My playing partner, who played a great shot from within the hazard on hole 5, noticed the stakes around the same pond were colored differently in different parts. On #5, the stakes were red. However, the stakes were yellow on the 6th hole side. I didn’t know the difference between red and yellow stakes at the time, but I figured the ball could be played behind where the ball crossed into the hazard (+1), at the original spot (+1), or from directly in the hazard (without penalty).
I later found out that yellow stakes mark standard water hazards, whereas red stakes indicate a “lateral hazard.” Under rule 26-1b, you can drop your ball behind either water hazard (where the ball crossed the water), but the hazard has to remain between the hole and your line to the flag. For lateral hazards, such as the ocean beside the fairways of Pebble Beach, it is impractical to keep the hazard between one’s ball and the flag. Thus these hazards allowed an additional point of relief (rule 26-1c): within 2 club lengths of where the ball crossed into the hazard (regardless of line to the flag). Thankfully, most courses should be marked correctly, and it will be clear when it is appropriate to use rule 26-1c.
For a more complete discussion of this rule, check here.
Otherwise, my trip to North Carolina was a great time. We played a 4 man vs. 3 man scramble on Friday, and straight up on Saturday. I made fewer mistakes on Friday, but of course there is less pressure when others in the group have a chance to make up for a bad shot.
1 year ago