Golf ball travelling over OB but landing in a hazard

Question
QUESTION: Hi,
The hole we were playing is OB left off the tee. About 175 yards out the white stakes are replaced by red where a lateral water hazard starts. Recently a tee shot hooked left over the white stakes but landed in the hazard which is red staked. Is this played as OB hitting 3 off the tee or is a lateral drop allowed because the ball landed in a hazard?

ANSWER: Kevin,

If the hazard is considered part of the golf course and the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard, the player could drop two club lengths from where the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard. Did you know that there are 4 other options available to a player that hits a ball into a lateral hazard?


Michael Hoffman
PGA Professional

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------


Hole_Layout   QUESTION: Thanks for the quick response Michael. The only additional information that I realize may be necessary here is that the ball crossed directly from an OB area in the air landing in the hazard. The point of entry to the hazard was within the out of bounds area. Two club lengths from where the ball actually crossed into the margin of the hazard would be OB area. (see attached)

Answer
Kevin,

Thanks for the hole layout. What still needs to be determined is when does out of bounds end? This would determine whether the hazard (all or part) is part of the golf course which I suspect it is.

I am curious why there even is out of bounds at all. Just a thought.

Thanks,

Michael Hoffman