Water Hazards are a common cause of pain. The fact that players have to deal with them so often is probably the reason so many know how to take relief — at least by way of Rule 26-1a (Stroke and Distance), 26-1b (keep the point the ball last crossed the hazard line between you and the hole with no limit as to how far back behind the Water Hazard you may drop) and the first segment reserved just for Lateral Water Hazards, 26-1c (within two club-lengths of the point last crossed/no closer to the hole). But in my experience, many players don’t know (or understand) the second choice offered within the 26-1c option.

This last choice, 26-1c (ii), tells you that you may also choose to drop within two club-lengths/no closer at “a point on the opposite margin of the Water Hazard equidistant from the hole.” That point is likely far from the point the ball last crossed the hazard line, and a drop there may offer you a vastly superior next shot.

What does “opposite margin equidistant from the hole” really mean? Decision 26-1/14 (which you can find it at USGA.org) provides a detailed diagram and tells you everything you need to know, though in truth it takes some deciphering. The following is a rather dramatic example of why you should bother to go through the effort.  The first photo shows an overview of a par 4, and the photo below it provides some detail as to the options a player has if his approach shot ends up in the Lateral Water Hazard left of the stone walkway/dam.

Hole Overview

Drop Area Detail

In the detail photo, at the beginning of the stone walkway you’ll see a yellow (Water Hazard) and red (Lateral Water Hazard) stake butted up against each other, defining where the “lateral” part of this hazard begins. (At the top of the stone walkway, harder to see, are another yellow and red stake delineating the two types of hazard line on the “upper deck.”) Note that any shot that ends up in the hazard and which last crossed the hazard margin down below on the left side of the walkway makes clause 26-1c (ii) an available option for the player.  (The red hazard line begins at the stake near the walkway and then runs down close to the little creek.)

Let’s say that a player’s ball last crossed the hazard margin down there 100 yards from the hole (that’s about 25 feet below the fairway and green above). He has the typical option of dropping down there by the creek.  But he also has another option of dropping on the “opposite margin,” which is up on the high side of the hazard the same 100 yards from the hole. (In this particular case, up on top the fairway itself happens to be within the two club-lengths/no closer optional drop location.)

The studious player knows that he can drop up top, in the fairway, 100 yards from the flagstick with flat terrain and no water in front of him. Or he can drop 100 yards from the flagstick on the low side, in the rough, with a challenging 25 foot embankment and the water to deal with yet again. I know which choice I’m taking, please pass me my laser.

By the way, it’s possible that the point on the opposite margin of the hazard equidistant from the hole is marked with yellow stakes while the point you last crossed is marked red. No worries, as Decision 26-1/13 tells us, if the point on the opposite margin equidistant from the hole happens to be marked yellow, you may drop there nonetheless. The color of the stakes where you last crossed is all that matters.

There are many other examples of how an opposite margin drop may help — uphill lie instead of downhill; overhanging tree branches, or maybe boulders, as opposed to a clear shot; hardpan vs. cushy grass . . . no reason you shouldn’t make the most friendly choice the Rules allow.

Take care, and play well.

Related

• The View from the Ref’s Side of the Fairway: Refs Get Pushy
• The View from the Ref’s Side of the Fairway: An Unasked Question