sage counsel of TST.

 

 

[Rulesman]

This from Appendix I Part A Clause 6:

 

Note: When using a dropping zone the following provisions apply regarding the dropping and re-dropping of the ball:

(a)

The player does not have to stand within the dropping zone when dropping the ball.

(b)

The dropped ball must first strike a part of the course within the dropping zone.

(c)

If the dropping zone is defined by a line, the line is within the dropping zone.

(d)

The dropped ball does not have to come to rest within the dropping zone.

(e)

The dropped ball must be re-dropped if it rolls and comes to rest in a position covered by Rule 20-2c(i-vi).

(f)

The dropped ball may roll nearer the hole than the spot where it first struck a part of the course, provided it comes to rest within two club-lengths of that spot and not into any of the positions covered by (e).

(g)

Subject to the provisions of (e) and (f), the dropped ball may roll and come to rest nearer the hole than:

• its original position or estimated position (see Rule 20-2b);
• the nearest point of relief or maximum available relief (Rule 24-2, 25-1 or 25-3); or
• the point where the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard or lateral water hazard(Rule 26-1).

Edited January 2, 2016 by Rulesman

[alleztom]

Magic - many thanks!