water hazard

The Biggest Dilemma in Golf

/ The Grateful Golfer / 6 Comments

There is an age-old dilemma in golf! It is on every players mind every time the stand next to their ball wondering which club to hit next. They are at 175 yards, hitting over water, with a wide open, yet tricky green to land on. The dilemma has arrived; play safe or go for it!

I asked this very question a short time ago, and was surprised by the response.

81% of the respondents had enough confidence in their game that they felt going for it was the answer! Personally, I would go for it as well, but I would have to admit, I would not go for it every time. @cencalhack added a qualifier to his comments below and most golfers would agree that “going for it” depends on many factors.

Hitting a long shot over water is difficult at best. There are so many factors that must be considered, that I am not sure we amateurs actually consider them all! So, I thought I would make my list and see if I am forgetting something. If I am forgetting something, please let me know! Here is what I look at when hitting the ball 175 yards, over water, to an open, tricky green:

  1. Lie. My lie will have to be relatively flat and in the first cut or fairway for my next shot to be an automatic go shot.
  2. Wind. Which way is the wind blowing and how strong is the wind are definitely.
  3. Hazards. The water hazard is the most obvious hazard, but what about the hazards by the green. What happens if I hit long, left or right? Are there out-of-bounds markers near the green?
  4. Feel. How am I playing to this point? If I am playing poorly, well a lay up shot might be the best course management approach. If I am playing well, then pin hunting might be the solution.

My list is fairly generic, but covers most situations. Again, if you have any suggestions, I am all ears!

One final note, ego does play a part of golf. Some players (myself included sometimes) automatically reach for a club when we get to a specific distance or think “that difficult shot” is in our bag. Playing automatically is not good course management and will cost us strokes over 18 holes. So beware of that dreaded ego!

It is important to remember that risk – reward is part of every golf shot!

Regardless of your decision, commit to the shot because anything can happen on the golf course!

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!

More Than Just a Water Hazard!

/ The Grateful Golfer / 11 Comments

Water on any golf course provides untold challenges. A pond can lie between the tee box and the green on a par three, there are the famous island greens, or water can follow you down the fair way like a lion stalking its prey! Water evokes fear in most amateurs, which ultimately affects their golf game.

Glen Abbey Golf Course, Oakville, Ontario

Tough shot over water to green at Glen Abbey Golf Course!

Hitting your ball into the water is frustrating and does cost a player strokes. However, what is more frustrating is being award more penalty strokes or hitting the ball out of a tough lie for not understanding the drop rule related to a water hazard.

Red and Yellow stakes are often confused. Most amateurs who do not understand the rules and drop the ball within 2 club lengths of their point of entry into the hazard and then just carry on. They often ask the question about the number of penalty stokes they must count and sometimes ‘forget’ the penalty all together. For the weekend golfer who does not really care that much about their score, it really does not matter. But for those who want to play in competition; the video below by Golf.com is for you!

So not that we have demystified the Red and Yellow stakes issue. We can confidently remove the fear of all water hazards. One last tip, the best way to make sure avoid the red/yellow stake rule for a water hazard….do not hit your ball into the water!

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!

What Golfers Will Do!

/ The Grateful Golfer / 3 Comments

Sergio Garcia is in the spotlight again.  The Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Golf and Country Club always produces things to talk about.  Right now, many media outlets are talking about Garcia’s climb up a tree to play the ball out to the fairway.  It can be seen at PGATOUR.COM.

I, however, what to talk about another shot that Sergio made during the second round.  Unlike Nicholas Thompson who hit the ball out of the water hazard to within 2 feet of the pin, Garcia hit a ball, it landed on the bank in the hazard and jumped back into the water.  He could not play the ball the second time and took a drop adjacent to the spot he took his swing.

While watching, I was confused how they figure out the point of entry in the red staked hazard.  I did not see the ball go into the hazard, but must assess that his point of entry into the hazard would not have changed regardless if he tried the shot or not.

I realize this sounds confusing.  Well I am confused.  I have not encountered this situation before so I need some help.  I believe that rule 26 applies, but since he took a shot, missed and it stayed in the hazard….does it still apply?  Can someone explain which rule to apply and number of stroke penalty Sergio Garcia should be assessed?