Hazards

Bunkers are hollow areas of ground which have been filled with sand or similar material. Any grass covered ground that lies within a bunker or borders a bunker is not considered to be part of the bunker. The lip or wall of the bunker, not covered with grass however, is considered to be part of the bunker. A ball is deemed to be in the bunker when any part of it lies in the bunker.

A water hazard is usually some sort of water course, such as a ditch or pond, which may or may not contain water. Water hazards are marked with yellow stakes or lines and lateral water hazards are defined by red stakes or lines. The stakes or lines defining hazards are in the hazard. A ball is deemed to be in the hazard when any part of it lies in the hazard.

When in a hazard a player must not test the condition of the hazard, touch or move any loose impediment that lies in the hazard or touch either the ground or water in a hazard with his hand or club. The player may, however, touch the ground to prevent himself from falling and may also legitimately touch any bush, tree, grass etc when addressing the ball or undertaking the back swing. Note that a club is only considered to be grounded in grass when the grass has been compressed such that it will support the weight of the club.

Loose impediments cannot be moved when both the ball and the impediment lie in the same hazard.

If a ball lies in a water hazard the player may elect to play the next stroke from within the hazard or, with a one stroke penalty, play the next stroke from where the ball was last played, drop a ball at any distance behind the hazard, keeping the point where the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard on a line between the hole and the point where the ball is dropped.



In the diagram shown above the ball has been played from Point A and enters the water hazard at B. Point C is where the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard. The player may elect to play is next stroke from Point A or on a line, or continuation of the line, from the hole to Point D which passes through Point C.

If the ball lies in a lateral water hazard an additional option is to drop a ball outside the lateral hazard, not nearer the hole, within two clubs length of the point where the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard or on a point on the opposite margin of the hazard which is an equal distance from the hole.



In the diagram showing the lateral water hazard the ball has been played from Point A and enters the water hazard at B. Point C is where the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard. The player may elect to play is next stroke from Point A or on a line, or continuation of the line, from the hole to Point D which passes through Point C. He may also drop the ball within two clubs length of Point C or Point E, not nearer the hole.


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