Ask Linda #54-Lulu replies to #53

Linda, thank you for including my question on your site…I discussed with my girls and the second section really none of us knew.
By the way, in the first section, I think you meant to say if your leaf-covered ball was in a bunker, not water hazard.

Dear Lulu,

Please read Rule 13-4c, which will tell you that you may not touch or move a loose impediment in a hazard prior to hitting your ball. By "hazard," the rule book means both bunkers and water hazards. Don't be confused by the word "water;" just because your ball is in a water hazard, that does not mean it is in water. Your ball can be sitting on dry land in a water hazard (indeed, some water hazards contain no water at all!). If you choose to hit your ball when it is lying in a water hazard (or a bunker) you will incur a two-stroke penalty for touching or moving any loose impediments before you hit the ball.

Linda

Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.