Nina Caldwell
Rule 26 in golf, also known as Are You Really Really Sure?, covers determining a lost ball and water hazards, including lateral water hazards. It is a question of fact whether a ball that has not been found after being struck towards a water hazard is in the hazard. Rule 26-1 states that it must be known or virtually certain that the ball is in the water hazard to proceed under this rule. If a player hits their ball into a water hazard, they may proceed under Rule 26-1 with a one-stroke penalty or go back to the tee or spot through the green from which they initially hit into the hazard, also with a one-stroke penalty.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Rule Number | 26 |
| Rule Title | Are You Really Really Sure? |
| Topic | Determining a lost ball |
| Subtopic | Water Hazards (Including Lateral Water Hazards) |
| Rule Text | It must be 'known or virtually certain' that the ball is in the water hazard. In the absence of 'knowledge or virtual certainty', a ball that cannot be found must be considered lost or somewhere other than in a water hazard, and the player must proceed under Rule 27-1. |
| Penalties for Violation | Match play – Loss of hole; Stroke play – two strokes |
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What You'll Learn
Water hazards and lateral water hazards
Golf's Rule 26 deals with water hazards and lateral water hazards. A "lateral water hazard" is a water hazard that is positioned in such a way that dropping a ball behind it is impossible or impractical while still adhering to the rules. Lateral water hazards are marked by red stakes and/or lines.
If a player hits their ball into a water hazard, they have several options under Rule 26-1, each incurring a one-stroke penalty:
- Drop as close as possible to the spot where the previous shot was played.
- Drop behind the water hazard, keeping the point where the ball last crossed the hazard directly between the hole and the drop spot. The player can go back as far as they like on this line.
- Add another penalty stroke and proceed under the steps in Rule 26.
- Add another penalty stroke and go back to play from the tee or the spot through the green from which the player initially hit into the hazard.
If a player hits their ball into a lateral water hazard, they incur a one-stroke penalty and have the following options:
- Drop within two club-lengths, but no nearer the hole, of the spot where the ball crossed into the hazard.
- Proceed as if they had hit their ball into a regular water hazard, using the options and penalties outlined above.
It is important to note that if a ball is lost, unplayable, or out of bounds after being hit from within a water hazard, the player must take a one-stroke penalty and then either drop and play another shot from the hazard as close as possible to the point of the previous shot, add another penalty stroke and proceed under Rule 26, or add another penalty stroke and go back to play from the tee or the spot through the green from which they initially hit into the hazard.
Furthermore, Rule 26-1 states that there must be "knowledge or virtual certainty" that a ball is in the water hazard to proceed under this rule. If there is any doubt, all readily available information, such as topography, turf conditions, visibility, and the proximity of trees, must be considered to determine whether "virtual certainty" exists.
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Determining a lost ball
Golf's Rule 26 deals with determining a lost ball, specifically in the context of water hazards.
If a player hits their ball into a water hazard and it is lost, they must proceed under Rule 26. This rule applies when there is "virtual certainty" that the ball is in the hazard, meaning that when all readily available information is considered, the only logical conclusion is that the ball is in the hazard. Factors that may be considered include topography, turf conditions, turf heights, visibility, weather conditions, and the proximity of trees, bushes, and abnormal ground conditions.
If a player hits their ball into a water hazard and it is lost, unplayable, or out of bounds, they have several options under Rule 26:
- Take a one-stroke penalty and drop and play another shot from the hazard, as close as possible to the point of the previous shot.
- Take two penalty strokes and go back and play from the tee or the spot through the green from which they initially hit into the hazard.
- Take a one-stroke penalty and proceed under Rule 26-1, which provides relief for a ball in a water hazard.
It is important to note that if a player hits their ball towards a water hazard but does not see it enter the hazard, they cannot automatically assume that it is in the hazard and must consider all available information to determine whether there is "virtual certainty" that the ball is in the water. If there is not virtual certainty, the player must proceed under Rule 27-1, which deals with a ball lost or out of bounds.
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Ball in water hazard
Rule 26 of golf covers water hazards, including lateral water hazards. A "lateral water hazard" is a water hazard that is positioned in such a way that it is impossible or impractical for a ball to be dropped behind it while adhering to the rules. These hazards are marked by red stakes and/or lines.
