| What's the difference between a hazard marked | | | | yellow-staked hazard above, plus two more: |
| with red and yellow stakes? Think of it this way: | | | | Under a penalty of one stroke, you can drop a |
| When you splash down in a yellow-staked hazard, | | | | ball and hit your next shot from within two club |
| your next shot has to be struck from the side | | | | lengths of the point where the ball last crossed |
| away from the hole. | | | | the edge of the red-staked hazard, provided the |
| There's none of that, "I saw it hit the bank on the | | | | new spot is no closer to the hole than the last |
| other side, up by the green." Whether it flew in or | | | | crossing point. |
| bounced backwards, it doesn't matter. So man up | | | | Under a penalty of one stroke, you can drop a |
| and understand that you have to clear the water | | | | ball within two club lengths of an opposite shore, |
| successfully, no matter how many shots it takes. | | | | or margin, of the same red-staked hazard, |
| If you can't find the ball in a yellow-staked hazard, | | | | provided that point is equidistant from the hole as |
| you have two options under Rule 26. | | | | the last crossing point. |
| Under a penalty of one stroke, you can hit the | | | | Sometimes, based on the contours of the creek |
| next shot from where you hit the previous one; | | | | or the pond (or whatever) this option may |
| or you can drop a ball and hit your next shot | | | | actually take the trouble out of your line of play |
| from behind the hazard (the side away from the | | | | and give you a clear look at the hole. |
| hole), keeping the spot where it crossed the edge | | | | For players known to beg that their playing |
| between you and the hole, with no limit on how | | | | partner confirm their ball touched dry land before |
| far back (away from the hole) you can go. Of | | | | drowning itself, the real difference comes only if |
| course, there's a third option. If you can find and | | | | the stakes are red. |
| hit the ball, go ahead and try to hit it without | | | | If they are red, upon penalty of one stroke, you |
| penalty, provided you don't ground your club | | | | may drop on the greenside of the hazard - |
| before the shot. | | | | provided you can find a spot that is no closer to |
| By contrast, splashing down in a red-staked | | | | the hole than the edge of the hazard where your |
| hazard, also called a "lateral hazard," is more | | | | ball last crossed. |
| benign because it gives you five options. You get | | | | And that discussion can occasionally get testy. |
| the same three options as you get in the | | | | |