CONSIDERED HAZARD LAH !!!
Rules In Action 8:01 PM Text Size : [+] | [-]
Dear Zainudin Akup,
My friend pulled his shot at par-3 hole 14 that obviously went toward the red stake, near the pond. After failing to find the ball, he claimed the ball 'Considered Hazardlah!" He dropped another ball within two club lengths of a vague idea of where he thought the ball went out and took a stroke penalty.
My contention is that all of us were not certain whether or not his ball crossed the red stakes as the afternoon was dark due to hovering cloud. What is the rule - lost ball or lateral hazard?
My contention is that all of us were not certain whether or not his ball crossed the red stakes as the afternoon was dark due to hovering cloud. What is the rule - lost ball or lateral hazard?
Zainudin Answers:
Very tough question indeed. Let me quote from Decision 26-1/1;- If a ball has been struck towards a water hazard and has not been found, the term “known or virtually certain” indicates the level of confidence that the ball is in the water hazard that is required for the player to proceed under Rule 26-1.
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A player may not assume that his ball is in a water hazard simply because there is a possibility that the ball may be in the hazard. If it is not known that the ball is in the water hazard, in order for the player to proceed under Rule 26-1 there must be almost no doubt that the ball is in the hazard.
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Otherwise, a ball that cannot be found must be considered lost outside the hazard and the player must proceed under Rule 27-1.
Otherwise, a ball that cannot be found must be considered lost outside the hazard and the player must proceed under Rule 27-1.
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All available evidence must be taken into account in determining whether knowledge or virtual certainty exists, including any testimony and the physical conditions in the area around the water hazard. For example, if a water hazard is surrounded by a fairway on which a ball could hardly be lost, there exists a greater certainty that the ball is in the hazard than there would be if there were deep rough in the area. Observing a ball splash in a water hazard would not necessarily provide knowledge or virtual certainty as to the location of the ball as sometimes such a ball may skip out of a hazard.
All available evidence must be taken into account in determining whether knowledge or virtual certainty exists, including any testimony and the physical conditions in the area around the water hazard. For example, if a water hazard is surrounded by a fairway on which a ball could hardly be lost, there exists a greater certainty that the ball is in the hazard than there would be if there were deep rough in the area. Observing a ball splash in a water hazard would not necessarily provide knowledge or virtual certainty as to the location of the ball as sometimes such a ball may skip out of a hazard.
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If everyone in your group agrees that it is virtually certain that the flight of the ball means that it is lost in the water hazard then I think that the player would be right in using her best judgement as to where the ball crossed the margin of the hazard, with help and agreement from her fellow competitors. However, if there is some doubt that the ball may have been lost elsewhere then the player has no option but to consider his ball lost outside of the hazard and play another ball from the point where he made his last stroke, under penalty of stroke and distance (Rule 27-1).”
If everyone in your group agrees that it is virtually certain that the flight of the ball means that it is lost in the water hazard then I think that the player would be right in using her best judgement as to where the ball crossed the margin of the hazard, with help and agreement from her fellow competitors. However, if there is some doubt that the ball may have been lost elsewhere then the player has no option but to consider his ball lost outside of the hazard and play another ball from the point where he made his last stroke, under penalty of stroke and distance (Rule 27-1).”
Posted by @pgabsec
on 8:01 PM.
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