A ball is in a lateral water hazard or a water hazard when it lies in or any part of it touches the lateral water hazard or water hazard.

When the margin of a lateral water hazard is defined by stakes, the stakes are inside the lateral water hazard, and the margin of the hazard is defined by nearest outside points of the stakes at ground level.

Definition: Lateral Water Hazard

A lateral water hazard is a water hazard or that part of a water hazard so situated that it is not possible, or is deemed by the Committee to be impracticable, to drop a ball behind the water hazard in accordance with Rule 26-1b. All ground and water within the margin of a lateral water hazard are part of the lateral water hazard.

When the margin of a lateral water hazard is defined by stakes, the stakes are inside the lateral water hazard, and the margin of the hazard is defined by the nearest outside points of the stakes at ground level. When both stakes and lines are used to indicate a lateral water hazard, the stakes identify the hazard and the lines define the hazard margins. When the margin of a lateral water hazard is defined by a line on the ground, the line itself is in the lateral water hazard. The margin of a lateral water hazard extends vertically upwards and downwards.

A ball is in a lateral water hazard when it lies in or any part of it touches the lateral water hazard.

Stakes are used to define the margin of or identify a lateral water hazard are obstructions.

Note 1: That part of a water hazard to be played as a lateral water hazard must be distinctively marked. Stakes or lines used to define the margin or identify a lateral water hazard must be red.

Lateral Water Hazard Scenario: Rule 26-1

In a Stroke Play Tournament...

Laura tees off and her ball lands in a lateral water hazard on the right side of the fairway. The lateral water hazard is marked by red stakes or by red lines painted on the grass.

What should Laura do?

There are five things that Laura can do when her ball goes in a lateral water hazard.

1. Laura can tee the ball up again within the tee box, and will be hitting her third shot.

2. Laura is allowed to play the ball out of the water. Note that Laura is in a hazard, and she is not allowed to ground her club. That means that she must hold the club above the water, and not touch the water until she swings down to hit her ball. This is a very risky shot. She should only think about trying it if the majority of her ball is above the water line, and she thinks she can get it out of the hazard with her shot. She will be hitting her second shot.

3. Laura can identify the spot where her ball entered the hazard, and walk back on a line that is in a direct line with the flagstick on the green. She can drop the ball anywhere on this line with a one stroke penalty. She will then be hitting her third shot.

4. Laura can identify the spot where her ball entered the hazard, and drop a ball within two club lengths of this point, outside the hazard, no nearer to the hole. The penalty is one stroke, and she will be hitting her third shot.

5. Laura can actually go to a point on the opposite side of the lateral water hazard that is the same distance as where the ball entered the hazard. She can drop a ball within two club lengths of that point, outside the hazard, no nearer to the hole. The penalty is one stroke, and she will be hitting her third shot.

When Laura drops the ball, she should hold her arm straight out and let the ball fall. If her ball hits the ground and then rolls back into the hazard; rolls out of bounds; rolls and comes to rest more than two club-lengths from where it first struck a part of the course; or rolls closer to the hole (except if proceeding under option 3), then she must pick up the ball and drop it again. On the second drop, if it again rolls back into the hazard; rolls out of bounds; rolls and comes to rest more than two club-lengths from where it first struck a part of the course; or rolls closer to the hole, then she is allowed to pick up the ball and place it on the exact spot where it hit the ground when she dropped it the second time.

Definition: 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.

When the margin of a water hazard is defined by stakes, the stakes are inside the water hazard, and the margin of the hazard is defined by the nearest outside points of the stakes at ground level. When both stakes and lines are used to indicate a water hazard, the stakes identify the hazard and the lines define the hazard margin. When the margin of a water hazard is defined by a line in the ground, the line itself is in the water hazard. The margin of the water hazard extends vertically upwards and downwards.

A ball is in a water hazard when it lies in or any part of it touches the water hazard.

Stakes used to define the margin of or identify a water hazard are obstructions.

Note 1: Stakes or lines used to define the margin of or identify a water hazard must be yellow.

Water Hazard Scenario: Rule 26-1

In a Stroke Play Tournament...

Joe teed off on a par three hole. His ball landed short of a water hazard in front of the green, and then rolled into the water. The water hazard was marked with yellow stakes or yellow lines painted on the grass.

What can Joe do?

1. Joe can tee the ball up again within the tee box and will be hitting his third shot.

2. Joe is allowed to play the ball out of the water. Note that Joe is in a hazard, and he is not allowed to ground his club. That means that he must hold the ball above the water, and not touch the water until he swings down to hit his ball. Joe will be hitting his second shot if he tries to hit it out of the water. Again, this is a risky shot.

3. Joe can identify the spot where his ball entered the hazard, and walk back on a line that is in a direct line with the flagstick on the green. He can drop the ball anywhere on this line with a one stroke penalty. He will then be hitting his third shot.

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