|
All of the rules in the game of golf actually are meant to be uncomplicated, but like all regulations and rules made to cover any possibility they can get truly mindboggling. Specifically with golf balls which have been lost or hit out-of-bounds there can be quite a lot of confusion regarding where a player is to play his next shot. Players commonly throw down a new golf ball wherever they assume it may be fair and continue on with the round. Here we would like to attempt to take some of the unknown out of these rules so all golfers may feel comfortable they are doing the proper thing. We are going to analyze golf shots that are hit in trouble into four places, and these areas are going to take into account a large part of the rulings any golfer will need on where to play a shot from. They include lost golf balls, out of bounds, hitting into water hazards and unplayable lies. 1. Lost balls. This is really the hardest with the penalties. Once you start your hunt you've got a maximum of 5 minutes to locate your golf ball. If not located you lose that stroke, a second stroke to penalty plus the distance you hit your shot, because you have to go back to the place you originally hit the ball. To save time if you suspect you have hit a shot you won't be able to locate, announce that you are hitting a provisional ball and use that ball when the first ball cannot be found and you'll be playing your fourth golf shot. 2. Out of bounds. This often marks the outside confines for the golf course and is frequently marked by white stakes approximately thirty yards apart. The only distinction between a lost ball and OB is that often one might not really physically lose a ball hit out-of-bounds. Other than that you lose that golf shot, a penalty shot plus distance hit, because you have to go back to the spot where you hit that shot. 3. Water hazards. There will be two kinds of water hazards: regular water hazards (established by yellow stakes or a yellow line) and lateral water hazards (confirmed by red stakes or red line). Each will offer choices regarding how you may proceed. For regular water hazards you've got three options. If you can, you may play your shot as it lies lacking any penalty. Or you may play the golf shot from where you hit the shot with a one stroke penalty. Otherwise you can go to the point where your ball crossed the water, and from that point move away from the golf hole at a direct line, playing your shot anywhere along that line, with a single stroke penalty. Using other terminology, if you cannot play the original shot, it's one golf shot in water, one shot out and you'll be playing your third shot. Lateral hazards, or water that is bordered by either side of the golf hole, may be played with any of the options for regular water hazards along with two further possibilities. It is possible to drop a golf ball from within two club lengths from the place your ball entered into the hazard, so long as the place where you drop isn't nearer to the hole, with a one stroke penalty. That is the most expected alternative, but once in a while it might work out much better to proceed to the opposite side of the hazard, look for the point in which it will be equidistant from the golf hole to where your ball originally crossed the water, then go back again in a direct line from there away from the hole, dropping anywhere along that line, with of course one stroke penalty. 4. Unplayable lies. If the shot comes to rest at some place that you cannot make a shot (against a tree or bush, for instance), you have three alternatives. Drop the ball within two club lengths to the spot that the ball lies (but never closer to the hole), drop your ball on a direct line away from the ball from the hole, or return and hit your ball from where you struck the shot. All include one penalty stroke. Most of the time you will prefer choice number one. As with many top-rated courses, if you can play off-peak hours, you can usually get a reduction in price. On our website read about how you can book these tee times. Also, read more about improving you golf swing on our website. Jim O'Connell is a writer and avid golfer living in Chicago.
Related Articles -
golf rules, lost golf ball rules, rules of golf,
| 
