High Stakes on the Golf Course

This week I was playing golf in Northern California at the Sea Ranch Golf Course. It's a tough but enjoyable course, with some beautiful vistas and fun holes. It's a link style golf course similar to those that you would find in bonnie Scotland. It has it's share of bunkers, water, trees, tall grass and even grazing deer hazards. Which brings me to the point of this article.

As I golfed along with my companions I found myself continually instructing them on the rules governing the different colored stakes and lines found on the golf course. It made me think that most beginning golfers have little if any knowledge about the many hazards, how they are marked and how they should be played. It brought me back to early days as a golfer and the confusion I often suffered when I hit the ball past a colored stake.

On a golf course there are generally 3 different colored stakes used to define 3 different hazards and there associated penalties. Sometimes these stakes are also represented by colored lines painted on to the ground. Whether the course uses a stake or line doesn't matter, and the penalties are the same.

Red stakes and red lines are used to indicate a lateral water hazard. A lateral water hazard is any water hazard whether it be a creek, pond, stream or lake that runs parallel with the hole. A water hazard that cuts through the middle of the fairway would not be considered a lateral water hazard. Any water that cuts horizontally through the hole is treated different than a lateral hazard. This type of a hazard is marked with a yellow line or stake and usually requires a simple drop behind the point of entry.

A lateral water hazard is treated a little bit different due to it's formation and function. In this case the golfer will give himself a one stroke penalty and take a drop. The drop can be taken up to two club lengths from the place where the ball entered the hazard. The drop cannot be made in any way that places the ball closer to the hole. The player also has the option to drop the ball on the other side of the hazard, but again the drop must be made at a place that is equal distance from the hole to the point of entry into the hazard.

It is also important to note that the ball is considered in the hazard if it sits within the hazard, or if it touches any part of the hazard including lines or stakes. All lines and stakes are considered part of the hazard.

The terrible white stakes and white lines indicate OB our out of bounds. In the case of the white stakes the out of bounds begins at the white line or the inside point of the stake. Hitting the ball out of bounds is an unpleasant experience due to it's penalty heavy consequences. If a ball is hit OB, it results in a stroke and distance penalty. This means the golfer must give himself a 1 stroke penalty, and go back to the spot of the previous hit and hit it again. In order to avoid the pain of walking back and forth, some golfers hit what is know as a provisional ball. This basically means you take a backup shot just in case the first one is out of bounds.

Yellow stakes and lines are a little less ominous than the other two. These stakes and lines indicate a water hazard. The great thing about a water hazard is that you can try and play out of it. This is sometimes possible because not all water hazards have water in them. Also, playing out of shallow water can be a refreshing possibility.

If playing out of the water hazard is not an option than the golfer must give himself a one stroke penalty. After assessing the penalty the player has two options. He can either return to the place of his previous shot and take another crack at it, or he can take a drop.

The drop out of a water hazard must be taken behind the point where the ball crossed the margin of the hazard. This means the golfer can take the drop as far back as he wants, as long as it's between the point where the ball crossed the hazard and the hole.

There are other colors also used on the golf course. The blue stakes can be placed to indicate ground under repair. Green stakes can be used to denote environmentally sensitive areas. And white stakes can be used to outline an area where the ground is under repair.

Ignorance can be bliss when it comes to not understanding the colors on the golf course. Understanding the hazards can result in a higher score and poor ball position. However, knowledge is also power. But, more important, knowledge can help you avoid looking stupid.

Article Source: http://www.indexed-articles.com

Marc Jenson is a partner of golf course construction, and has always been interested in golf course design and architecture.

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