The Mickelson Incident - a tale of two brain-fades

Introduction
On the third day of the 2018 US Open, Phil Mickelson quite incredibly struck his ball while it was in motion.

In an interview immediately following the completion of his round Michelson said:

‘… at that time I didn’t feel like going back and forth, hitting the same shot over … no question, it (the ball) was going to go down into the same spot behind the bunker and I wasn’t going to have a shot …’.

He also said in respect to the action he took:

‘I tried to hit it as near the hole as possible to make the next one....’. 

At a later date he apparently issued statement wherein he said:

'I'm embarrassed and disappointed by my actions.My anger and frustration got the best of me last weekend.I'm embarrassed and disappointed by my actions. It was clearly not my finest moment and I'm sorry.’

Mickelson had committed the most obvious and blatant breach of Rule 1-2 that could be imagined.

He suffered a brain-fade!

The USGA, when confronted with this incident, latched (with alacrity) onto Mickelson’s assertion that he tried to hit the moving ball near to the hole … was aware of the fact that he would incur a two stroke penalty … and that he was happy to take it as he judged it to be of significant advantage to him. In this way they felt that they were required to invoke Exception 1 to Rule 1-2 and move the offence from Rule 1-2 (which could have led to Mickelson’s disqualification) to the less penal Rule 14-5 (Paying Moving Ball) which limits the potential penalty to two strokes.

Mickelson was issued with a two stroke penalty and continued in the tournament.

Rule 1-2
In the Rules of Golf (Rule Book) ‘As Approved by the The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, Scotland (R&A) and The United States Golf Association (USGA), Effective January 1956’ a Rule dealing with ‘Exerting Influence On Ball’ was included as Rule 35.1.h. 

Rule 35 covered ‘PUTTING GREEN AND WITHIN TWENTY YARDS OF HOLE and section 1.h stated:

Any player or caddie engaged in the match may stand at the hole, but no player or caddie shall take any action to influence the position or the movement of the ball.

The Penalty for breach of Rule 35.1 was two strokes.

In the Rule Book as Effective 1968 and Amended to January 1970, ‘Exerting Influence On Ball’ appeared as part of Rule 17: IMPROVING LIE or STANCE and INFLUENCING BALL PROHIBITED.

Rule 17.4 stated:

No player or caddie shall take any action to influence the position or the movement of a ball except in accordance with the Rules.

The Penalty statement for Rule 17 was amended to provide that:

In case of a serious breach of Rule 17-4, the Committee may impose a penalty of disqualification.

In the 1996 Rules, ‘Exerting Influence on Ball’ became Rule 1-2 and replicated exactly the provisions of the 1970 book.

The 2000 Rule Book again replicated Rule 1-2, but it now included:

(Removal of movable obstructions – see Rule 24-1)

This provision continued in the 2004 Rule Book but by 2008 the following was added:

(Removable of loose impediment – see Rule 23-1)

And the following Note was included:

A player is deemed to have committed a serious s breach of Rule 1-2 if the Committee considers that his act of influencing the position or movement of the ball has allowed him or another player to gain a significant advantage or has placed another player, other than his partner, at a disadvantage.

In the Rule Book issued in 2012 Rule 1-2 was re-titled ‘Exerting influence on Movement of Ball or Altering Physical Conditions’ and was modified to read:

A player must not (i) take an action with the intent to influence the movement of a ball in play or (ii) alter any physical condition with the intent of affecting the play of a hole. 

Exceptions:

1. An action expressly permitted or expressly prohibited by another Rule is subject to that other Rule, not Rule 1-2

2. Any action taken for the sole purpose of caring for the course is not a breach of Rule 1-2.

Note 2:In stroke play, except where a serious breach resulting in disqualification is involved, a player in breach of Rule 1-2 in relation to his own ball must play the ball from where it was stopped, or, if the ball was deflected, from where it came to rest. If the movement of a player’s ball has been intentionally influenced by a fellow-competitor or other outside agency, Rule 1-4 applies to the player.

The R&A and USGA (Ruling Bodies) explained the changes to Rule 1-2 in the 2012 Book in the following terms:

The Rule is amended to establish more clearly that if a player intentionally takes an action to influence the movement of a ball or to alter physical conditions affecting the playing of a hole in a way that is not permitted by the Rules, Rule 1-2 applies only where the action is not already covered in another Rule. For example, a player improving the lie of his ball is in breach of Rule 13-2 and therefore that Rule would apply, whereas a player intentionally improving the lie of a fellow-competitor’s ball is not a situation covered by Rule 13-2 and, therefore, is governed by Rule 1-2.

