Ground marker meanings
HAL LENOBEL
Contributing Columnist
golf@lbknews.com
I have received several questions from readers relative to the presence of ground markers on the golf course. I’ll try to explain the existence of three of these markers: yellow stakes, red stakes and white stakes.
A water hazard is designated by red or yellow stakes. When your ball lies between the stake and the water, you are considered in the hazard. When in the confines of a hazard, either red or yellow, you are not allowed to remove anything that belongs there such as grass, rocks and twigs. You are, however, allowed to remove soda cans, beer bottles or old golf shoes.
In the hazard, as in the sand bunker, you are not permitted to ground your club, which means the club is not permitted to touch the sand or be set down on the ground before the shot. Red markers designate lateral water hazards while yellow markers mean water hazards. At a later date, I’ll try to clarify the manner in which each affects your play.
Out of bounds stakes are white and usually 30 to 40 feet apart, enabling the player to visualize one to the other. These white markers define the boundary of the course. When your ball lies outside of the line from one stake to the neighboring stake, you are deemed to be out of bounds. When this happens, your next shot must be hit from the spot of your last shot. These white stakes may never be removed to permit the player to swing at his ball, but yellow and red hazard markers can be removed so that the shot can be completed. If a red or yellow stake is removed, it must be returned to its original spot on the course.
If a ball lies on a boundary line or directly on a line from one white stake to another, it is deemed to be out of bounds. The line itself is out of bounds. However, you may stand out of bounds to play a ball that is in bounds.
Unplayable balls in bunkers
I just want to touch upon the questions asked about the procedure for declaring a ball unplayable in a bunker. The player does have the option of declaring a ball unplayable in a bunker. There is, however, a wrinkle to the procedure that differs from the general application of the rule for an unplayable ball.
The options are: one, drop the ball within two club-lengths of the spot where it lay unplayable, not nearer the hole. The wrinkle—it must be dropped in the bunker. Two, drop the ball, keeping the spot where the ball lay unplayable between you and the hole, and go back as far as you like. The wrinkle—it must be dropped in the bunker. Or three, drop the ball and play your next stroke from where you played your last stroke (“stroke and distance”). If it was a tee shot, you may re-tee the ball.
Some Yogi Berra-isms
The restaurant is so crowded, nobody goes in there anymore. Seventy percent of the players are for natural grass, and 50 percent are for artificial turf. Predictions are hard to make, especially when they involve the future. I’d clarify my remarks, but it would only confuse things.
