Getty Images
The rules of golf are tough! Fortunately, we have a guru. Our Rules The man knows the book from front to back. Got the question? He has all the answers.
What is the ruling on losing your ball in the temporary water when you know with 100% certainty where the ball landed but you cannot see it? For example, you see a ball splashing around, but it’s attached to wet grass underwater and you can’t find it? — Ed Huelsmann, via email
Rules Guy once published a Hollywood horror movie based on this very concept. The player reaches for the water… then… tries to pull his arm… but he can’t… then gets dragged into… ‘slime’! Unfortunately, it is still in development hell.
As for the rules angle, if it is known or almost certain that the ball is in temporary water, you can take a free rest, and you will use the same procedure as if you had found the ball – but under Rule 16.1e, you treat it as if you had found the ball at the place where it crossed Last time Temporary Water’s Edge.
Find the closest full resting point from that spot and go down within one club length not near the hole in the general area, assuming that’s where all this happened. Now, back to my script idea: If we could get Jordan Peele to direct and Jordan Spieth to star….
For more water tips from our expert, read on…
If the storage pond isn’t stuck, is it still a water hazard? – Paul Neubert, Surfside Beach, South Carolina
Zen philosopher Tai Webb once said, “A flute without holes is not a flute. A donut without a hole is Danish.”
Similarly (or perhaps differently – it’s hard to say), Resolution 26/3 states that if a water hazard is not identified by the Commission, it does not lose its status as a water hazard. Hit it, and you can still feel comfortable under the water hazard rule…or better yet, don’t crash into it.
Need help removing greens in your home cycle? choose custom green book From Golf Logix.
Do you have a question about the rules? Ask the rules guy! Send your queries, confusions and comments to rulesguy@golf.com. We promise he won’t throw the book at you.