With the introduction of Exception 1, parenthetical references to other Rules was removed. It is my contention that over the years myriad Decisions (see below) had been issued relating to circumstances caught by Rule 1-2 and that the more efficient way to incorporate these Decisions into the Rules was to frame a general Exception rather than to continue the policy of listing relevant exceptions separately. A result of such generalisation is, of course, that it opens the way for there to be unintended consequences.

Rule 1-2, as modified in 2012 is replicated in the current Rule Book.

Decisions
The application of Rule 1-2 has, over time, been clarified and expanded by several Decisions.

Such Decisions published between 2006 and 2011, which influenced the introduction of Exception 1 into Rule 1-2 included:

• Line of Putt Altered Purposely by Opponent or Fellow-Competitor by Stepping on It    Competitor Alters Line of Play of Fellow-Competitor
• Shielding Line of Putt from Wind
• Flagstick Lying on Putting Green Removed by Player to Prevent Another Player’s Ball from Striking It
• Player Repairs Hole After Holing Out But Before Opponent or Fellow-Competitor or Partner Holes Out
• Player Removes Loose Impediment Affecting Lie of Opponent or Fellow-Competitor in Hazard
• Player Jumps Close to Hole to Cause Ball to Drop: Ball Does not Drop or Ball Moves   
• Player Purposely Deflects Partner’s Ball in Motion on Putting Green
• Player Presses Down Turf as Ball Is Rolling Towards Area

There are also several other Decisions which are referenced covering such issues as: Deliberately failing to remove flagstick; Removal of loose impediment or obstruction affecting play; Replacing lifted ball on green while another ball in motion; Casting shadow on ball overhanging the hole; Caddie holds back tree branch to prevent branch deflecting or stopping ball; and Caddie stops dropped ball before it comes to rest.

Since the introduction of Exception 1 similar Decisions covering pressing a ball into the putting surface and wrapping a towel around self to gain protection from cactus have been added.

It will be noted that all of these Decisions relate to actions which are essentially indirect in nature: that is, there is no involvement of action applied by the player directly to his ball.

It should be further noted that not one of the more than forty Decisions relating to ‘exerting an influence’ in the current Decisions Book refers to Rule 14, indicating that it has never been a contemplated or envisaged that this Rule could, would or might be of relevance to the application of Rule 1-2, particularly in the way that it has now been.

Thus the clarifications on the application of Rule 1-2 which led to the framing of Exception 1 related entirely to indirect actions, with three exceptions.

Decision 1-2/5 which provides that a player who putts with one hand and catches the ball with the other before it comes to rest in the hole is in breach of Rule 1-2 for purposely stopping a moving ball. This is a self-evident, though somewhat pedantic, application of the Rule but which provides a telling comparison between the consequence of this seemingly innocuous action and that suffered by Mickelson.

More significantly, Decision 1-2/5.5 states:

Q. A player’s ball lies through the green. After playing a pitch shot up a slope, the player sees his ball start to roll back towards him. He places his club in front of the ball and stops it. The ball would have rolled only a few yards more and remained through the green. What is the ruling? 

A. Since the player purposely stopped the ball, he is in breach of Rule 1-2. … In stroke play if a serious breach has occurred, the player is disqualified.

And further, Decision 1-2/0.5, promulgated in 2012 makes it quite clear that a player stopping the ball from entering a water hazard is guilty of a serious breach of Rule 1-2 and should be disqualified. On the application of the precedent established by the Mickelson interpretation the player could smack his ball towards the green avoid the one stroke hazard penalty, overcome the necessity to drop his ball behind the hazard and escape disqualification.

I think it entirely reasonable to assert that the purpose of Exception 1 to Rule 1-2 is to ensure that actions essentially indirect in nature are dealt with under a more appropriate Rule and that dealing with direct and deliberate contraventions of Rule 1-2 by an unintended application of the Exception is entirely inappropriate.

Stroke
That Mickelson breached Rule 1-2 is completely self-evident on the basis of both the vision available for all to see and the verbal evidence provided by the player himself.

