Two interesting rules probably broken a lot

<original post wrong>

Nonsense.
Rule 26-1
If a ball is in or is lost in a water hazard (whether the ball lies in water or not), the player may under penalty of one stroke:
(a) Play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5); or .........

Also nonsense.

Rule 17-1 Flagstick Attended, Removed or Held Up
Before making a stroke from anywhere on the course, the player may have the flagstick attended, removed or held up to indicate the position of the hole.

Hey Gree...

Unfortunately, despite his charming bedside manner, I have to agree with aaa on both counts.

That said, though, I was with you on point one until only recently when I was challenged on course about the rule. I was running from memory and having had a 4-5 yr period of not touching the clubs, I hadn't fully reacquainted myself with the rule book. It was my recollection that you could only have the pin tended if your ball was lying on the green of the hole you are playing. After that round, I checked the club's copy of the book and yup, the rule is as aaa quotes...

It cost me a round of drinks as well...

And on your second point, at my old course we had a par 3 hole with a dam between tee & green and lots of members would fall foul of the water off the tee and it was always considered the better option to tee another one up rather than to bother looking at your other options of relief from the hazard.

Cheers

__________________
Every time a golfer makes a birdie, he must subsequently make two triple bogeys to restore the fundamental equilibrium of the universe....

The other rule I was not aware of but a PGA pro (I believe Boo weekly) suffered a two stroke penalty, is that if a fellow player is on the green you can not remove the flag unless that player requests you to do so, there was a rookie with a 50 ft putt and did not have the flag attended, the ball is headed for the hole and Boo rushes over and removes the flag just before it goes in, he got a two stroke penalty. Ouch

Sorry about the bedside manner but the original post could have been read by somone who would go away believing it. If someone is so positive about a rule they should support their statement by at least quoting the rule number.
There are so many people who don't even have a rule book without life being made more complicated by the wrong story being spread around.

Hmm you are correct on both.
Has the tended flag rule changed recently? (as in since before 2004 changes)

Looks like I confused the issue about replaying from a water hazard.
the point I was trying to make was regarding re-teeing up the ball, not that you couldnt replay the shot from a tee. However it appears you can re-tee it up anyway.
So the only difference between generally losing a ball and losing one in a water hazard is that you can go back as far as you want if you lost it in a water hazard?

The only option with a lost ball is to go back and play again.

There are basically two WH options plus another for a Lateral WH

1) Play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played. or
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, with no limit to how far behind the water hazard the ball may be dropped; or

3) As additional options available only if the ball last crossed the margin of a lateral water hazard, drop a ball outside the water hazard within two club-lengths of and not nearer the hole than (i) the point where the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard or (ii) a point on the opposite margin of the water hazard equidistant from the hole.

But the question is, if you loose a ball, are you sure its lost in the hazard?
If you *know* it went into the hazard then you dont have to find it..but what if you dont know for a fact...

Unless of course you played a provisional if you thought there was "any" chance you may be lost, then you don't have to go back....



We like to keep the game moving...

Cheers

so if you hit a 300yrd drive that you think may have gone into a water hazard at the end but you are not sure so you play a provisional.
Then you find it in the lateral hazard is it tough luck on you as you already have a ball in play (the prov) or can you still take your (within) 2 clublength drop and play on?
Is the provisional only in case the ball is lost outside of the hazard?

Anyone wanna hazard a guess?

Turns out you cant.
If you play a provisional then if the ball is lost OR in the hazard the provisonal is the ball in play.

rule 27-2/1

Where do you get this stuff ?

Rule 27-2b. When Provisional Ball Becomes Ball in Play

If the original ball is lost outside a water hazard or is out of bounds, the provisional ball becomes the ball in play, under penalty of stroke and distance (Rule 27-1).
If there is reasonable evidence that the original ball is lost in a water hazard,the player must proceed in accordance with Rule 26-1.

I assume you mean Decision 27-1/1. There is no rule with that reference.
But read it again

27-2/1 Provisional Ball Serving as Ball in Play If Original Ball Unplayable or in Water Hazard


Q. May a player announce that a second ball he is going to play is both (a) a provisional ball in case the original ball is lost outside a water hazard or out of bounds and (b) the ball in play in case the original ball is unplayable or in a water hazard?

A. No.