I am sure that many readers who are avid golfers and have played at different resort and semi-private courses have observed at least one course where there are red stakes everywhere. I have played at courses where the entire “rough” has been staked and any ball not landing in the fairway or primary cut is “in a hazard”.
Let’s look at a few definitions…..
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 on the ground, the line itself is in the water hazard. The margin of a 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.
Hmmmm…. I was sure my ball, having left the fairway and primary rough was in a wooded area and that wooded area did not meet the standard of a hazard according to the definition.
So what’s up?
I am told that some courses decided to define these areas as hazards to “speed up” play. The assumption being that the player would move forward, search briefly, then drop a ball at point of entry (don’t forget the penalty ) and proceed post haste. Well what if the ball is found in the woods and the player wishes to play a stroke?
Don’t forget: you can’t ground your club, you can’t touch or remove any loose impediments, and you don’t get relief from an immovable obstruction, etc. etc. without attracting a penalty.
Whenever a BC Golf or Golf Canada event is held at such a course, all such hazards are removed and the course is reset. You should note that it would not be contrary to the rules of golf if your “group” were to reset the course by invoking the rule that all such areas that do not align with the proper definition of a hazard can be played as “though the green” .
As to pace of play: I’m not convinced that this strategy improves pace of play. Most golfers would always want to search for a ball in the hopes of avoiding a “lost” ball or a penalty for having lost a ball in a hazard. Pace of play is addressed under these circumstances by the use of a provisional ball. The Rules Book in addressing Pace of Play reminds us that we should hit a provisional ball if our original ball may be lost (outside a hazard) or out of bounds.
To view the entire RCGA Rules Book click here.
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