However the USGA apparently chose to ignore all of the evidence, as required in the application of any and every Rule, and to take the player’s off-hand comment that ‘I tried to hit it as near the hole as possible to make the next one....’ as clear evidence that he had made a stroke at a ball in motion and was therefore caught by the Exception and subject thereby to the provisions of Rule 14.5.

But does this stand up?

In the Rule Book of 1956, the essential feature of a stroke was defined as:

‘… the forward movement of the club with the intention of fairly striking at and moving the ball’.

While the subsequently added caveat – dealing with checking a swing before the club reaches the ball – serves to confuse the issue and has since been ignored, the essential features of a stroke remain the same today.

To confuse the issue, Decision 14/6 published in the 1995, jointly published by the USGA and the R&A, which addressed the case of a player swinging at a ball which ‘popped up’ when he made a stroke at it in tree roots states that this is not a stroke, despite a forward movement of the club having been made with the intention of striking the ball.

The plot thickens, however, when we see that this Decision which was reproduced in every Decisions Book up to, and including 2010-2011, was suddenly re-classified as ‘Reserved’ in the body and ‘Withdrawn’ in the ‘Amendments’ summary, of the 2012-2013 Decisions Book.

The standing of this Decision and the reason for its change in status are not immediately obvious.

Conclusion
In consideration of the nature of the offence, the admissions of the player, the principles of the game, the history and development of the relevant rules and decisions, and the specious basis upon which it based its decision it is impossible to escape the conclusion that the USGA failed spectacularly in its duty as a custodian of the integrity of the game in its handling of what can only be described as a blatant and outrageous action by a player.

The USGA suffered a brain-fade!

Commentary

For those who may be interested in understanding more about the content and reasoning behind the 'simpler rules', below is the link to a commentary:
 

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B25yAmL1yRAQWkFUck5MVlIxUE0/edit?usp=sharing

And for those who are really, really keen the following links to a composite file through which the actual differences between the new and current codes can be traced:

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B25yAmL1yRAQUV9oNTI4Yi1PekE/edit?usp=sharing




 

Draft Simpler Rule Book

Below is the link to the current draft of a book of simpler rules for club and social golfers.

This draft will be replaced as modifications resulting from continuing consultation and refinement occur: there remains much work to be done.

Notification of errors, omissions, inconsistencies and incoherence would be greatly appreciated.


Initial draft 08/07/2013

Revised 29/08/13
   minor modifications and addition of Rule 32

Revised 19/09/13
   permission to carry clubs 'out of play' (Rule 4-4); permission to touch ground in hazard
   with club except when executing a practice swing (Rule 3-4); elimination of 'opposite
   margin' relief from LWH (Rule 26)

Revised 10/10/13
   minor adjustments


https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B25yAmL1yRAQemxzSm4zeFNVSWs/edit?usp=sharing

 

 

PS: I apologise for the inconsistency in colour coding, but something has been lost in document translation!

Interregnum

Rog will take a break from posting while he reviews the state of his proposed revised rules for club and social golfers and works on the task of formatting them into a state suitable for publication.

If, however, anything sufficiently interesting arises that Rog believes the spotlight should be focussed on he will, no doubt, suspend this task and post a comment.

Thanks to all those who have shown the interest to read this blog over the past 18 months, particularly to those who have stimulated discussion by taking the time to post a comment.

In the meantime, if anyone has an inspiration as to how the Rules might be simplified or improved for 'club' golfers, please post a comment on this page.

Simpler Rules: Rule 32

Rule 32: Par and Stableford Competitions 

32-1 Conditions

Par and Stableford competitions are forms of stroke play in which play is against a fixed score at each hole. The Rules for stroke play, so far as they are not at variance with the following specific Rules, apply. 

In handicap par and Stableford competitions, the competitor with the lowest net score at a hole takes the honour at the next tee. 

a. Par Competitions

The scoring for par competitions is made as in match play.

Any hole which is not completed or at which the player achieves a net score which is greater than the fixed score (par) for the hole is a loss (or minus). The winner is the competitor who is most successful in the aggregate of holes. 

The marker is responsible for marking only the gross number of strokes for each hole where the competitor makes a net score equal to or less than the fixed score. 

b. Stableford Competitions 

The scoring in Stableford competitions is made by points awarded in relation to a fixed score at each hole as follows: 

Hole Played In                                                                  Points 

More than one over fixed score or no score returned        0

One over fixed score                                                          1

Fixed score                                                                         2

One under fixed score                                                        3

Two under fixed score                                                        4

Three under fixed score                                                     5

Four under fixed score                                                       6 

The winner is the competitor who scores the highest aggregate number of points. 

