I have seen where a ball goes into a Hazard area let's say to the right of the fairway. I thought the rule was 2 club lengths from where the ball went into the hazard no nearer the hole.

I have also seen when you have to hit over or across a hazard (usually water) that if you go in you can come back from the hazard as far as you want.

Can someone explain tome when these rules apply and how? I'll be picking up a rule book today but I probably will still need this explained to me.

Thanks!

A lateral water hazard, defined by red stakes, is when you drop two clubs from the point of entry no nearer the hole. A water hazard, defined by yellow steaks, is when you can drop as far back as you want between the spot you hit the shot and the point of entry.

Thanks!

in a lateral hazard, you have all the same options as a regular water hazard (play as it lies, replay from where shot was orginally hit, or drop as far back behind the hazard as you want on a line from the pin, through the spot where the ball last crossed the hazard)... but you have 2 other options: drop 2 clublengths from the spot where the ball last crossed the hazard, no nearer the hole, or find the spot equidistant with the spot it last crossed, on the other side of the hazard and drop within 2 clublengths

Check these out:

http://www.usga.org/playing/rules/animatio...ds_water_h.html

and

http://www.usga.org/playing/rules/animatio...ralwater_h.html

Take this example: Lateral hazard runs to the left of the hole. You go into the hazard pin high.

Isn't it possible where the 2 club lengths from where it entered are allcloser to the hole no matter which direction those 2 clubs lengths occur? If so, let's also say that you cannot go on the opposide side of the hazard because there is no opposite side of the hazard... wouldn't the only option be to rehit?

Some spots on my home course have red and yellow stakes together. Why is this?

I will have to pay attention this weekend when I play to if these are lateral water hazards.

Yes, rehit.

PS - You could also play the ball from the hazard if possible.

The orientation or location of some water hazards is such that a portion of the hazard is a lateral hazard. For example, imagine a "L" shaped water hazard where part of the hazard is parallel to the fairway and part of the hazard sits between the fairway and the green. In that case the section of the hazard running parallel to the fairway might be a lateral hazard and the section in front of the green would be a "standard" hazard.

These are very helpful, thanks!

I was missing the piece about the line to the flag.

Not correct - for a water hazard (yellow) you drop on the line where you ball entered the hazard inline with the flag, not with inline with your previous shot.

Chipper - Thanks for pointing this out. This is one of the most common errors made when dropping. The so called "line of flight" or path of the ball before entering the hazard is NEVER considered.