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The rules of golf are tough! Fortunately, we have a guru. Our Rules The man knows the book from front to back. Got a question? He has all the answers.
We recently played after a heavy rain. The water rose from the penalty area – a pool – beyond the clear red line denoting the playing area. Sure enough, the ball rested in the water but outside the still visible red line. Is the ball considered in the penalty area or in the crossbar? — Kevin Kline, via email
The water is likely to be cloudy. The rules in this case are not.
The “accidental” water is officially temporary water, and under the definition of temporary water, the water that overflowed from the penalty area is indeed temporary water.
Thus, the player is neither fully wet nor penalized, but simply takes appropriate relief.
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.
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