Ball rolled into the water thru the drain

I had a very bad luck last weekend.

At OCC's Vanda 6, second shot across the waters but went right on the cart path. Good bounce and I thought it was safe but it went into the drain. The maintenance crew had just cleared the drain so there were no leaves, etc...

By the time I walked to where I thought my ball would be, it had rolled all the way down and down into the waters!

In this case, I should hit the ball from where it entered the waters, right? Not where it entered the drain which is about 30m ahead and closer to the pin.

Not really, it depend whether there were any yellow or red sticks hazard or water marking. One do not drop or hit closer to the pin for sure but where to drop your ball is in question.

Read rule 20-3c :
Spot not determinable

I think you shall drop it under water hazard ruling since your ball did stopped in the water not in the drain.

Yes for sure- not closer to the pin. So I had to drop the ball nearest to where it entered the waters- 30m back and on a slight slope. Wasted a good second shot and kena penalized some more.

Then on Monday, I almost hit the same spot but lucky this time, it stayed up on the grass and third shot brought me on the green. To make up for that lost ball and double bogey earlier.

That's golf!

artchang00 wrote:

Yes for sure- not closer to the pin. So I had to drop the ball nearest to where it entered the waters- 30m back and on a slight slope. Wasted a good second shot and kena penalized some more.......

Bro, not really though. When you play under a water hazard ruling. You entitle with options;

Read rule 26 (all with 1 stroke penalty in stroke play): you can

1) Play the ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last play.

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.

3) Additional option only for LATERAL water hazard drop within 2 club length .. etc

In other word, you can take 2nd option, find and drop the ball on a better lie not on the slight slope as you mention above.

Thanks. I'll bear that in mind. Still a new golfer who needs to familiarize with the rules.

Erm, for Vanda 6, where is the drain?

Find out if the drain is marked as a hazard or not. The scorecard may shed some light. Look under local rules.

If it is, you can ascertain the point of entry to the hazard (drain) from there and not 30m back as per your description.

blee wrote:

Erm, for Vanda 6, where is the drain?

Sorry- Vanda 5.

artchang00 wrote:

blee wrote:

Erm, for Vanda 6, where is the drain?

Sorry- Vanda 5.

Erm, vanda 5 is a long par 4 slight dogleg with no water lei. I think you meant 6 where on your 2nd short you need to clear water. I am just thinking after the water on the right side .

Confirm go in drain?

Darn- I'm so confused now.

It's the one with the Orchid bunker- that's Vanda 6, right? Yes, that's Vanda 6. Cross the water and upslope on the cart path is a drain that goes all the way down back to the water.

It's a Par 5. See http://www.orchidclub.com/moby/cms/golfing/golf_course/vanda6.html

artchang00 wrote:

Darn- I'm so confused now.

It's the one with the Orchid bunker- that's Vanda 6, right? Yes, that's Vanda 6. Cross the water and upslope on the cart path is a drain that goes all the way down back to the water.

It's a Par 5. See http://www.orchidclub.com/moby/cms/golfing/golf_course/vanda6.html

If I'm not wrong, if you already cross the water and your ball drop into the drain, if you can find it, should have a free drop unless the drain is marked by red/yellow stakes. But if you cannot find your ball, it'll be treated as lost ball.

I'm very sure it went into the drain and rolled all the way down and into the waters. Cos there were no leaves or anything in the drain that can hold the ball back.

I did drop another ball to see if it will actually roll down and it did.

My playing partner said I must hit from the point where it entered the waters.

Thanks all for your clarification and next time, I'll know better my options.

It's the par 5. First time hearing it happen. Tough luck I guess.