The marker is responsible for marking only the gross number of strokes at each hole where the competitor’s net score earns one or more points. 

 

32-2 Breach of Rule Were Maximum Penalty per Round Applies

If a competitor is in breach of a Rule for which there is a maximum penalty per round, he must report the facts to the Committee before returning his score card. If he fails to do so, he is disqualified from the competition.

 

 

Simpler Rules: Rule 31

Rule 31: Better-ball Stroke Play 

31-1. General

Rules 1 to 28 apply unless they are over-ridden by the any specific provision included in this Rule.

31-2. Representation of Side

A side may be represented by either partner for all or any part of a stipulated round; both partners need not be present. An absent competitor may join his partner between holes, but not during play of a hole.

31-3. Scoring

The marker is required to record for each hole only the gross score of whichever partner’s score is to count. The gross scores to count must be individually identifiable; otherwise, the side is disqualified. Only one of the partners need be responsible for signing and returning the scorecard.  

(Wrong score – see Rule 31-7a)

31-4. Order of Play

Balls belonging to the same side may be played in the order the side considers best. 

31-5. Wrong Ball

If a competitor makes a stroke at a wrong ball, he incurs a penalty of two strokes and must correct his mistake in accordance with Rule 15-3b. His partner incurs no penalty, even if the wrong ball belongs to him. 

If the wrong ball belongs to another player, its owner must place a ball at the nearest point, not nearer to the hole, to the position (or estimated position where appropriate) from which his ball was first wrongly played which avoids damage to the lie created by the playing of that ball.

(Placing and Replacing – see Rule 20-3) 

31-6. Effect of Other Penalties

If a player’s breach of a Rule assists his partner’s play or adversely affects an opponent’s play, the partner incurs the applicable penalty in addition to any penalty incurred by the player. 

In all other cases where a player incurs a penalty for breach of a Rule, the penalty does not apply to his partner. Where the penalty is stated to be loss of hole, the effect is to disqualify the player for that hole. 

For penalties to, or disqualification of, a side see Rule 33

 

 

 

 

Simpler Rules: Rule 30

Revised 140713

Rule 30: Better-ball Match Play  
                  
30-1. General

Rules 1 to 28 apply unless they are over-ridden by the any specific provision included in this Rule.

 

30-2 Better-ball Match Play

a. Representation of Side

A side may be represented by one partner for all or any part of a match; all partners need not be present. An absent partner may join a match between holes, but not during play of a hole. 

b. Order of Play

Balls belonging to the same side may be played in the order the side considers best.

c. Wrong Ball

If a player makes a stroke at a wrong ball, he is disqualified for that hole, but his partner incurs no penalty even if the wrong ball belongs to him.

If the wrong ball belongs to another player, its owner must place a ball at the nearest point, not nearer to the hole, to the position (or estimated position where appropriate) from which his ball was first wrongly played which avoids damage to the lie created by the playing of that ball.

 

 (Placing and Replacing – see Rule 20-3) 

d. Effect of Other Penalties

If a player’s breach of a Rule assists his partner’s play or adversely affects an opponent’s play, the partner incurs the applicable penalty in addition to any penalty incurred by the player. 

In all other cases where a player incurs a penalty for breach of a Rule, the penalty does not apply to his partner. Where the penalty is stated to be loss of hole, the effect is to disqualify the player for that hole. 

For penalties to, or disqualification of, a side see Rule 33.

 

 

 

Rog's Blog: Dodgy Decisions #14

Consider the following: 

27-2c/1.5

Whether Provisional Ball Becomes Ball in Play If Original Ball Lost in Ground Under Repair

Q. A player hits his tee shot into an area of tall rough and, since the ball may be lost, he plays a provisional ball. During search for the original ball, the player discovers that the Committee has marked a large area of the rough as ground under repair. It is established that there is virtual certainty that the original ball is in the ground under repair. Does the provisional ball automatically become the ball in play since the original ball, which has not been found, was outside a water hazard? 

A. No. The player may continue play with the provisional ball under Rule 27-2b or he may proceed under Rule 25-1c(i) as it is virtually certain that his ball is in ground under repair — see Exception to Rule 27-2b. 

