Heavy rains recently precipitated this ruling: In a recent skins game I hit a good drive on a par 4 down the right side (a blind landing area, with red hazard stakes along the whole right)...but I knew it to be in the fairway or rough)... got up to the ball which indeed was in the rough, but under 2 inches of water from the hazard that overflowed about 40 feet PAST the red stakes, and into the rough, and part of the fairway. I claimed it was casual water and was entitled to a drop at the nearest point of relief no nearer the hole. The other 3 players said no way ... that it is just a continuation of the water hazard ... rub of the green so to speak. They said my choice was to go back to the tee and rehit #3, take 2 club length relief from edge of water with 1 stroke penalty (dumb...because you are supposed to take 2 club lengths from red stakes) or blast out of water. I blasted out of the water decently back to the fairway. I still insisted it was casual water, but they wouldn't hear of it!!! maybe because I had about 9 skins at that point DID I GET JOBBED or were they correct?

Check the definition of a "water hazard" in the Rules of Golf, I'm pretty sure it says something along the lines of "all ground & water within the margins of the water hazard is in the water hazard" and than it continues with the definition of the margin (defined by the stakes!).

Also, there is a decision dedicated to this question. Too lazy to look it up, but look under abnormal ground conditions (must be rule 24, 25 or close to that).

Anyway, water overflowing outside the margin from the water hazard is casual water. Yes, you definitely got "jobbed" whatever that may be .

Casual Water:

25/2
Overflow from Water Hazard
Q. If a pond (water hazard) has overflowed, is the overflow casual water?
A. Yes. Any overflow of water from a water hazard which is outside the margin of the hazard is casual water.

Time to educate your playing partners on some of the basic Rules of Golf. That one was pretty simple logic.

no matter what your knowledge of the rules is, make sure you know rule 3-3. Play two balls, record both scores and sort it out with the local pro when you get back to the clubhouse - or set bets aside until you have a ruling at the end of the round.

Also - don't ever accept your competitors interpretation of the rules. haha.

birdieXris wrote:

no matter what your knowledge of the rules is, make sure you know rule 3-3.

A skins game basically is a matchplay format, not strokeplay. Thus rule 3-3 is not applicable and you should resolve the matter with your opponent(s).

jev wrote:

you should resolve the matter with your opponent(s).

But not in the parking lot, or a dark alley, after the round.

mjaber wrote:

jev wrote: you should resolve the matter with your opponent(s). But not in the parking lot, or a dark alley, after the round.

A course where I formerly played tournaments had the following notice on tournament ties:

1. Winner is low final 9 hole total - if still tied
2. Winner is low final 6 hole total - if still tied
3. Winner is low final 3 hole total - if still tied
4. Winner is low score on #18 - if still tied
5. Winner is low score on #1 handicap hole - if still tied
6. Fist fight in the parking lot