Sure, everyone knows that! Within two club lengths of the red line no nearer the hole right?

Well, that’s partially right. There happens to be a few more options that most people overlook. That mental lapse can cost you strokes.

Unless you play the ball as it lies from the water hazard, the relief options will all cost you one stroke. There are two basic options for taking relief from either a water hazard defined by yellow stakes or lines or a lateral water hazard defined by red stakes or lines. After that, there are a couple more that can only be used for a lateral water hazard. Let’s take a look.

The first option, available for both types of water hazards, is to play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played. (stroke and distance)

The second option, also available for both types of water hazards, is to drop a ball behind the water hazard, keeping the point 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 the ball is dropped.

The next two are available only for lateral water hazards but still cost you a stroke. They are to drop a ball outside the water hazard within two club lengths of and not nearer the hole than 1) the point where the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard or 2) a point on the opposite margin of the water hazard equidistant from the hole.

Back to my original point. Most people drop within two club lengths of the line leaving themselves with a nasty side hill or downhill lie in the rough when they should have used the second option to drop back further and get themselves up on a nice flat lie in the fairway. Since you were smart enough to drop it at your favorite yardage you may still be able to wedge it up there and knock it in for a good bogey or even a par.

Remember, use the index or the table of contents to find the correct Rule that applies to the situation and follow the Rules of Golf to help yourself to enjoy the game of golf.

To view or print a summary of this Rule for club postings, click here.