Another lateral water hazard question

[Pardner]

Ok, here's the setup.  I'm hitting a ball into an island green and the hazard line on the ground on the front side of the island is red.  I hit my shot and I hit some rocks on the island and the ball bounces back into the water but it never actually crosses the red line.  Can I drop in front of the line on the island even though my ball didn't make it that far?  I realize that I must drop in front of the hazard line and the ball must stay out of the hazard for it to be a legal drop, but is it legal in this case or do I have to use one of the other lateral water hazard options?

Edited February 16, 2016 by Pardner

[Golfingdad]

2 minutes ago, Pardner said:

Ok, here's the setup.  I'm hitting a ball into an island green and the hazard line on the ground on the front side of the island is red.  I hit my shot and I hit some rocks on the island and the ball bounces back into the water but it never actually crosses the red line.  Can I drop in front of the line on the island even though my ball didn't make it that far?  I realize this is the only legal place to drop, but is it legal in this case or do I have to use one of the other lateral water hazard options?

It seems to me that it can't be a legal place to drop if it's closer to the hole than where the ball entered the hazard, right?  And if it never crossed that line, then where it entered the hazard is wherever the water starts on the near side.  Seems like your options are to drop there (which, if it's an island green, might just be the front of the tee box) or to re-hit from the same spot.

Unless I'm missing something?

[phillyk]

44 minutes ago, Golfingdad said:

It seems to me that it can't be a legal place to drop if it's closer to the hole than where the ball entered the hazard, right?  And if it never crossed that line, then where it entered the hazard is wherever the water starts on the near side.  Seems like your options are to drop there (which, if it's an island green, might just be the front of the tee box) or to re-hit from the same spot.

Unless I'm missing something?

No you're correct.  The ball never went past the red line on the island green.  The ball must be played from within 2 club lengths of the last point of entry to the hazard which is on the near side or he could even do the line between last point of entry and hole or obviously, re-tee.  Either way.

Edited February 16, 2016 by phillyk

[Rulesman]

1 hour ago, Pardner said:

Ok, here's the setup.  I'm hitting a ball into an island green and the hazard line on the ground on the front side of the island is red.  I hit my shot and I hit some rocks on the island and the ball bounces back into the water but it never actually crosses the red line.  Can I drop in front of the line on the island even though my ball didn't make it that far?  I realize that I must drop in front of the hazard line and the ball must stay out of the hazard for it to be a legal drop, but is it legal in this case or do I have to use one of the other lateral water hazard options?

Your reference point is where the ball last crossed the margin of the WH. In this case it is on the tee side. You didn't say what colour the stakes were on the tees side.

If they were yellow, then you can drop on a line from the hole, thru the reference point back as far as you like. Or play again from where you last played.

If they were red, you have the additional option of dropping within 2cl of the reference point.

[Pardner]

Yup ... seems clear now that you guys flushed it out ... thanks!