Since when has a player had the choice of which ball to play (other than the ‘special circumstances’ described in Appendix 1, Part B, 1) 

And what are the good and substantial reasons, or exceptional circumstances, to support a choice being available in this situation.  

The reality is that there are none of either! 

This player strikes the ball towards an area where (in the player’s judgement) it may be lost. 

The player puts a provisional ball into play. 

When s/he reaches the area where the ball is thought to have come to rest, it is duly established to be virtually certain that the ball is in GUR; and it cannot be found. 

But in terms of Rule of Rule 25-1c the ball has been virtually found and is deemed to lie at the point where it last crossed the margin of the GUR. 

So, what to do? 

Simple answer: proceed in accordance with Rule 25-1c. 

To suggest that the provisional ball should remain ‘live’ while the player decides on his/her preferable option is just nonsense. 

This decision has no basis in rationality, nor is it supported by any cogent reasoning or explanation.  It is dodgy in the extreme.

 

 

 

Simpler Rules: Rule 29

Rule 29: Foursomes 

29-1. General

In a foursome, during any stipulated round the partners must play alternately from the tee and alternately during the play of each hole. Penalty strokes do not affect the order of play.

 

29-2. Match Play

If a player plays when his partner should have played, his side loses the hole.

 

29-3. Stroke Play

If the partners make a stroke or strokes in incorrect order, such stroke or strokes are cancelled and the side incurs a penalty of two strokes. The side must correct the error by playing a ball in correct order at the nearest point, not nearer to the hole, to the position (or estimated position where appropriate) from which it first played in incorrect order, which avoids damage to the lie created by the playing of that ball.  On the tee, the ball may be re-teed. 

If the side makes a stroke on the next tee without first correcting the error or, in the case of the last hole of the round, leaves the putting green without declaring its intention to correct the error, the side is disqualified from the competition.

Simpler Rules: Rule 28

Rule 28: Ball Unplayable 

The player is the sole judge as to whether his ball is unplayable and may deem his ball unplayable at any place on the course, except when the ball is in a water hazard. 

If the player deems his ball to be unplayable, he must, under penalty of one stroke: 

(a)     Proceed in accordance with the procedure for playing from the place last played; or  

(b)     Place a ball behind the point where the ball lay, keeping that point directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is placed, with no limit to how far behind that point the ball may be placed; or  

(c)     Proceed in accordance with the procedure for taking relief.  

If the unplayable ball is in a bunker and the player elects to proceed in accordance with Clause b or c, a ball must be placed in the bunker. 

When proceeding under this Rule, the player may lift and clean his ball or substitute a ball. 

PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE:

Match play – Loss of hole; Stroke play – Two strokes.

 

 

 

Simpler Rules: Rule 27

Rule 27: Ball Lost or Out of Bounds; Provisional Ball      
                                
27-1. Ball Out-of-Bounds; Ball Lost

a. Ball Out-of-Bounds

If a ball is out-of-bounds, the player must, under penalty of one stroke, proceed in accordance with the procedure for playing from the place last played. 

b. Ball Lost (as a result of not being found)

If a ball is lost as a result of not being found within five minutes after the player’s side or his or their caddies have begun to search for it, the player must, under penalty of one stroke, proceed in accordance with the procedure for playing from the place last played. 

Exception: If there is conclusive evidence that the original ball that has not been found has been moved by an outside agency (Rule 18-1), is in an obstruction (Rule 24-3), is in an abnormal ground condition (Rule 25-1) or is in a water hazard (Rule 26-1), the player may proceed in accordance with the applicable Rule. 

PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE 27-1:

Match play – Loss of hole; Stroke play – Two strokes.

 

27-2. Provisional Ball

a. Procedure

If the player believes that a ball may be lost outside a water hazard or may be out of bounds he may (other than on the tee) play another ball provisionally from as near as possible to the point from which the original ball was played, not nearer the hole, which avoids damage caused by the playing of that ball. Where the original ball was played from the tee the provisional ball may be played from anywhere on the tee and the ball may be re-teed. 

The player must declare to his opponent, or his marker or a fellow-competitor, that he intends to play a provisional ball, and he must play it before he or his partner goes forward to search for the original ball. 

