Update for Week 2 – April 20/21
No conforming Dropping Zones for these courses for Week #2
- Division 1 – Columbia
- Division 2 – Crystal Springs
- Division 3 – Orchards
- Division 5 – Belk Park
Innsbrook (Division 4) has 3 marked, maintained Dropping Zones
- Hole #7 (left of lake)
- Hole #15 (left of lake)
- Hole #17 (left of lake).
We encourage the use of Dropping Zones as it can help improve Pace of Play.
When we have problems with Water Hazards (marked by Yellow Stakes), use of Dropping Zones may be allowed (see Section 17 below).
Section 17 – Water Hazards – Penalties and Carry Over Procedure
All players must attempt to hit their ball across water hazards marked by yellow stakes.
If a ball is in or it is known or virtually certain that a ball that has not been found is in the water hazard, the player may proceed with under one of the following options: :
A) proceed under USGA Rule 26-1 (water hazard rule) with penalty of one (1) stroke
B) If there is a conforming dropping zone, identified and clearly marked by the course, and announced before start of play to players as to the hole and location of the dropping zone player may drop a ball, under penalty of one (1) stroke, in the dropping zone.
C) Under penalty of three (3) penalty strokes, player may choose to drop a ball on the opposite side of the water hazard two club lengths from the margin of the water hazard, opposite the point where the ball entered the water hazard. Penalties are one stroke to come out of hazard, plus two (2) penalty strokes to carry across the hazard.
Most of our scheduled courses DO NOT have regular, marked. maintained Dropping Zones. I am preparing a detailed summary for all our courses.
For this week’s courses (April 13/14) – Only Division 1 (Emerald Greens has marked/maintained Dropping Zones).
Landings at Spirit (Division 2) – No Drop Zones
Aberdeen (Division 3) – No Drop Zones
Columbia (Division 4) – No Drop Zones
Links @ Dardenne (Division 5) – No Drop Zones
For Emerald Greens (only 2 holes have regular drop zones)
Hole #2 – Par 4 – Drop Zone beside and to the left of the green
Hole #17 – Par 3 – Drop Zone at bunker near green
Note – there is NOT a regular drop zone for #18, although this may be “marked” sometimes. We cannot use a temporary zone.
Metro has Metro procedures for bunkers when they have water in them, how about fairways etc. that have standing water or just water logged. I have normally picked up the ball and placed it on playable ground no closer to the hole, is this wrong ?
Dick, your question really references “abnormal conditions” on the course. We are using USGA rules for these conditions and they are quite generous. CLICK HERE for a quick video explaining Abnormal Course Conditions. http://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/video-hub.html#brightcoveId=5834141980001&pageTitle=%20Rules%20of%20Golf%20Explained%3A%20Abnormal%20Course%20Conditions&playlist=rules-explained
For more details and a diagram CLICK HERE https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/rules/rules-2019/rules-of-golf/rule-16.html