Casual Water Behind a Green

by Will
(Maple Creek, Sask. Ca.)

We have a par 3 on our course and at times it has standing water behind it and some of our members play it as casual water.

My question is if we decide to mark it as a hazard would it be with yellow stakes and also would you have to have a drop area?

Will

Will, thanks for the question.

If the casual water becomes a water hazard it will more than likely be marked with yellow stakes. Notice Note 1 from the USGA in the definition of a Water Hazard states, "Stakes or lines used to define the margin of or identify a water hazard must be yellow."

As for a drop area the USGA allows the option for dropping behind the hazard. Under Rule 26-1B the player under the penalty of the stroke can "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."


However, if the point where the ball crossed the margin and the location of the flag cannot be played then it would be deemed to be a lateral hazard and Rule 26-1C applies.

The ultimate decision of this will come down to the choice of the Golf Committee.

I hope this helps,

Bo