If prior to putting another ball into play he fails to so inform his opponent or fellow competitor, or if he proceeds to move forward to search for his ball and subsequently puts another ball into play, that ball becomes the ball in play under penalty of one stroke: the original ball is rendered lost and the stroke played with it counts in the player’s score for the hole. 

(Order of play from tee – see Rule 10-3) 

Note: If a provisional ball played in accordance with Rule 27-2a might be lost outside a water hazard or out of bounds, the player may play another provisional ball. If another provisional ball is played, it bears the same relationship to the previous provisional ball as the first provisional ball bears to the original ball. 

b. When Provisional Ball Becomes Ball in Play

The player may play a provisional ball until he reaches the place where the original ball is likely to be. If he makes a stroke with the provisional ball from the place where the original ball is likely to be or from a point nearer the hole than that place, the original ball is rendered lost, the stroke played with the original ball counts in the player’s score for the hole and the provisional ball becomes the ball in play, under penalty of one stroke. 

If the original ball is lost outside a water hazard or is out of bounds, the stroke played with the original ball counts in the player’s score for the hole and the provisional ball becomes the ball in play, under penalty of one stroke. 

Exception: If there is conclusive evidence that the original ball, that has not been found, has been moved by an outside agency (Rule 18-1), is in an obstruction (Rule 24-3), is in an abnormal ground condition (Rule 25-1) or is in a water hazard (Rule 26-1), the player may proceed in accordance with the applicable Rule. 

c. When Provisional Ball to be Abandoned

If the original ball is neither lost nor out of bounds, the player must abandon the provisional ball and continue playing the original ball. If there is conclusive evidence that the original ball is in a water hazard, the player may proceed in accordance with Rule 26-1. In either situation, if the player makes any further strokes at the provisional ball, he is playing a wrong ball and the provisions of Rule 15-2 apply. 

Note: If a player plays a provisional ball in accordance with Rule 27-2a and that ball is subsequently abandoned in accordance with Rule 27-2c, all strokes made with, and any penalties incurred solely in playing that ball, are disregarded.

 

 

 

Simpler Rules: Rule 26

Rule 26: Water Hazards                     

26-1. Relief for Ball in Water Hazard

If a ball is found in a water hazard or if there is conclusive evidence that a ball which has not been found is in the water hazard, the player may, under penalty of one stroke: 

(i)     Proceed in accordance with the procedure for playing from the place last played; or  

(ii)    Place 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 placed, with no limit to how far behind the water hazard the ball may be placed; or  

(iii)   If the ball last crossed the margin of a lateral water hazard, proceed in accordance with the procedure for taking relief at, 

(a)     the point where the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard, or

(b)     a point on the opposite margin of the water hazard equidistant from the hole.  

In the absence of conclusive evidence that a ball has come to rest in a hazard, the player must proceed in accordance with Rule 27-­1b. 

(Prohibited actions when ball is in a hazard – see Rule 13-4)

(Ball moving in water in a water hazard – see Rule 14-6)

 

26-2. Ball Played Within Water Hazard

a. Ball Comes to Rest in Same Water Hazard

If a ball played from within a water hazard comes to rest in the same water hazard, the player may, under penalty of one stroke: 

(i)     Proceed in accordance with the procedure for playing from the place last played; or  

(ii)    Place 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 placed, with no limit to how far behind the water hazard the ball may be placed; or  

(iii)   If the ball last crossed the margin of a lateral water hazard, proceed in accordance with the procedure for taking relief at, 

(a)     the point where the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard, or

(b)     a point on the opposite margin of the water hazard equidistant from the hole.  

b. Ball Comes to Rest in Another Water Hazard

If a ball played from within a water hazard comes to rest in another water hazard, the player may proceed in accordance with Rule 26-1. 

c. Ball Lost or Out-of Bounds

If a ball played from within a water hazard is lost other than in another water hazard or is out-of-bounds, the player may, under penalty of one stroke:

(i)     Proceed in accordance with the procedure for playing from the place last played; or  

(ii)    Under an additional penalty of one stroke, place 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 placed, with no limit to how far behind the water hazard the ball may be placed; or  

(iii)   Under an additional penalty of one stroke, if the ball last crossed the margin of a lateral water hazard, proceed in accordance with the procedure for taking relief at, 

(a)     the point where the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard, or

(b)     a point on the opposite margin of the water hazard equidistant from the hole. 

 

PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE:

Match play – Loss of hole; Stroke play – Two strokes.