If a player hits their ball into a water hazard, they have several options under Rule 26-1, all of which incur a one-stroke penalty:
- Drop as close as possible to the spot where they played the previous shot.
- Drop behind the water hazard, keeping the point where the ball last crossed the hazard directly between the hole and the drop spot. The player can go back as far as they like on this line.
- If dropping from a lateral hazard, the player can drop within two club-lengths, but no nearer the hole, of the spot where the ball crossed into the hazard.
- Drop at a spot on the opposite side of the hazard equidistant from the hole.
If it is not certain that the ball went into a water hazard, the player must proceed under the "stroke and distance" rule (Rule 27-1) as if the ball were lost or went out of bounds.
If a player hits from a water hazard and their ball is lost, unplayable, or out of bounds, they incur a one-stroke penalty and can then choose one of the following options:
- Drop and play another shot from the hazard, as close as possible to the point of the previous shot.
- Take another penalty stroke and proceed under Rule 26.
- Take another penalty stroke and go back to play from the tee or the spot through the green from which they initially hit into the hazard.
Penalties for violating Rule 26 include the loss of a hole in match play and two strokes in stroke play.
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Ball unplayable outside hazard
Rule 26 in golf relates to water hazards, including lateral water hazards. If a ball is lost, unplayable, or out of bounds after being hit from within a water hazard, the player must take a one-stroke penalty and then choose one of the following options:
- Drops and plays another shot from the hazard, as close as possible to the point of the previous shot.
- Adds another penalty stroke and proceeds under the steps in Rule 26.
- Adds another penalty stroke, then goes back and plays from the tee or the spot through the green from which they initially hit into the hazard.
If a ball is deemed unplayable outside a water hazard, the player may proceed under Rule 28b or c after taking a penalty of one stroke under Rule 27-1 or 28a. This rule also applies to balls that are lost or out of bounds.
It is important to note that Rule 26 does not apply if a ball is in a penalty area, such as a bunker. In such cases, the player must take relief under the penalty area Rule. Additionally, the player is the only person who can decide that their ball is unplayable, and this decision can be made anywhere on the golf course except in a penalty area.
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Penalty for breach of rule
Golf Rule 26 pertains to water hazards, including lateral water hazards. A "lateral water hazard" is a water hazard (or part of one) that, due to its position in relation to the hole, makes it impossible or impractical for a ball to be dropped behind it while adhering to the rules.
Now, if a player hits their ball into a regular water hazard, they can take a one-stroke penalty and then do any of the following:
- Drop as close as possible to the spot where they played the previous shot.
- Drop behind the water hazard, keeping the point where the ball last crossed the hazard directly between the hole and the drop spot. The player can go back as far as they like on this line.
If a player hits their ball into a lateral hazard, they take a one-shot penalty and then either:
- Drops within two club-lengths, but no nearer the hole, of the spot where the ball crossed into the hazard.
- Drops at a spot on the opposite side of the hazard equidistant from the hole.
If a player hits from a water hazard and their ball is lost, unplayable, or out of bounds, they take a one-stroke penalty and then do one of the following:
- Drops and plays another shot from the hazard, as close as possible to the point of the previous shot.
- Adds another penalty stroke and proceeds under the steps in Rule 26.
- Adds another penalty stroke, then goes back and plays from the tee or the spot through the green from which they initially hit into the hazard.
If a player breaches Rule 26, the penalty depends on the type of game being played. In match play, the penalty is the loss of a hole. In stroke play, the penalty is two strokes.
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Frequently asked questions
Rule 26 in golf pertains to water hazards, including lateral water hazards.
A "lateral water hazard" is a water hazard that is positioned in a way that makes it impossible or impractical for a ball to be dropped behind it in keeping with the rules. Lateral water hazards are marked by red stakes and/or lines.
Rule 26-1 states that if a ball is struck towards a water hazard and cannot be found, a player may not assume that it is in the water hazard simply because there is a possibility that it may be. In this case, the player must proceed under Rule 27-1, treating the ball as lost or out of bounds.
Rule 26 states that if a player hits their ball into a water hazard, they may take a one-stroke penalty and then do any of the following:
- Drop as close as possible to the spot where they played the previous shot.
- Drop behind the water hazard, keeping the point where the ball last crossed the hazard directly between the hole and the drop spot.
- Add another penalty stroke and go back and play from the tee or the spot through the green from which they initially hit into the hazard.
