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Rule 26 WATER HAZARDS
(Including lateral water hazards)

The definition:
A 'water hazard' is any sea, lake, pond, river, ditch or other open water course (whether or not it contains water).
All ground or water within the margin of a water hazard is part of the water hazard.
There are two kinds of water hazards:
regular, which are marked by yellow stakes and
lateral, which are marked by red stakes.



Regular:
If your ball lies in or next to the water but within the yellow stakes you may do one of the following:

1) play the ball from where it lies if possible, without any penalty strokes. (Remember you cannot ground you club within the staked area). And try not to copy Jean van de Velde by taking off your shoes and socks wading in the water for 10 minutes before deciding it isn't a good idea.
2) drop a ball on an imaginary line between the hole and the point the ball entered the hazard (but no closer to the hole) adding a penalty stroke to your score.
3) play again from where you played the original shot adding a penalty stroke to your score.

Lateral:
If you ball lies in or next to the water but within the red stakes you may do one of the following:

1) play the ball from where it lies if possible, without any penalty strokes. (Remember you cannot ground you club within the staked area.)
2) drop a ball on an imaginary line between the hole and the point the ball entered the hazard (but no closer to the hole) adding a penalty stroke to your score.
3) play again from where you played the original shot adding a penalty stroke to your score.
4) drop a ball within two club lengths from the point of entry over the water, but not closer to the hole, adding a penalty stroke to your score.
5) drop a ball in a spot across the water from the point of entry two club lengths from the hazard, but no closer to the hole, adding a penalty stroke to your score.

Sounds complicated! Well its just common sense.
If you can play your ball without drowning then take that option as you wont drop a penalty stroke provided you don't ground you club.

Rules Quiz | How to fill in your scorecard | Rules Explained | Golfing Phrases |