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Lateral Hazard rules question

Posted in: General Golf Discussion

millercpa Professional Champion
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If a heavily wooded area is marked with a red line (lateral hazard), what is the actual rule regarding a ball that enters the hazard? Do you have to actually find the ball to declare it in a hazard or do you just have to be "reasonably certain" that the ball entered in a specific spot? If you just have to be "reasonably certain", how is that defined?
Brian Watson Professional Champion
# 1 10/27/2009 6:24:45 AM
Go to USGA.ORG and look up descision 26-1/1 there is a two paragraph definitions of known or vertually certain. Short anwser is not the ball does not have to be found in a hazard but 26-1/1 needs to be followed.
millercpa Professional Champion
# 2 10/27/2009 12:51:15 PM
Thanks for the response. However, I'm still not understanding the wording of the rule (I've copied it below). I guess my specific question is I hit a tee shot and it travels 250 yards away and enters the trees which have been marked as a lateral hazard. I am reasonably certain that the ball entered the hazard so it is deemed in the hazard. But, since it is 250 yards away, all i know is that it entered in an "approximate" area. Do i simply find a landmark near where it looked like it entered (which sometimes can be difficult) and take my drop 2 club lengths from there? Or do i have to call it a lost ball since I'm not certain enough where it actually entered the hazard? I guess the bottom line is how exact do i have to be in where it entered the hazard? 26-1. Relief for Ball in Water Hazard It is a question of fact whether a ball that has not been found after having been struck toward a water hazard is in the hazard. In order to apply this Rule, it must be known or virtually certain that the ball is in the hazard. In the absence of such knowledge or certainty, the player must proceed under Rule 27-1. If a ball is in a water hazard or if it is known or virtually certain that a ball that has not been found is in a water hazard (whether the ball lies in water or not), the player may under penalty of one stroke: a. Play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5); or b. Drop a ball behind the water hazard, keeping the point at which the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind the water hazard the ball may be dropped; or c. As additional options available only if the ball last crossed the margin of a lateral water hazard, drop a ball outside the water hazard within two club-lengths of and not nearer the hole than (i) the point where the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard or (ii) a point on the opposite margin of the water hazard equidistant from the hole.
Brian Watson Professional Champion
# 3 10/27/2009 1:30:19 PM
if this was casual play and you and your playing partners agree on the point where the ball entered the hazard proceed from there in determining the drop area. That is if everyone watched it enter the woods then it is reasonable certain it is there. If the shot was say, uphill and sight of the ball was lost before it entered the hazard that may be different since no one saw it enter the hazard. Unless it was slicing as itr was lost and everyone knows it was on its way in the woods This is one of those you had to be there moments....

millercpa

Professional Champion

Go to Last Reply

75 Views 3 Replies 1 Like

If a heavily wooded area is marked with a red line (lateral hazard), what is the actual rule regarding a ball that enters the hazard? Do you have to actually find the ball to declare it in a hazard or do you just have to be "reasonably certain" that the ball entered in a specific spot? If you just have to be "reasonably certain", how is that defined?

Brian Watson

Professional Champion

# 1 10/27/2009 6:24:45 AM

Go to USGA.ORG and look up descision 26-1/1 there is a two paragraph definitions of known or vertually certain. Short anwser is not the ball does not have to be found in a hazard but 26-1/1 needs to be followed.

millercpa

Professional Champion

# 2 10/27/2009 12:51:15 PM

Thanks for the response.

However, I'm still not understanding the wording of the rule (I've copied it below). I guess my specific question is I hit a tee shot and it travels 250 yards away and enters the trees which have been marked as a lateral hazard. I am reasonably certain that the ball entered the hazard so it is deemed in the hazard. But, since it is 250 yards away, all i know is that it entered in an "approximate" area. Do i simply find a landmark near where it looked like it entered (which sometimes can be difficult) and take my drop 2 club lengths from there? Or do i have to call it a lost ball since I'm not certain enough where it actually entered the hazard? I guess the bottom line is how exact do i have to be in where it entered the hazard?

26-1. Relief for Ball in Water Hazard

It is a question of fact whether a ball that has not been found after having been struck toward a water hazard is in the hazard. In order to apply this Rule, it must be known or virtually certain that the ball is in the hazard. In the absence of such knowledge or certainty, the player must proceed under Rule 27-1.

If a ball is in a water hazard or if it is known or virtually certain that a ball that has not been found is in a water hazard (whether the ball lies in water or not), the player may under penalty of one stroke:

a. Play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5); or

b. Drop a ball behind the water hazard, keeping the point at which the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind the water hazard the ball may be dropped; or

c. As additional options available only if the ball last crossed the margin of a lateral water hazard, drop a ball outside the water hazard within two club-lengths of and not nearer the hole than (i) the point where the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard or (ii) a point on the opposite margin of the water hazard equidistant from the hole.

Brian Watson

Professional Champion

# 3 10/27/2009 1:30:19 PM

if this was casual play and you and your playing partners agree on the point where the ball entered the hazard proceed from there in determining the drop area. That is if everyone watched it enter the woods then it is reasonable certain it is there. If the shot was say, uphill and sight of the ball was lost before it entered the hazard that may be different since no one saw it enter the hazard. Unless it was slicing as itr was lost and everyone knows it was on its way in the woods This is one of those you had to be there moments....

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