Rules Question - Hazard to OB
 

Friend of mine was playing in a tournament a couple weeks ago and had this scenario:

Tee shot found a hazard and he decided to play out of it. Hit's the ball which hits a tree outside the hazard but then comes back into the hazard and was real close to going OB. So the question is, if the ball would have gone OB, does a drop occur inside the hazard from the spot where it was played? If so, what if the drops goes into a location where the player deems he can not play it now? Would they then take the penatly for the OB and then another penalty for a drop outside the hazard?

Thanks!

Not absolutely sure but I'll take a shot at it.
Since it went OB, you go back to the position it was last played. To me that means you place the ball very similarly to the same position and lie that was last played, even if it is in the hazard. You can drop the ball with your playing partner or rules official agreeing on the point of the drop. At that point, you have the choice to play it again as it lies within the hazard or taking relief according to the rules and accepting the one stroke penalty.

20-5. Making Next Stroke from Where Previous Stroke Made

When a player elects or is required to make his next stroke from where
a previous stroke was made,
he must proceed as follows:
(a) On the Teeing Ground: The ball to be played
must be played from within the teeing
ground. It may be played from anywhere within the teeing
ground and may be teed.
(b) Through the Green: The ball to be played
must be dropped and when dropped must first strike a part of the coursethrough the
green.
(c) In a Hazard: The ball to be played must be
dropped and when dropped must first strike a part of the course in the
hazard.
(d) On the Putting Green: The ball to be played
must be placed on the putting
green.

I say you have to drop outside of a hazard. I believe the rules say that you cannot drop in a marked hazard, so even though you played a shot from it, the drop would have to be outside of it.


EDIT: Obviously wrong!

Well there is this rule:

20-c. When to Re-Drop
A dropped ball must be re-dropped, without penalty, if it:
(i) rolls into and comes to rest in a hazard;
(ii) rolls out of and comes to rest outside a hazard;

So if a ball can roll out of a hazard, it must be allowed to be dropped into a hazard, so I'd say he would have to drop it in the hazard, as Bear just said!

I think b4e has it correct.

Here's the rule, and yes, Bear is right. Nice call!

26-2b. Ball Lost or Unplayable Outside Hazard or Out of Bounds
If a ball played from within a water hazard is lost or deemed unplayable
outside the hazard or is out of bounds, the player may, after taking a penalty
of one stroke under Rule 27-1 or 28a:
(i) play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot in the hazard from which the
original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5); or
(ii) proceed under Rule 26-1b, or if applicable Rule 26-1c, adding the
additional penalty of one stroke prescribed by the Rule and using as the
reference point the point where the original ball last crossed the margin
of the hazard before it came to rest in the hazard; or
(iii) add an additional penalty of one stroke and play a ball as nearly as
possible at the spot from which the last stroke from outside a water
hazard was made (see Rule 20-5).
Note 1: When proceeding under Rule 26-2b, the player is not required to
drop a ball under Rule 27-1 or 28a. If he does drop a ball, he is not required
to play it. He may alternatively proceed under Rule 26-2b(ii) or (iii).
Note 2: If a ball played from within a water hazard is deemed unplayable
outside the hazard, nothing in Rule 26-2b precludes the player from
proceeding under Rule 28b or c.
PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE:
Match play – Loss of hole; Stroke play – Two strokes.

Interesting....thanks guys!

Thanks for the post Nate! I liked having to go to the rules to get the right answer. A good review.
Smallville, thanks for the confirmation and conversation. Good stuff!
Now, let's all go outside and play some golf! I hope to tomorrow after work. Yay!

Very interesting and very confusion, too bad there aren't roaming officials on all courses and we could just call them over!

I just really didn't have an answer for him. I could see it 3 different ways.

That was a fun read. I was going to side with Bear. That's a costly shot