To understand on the best option to take it best to know the difference between a Lateral Water (LWH) hazard and an ordinary one. A LWH is define in the Rules of Golf as being
Quote:
A lateral water hazard is a water hazard or that part of a
water hazard so situated that it is not possible or is deemed
by the Committee to be impracticable to drop a ball behind
the water hazard in accordance with Rule 26-1b.
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where as a water hazard is defined as
Quote:
A water hazard is any sea, lake, pond, river, ditch, surface
drainage ditch or other open water course (whether or not
containing water) and anything of a similar nature.
All ground or water within the margin of a water hazard is
part of the water hazard. The margin of a water hazard
extends vertically upwards and downwards. Stakes and lines
defining the margins of water hazards are in the hazards.
Such stakes are obstructions. A ball is in a water hazard when
it lies in or any part of it touches the water hazard.
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Now normally a water hazard on a golf course is either marked as a water (WH) hazard or a lateral water hazard {LWH). Rarely do you see a hazard dived between a WH and a LWH. This can cause some confusion.
I have done a quick sketch to illustrate a scenario similar to the one you described. If you look at the image attached you will see marked areas such are the green tee and the tree. The red and yellow dots mark the LWH and WH respectively. The black dot marks the spot where the ball crossed the LWH after it hit the tree.
Now you have three options as describe by gandalf above. Now lets apply the three rules to the scenario.
1) Play a second ball from where the original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5). No problems there.
2)
2) Drop a ball behind the water hazard, keeping the point at which the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped. Now we have a problem here don't we. As you can see in the image, as indicated by the gold line, we can't drop behind the WH as we would be dropping out of bounds. This is the source of many arguments on a golf course. A lot of people just drop a ball
anywhere behind the WH. You can't do that. You have to draw an imaginary line from the flag through the last point the ball crossed the WH to find the place to drop the ball. It can't be done in this instance. The black line in the image just divides the line of the WH from The LWH.
3) option three is the best option in this scenario
hope that helps
rgdz
Keeks