Dropping on the opposite margin of a hazard

Me and CYM were discussing this not-so-well-known rule of golf. You are allowed to drop on the opposite side of the hazard if it is marked by a red stake. Here are the details:

Perhaps the least-understood option for taking a penalty drop after hitting a ball into a lateral water hazard (red stakes or red line) is the drop on the "opposite margin" as stated in Rule 26-1c (ii).

To clarify, if your ball crosses into a lateral water hazard, you're allowed to find a point on the opposite side of the hazard that's the same distance from the hole as the point where your ball crossed the hazard. From there, you're allowed to take a drop within two club-lengths (no closer to the hole), add a penalty stroke to your score, and play on.

One caveat: If you draw an imaginary straight line from the point where your ball entered the hazard to that point on the opposite side of the hazard--and that line first crosses land that is outside the hazard--then dropping on the opposite side is not an option.

The ups and downs of golf

Golf is such a crazy, unpredictable game.

Last week I had one of the worst game in recent time, 92. Everything was just not right.

This week, I shot the best game ever at NSRCC, 75, all within a week. Strange! Everything just felt right.

Same course, same clubs, same ball, same me.

Alas, one thing that was different is that I did not mix with bad companies. That explains.

Hi, my name is Jeffrey...

If anyone introduced himself as Jeffrey prior to teeing off, you got to be weary of him.

Dick, Phil, Jeffrey and myself teed off on a very warm Saturday morning. After a night of drinking with the guys, I was feeling not too bad really.

Starting both 9s with double bogies and shooting 92 isn't my idea of "not too bad". Lost 2 sixes, 2 individuals (to Dick and Phil), and another $110 for not playing at all.

Why you might ask? Sembawang CC called me during the game and asked why I did not turn up. Initially, I cannot recall that I actually booked a flight there. So, I got to pay the no-show fee for the whole flight, $110.

Guess what? Jeffrey really "吃free"!!!

I could have been better off eating Bak Chor Mee!!!

And yes, Chi Keen, it worked!!!

Huat Siong playing in the Champions Tour Pro-am!!!

Fellow Goofies Tan Huat Siong has qualified to play in the US PGA Champions Tour Pro-am!!!

Playing in the SAS golf in Sentosa Tanjung Course, Huat Siong scored 86 and came in second overall in the double peoria format. His prize for playing so well is an all expense paid pro-am in the Champions Tour in North Carolina. It will be played in September over 4 days and Huat Siong will rub shoulders with luminaries like Greg Norman, Mark o'Meara etc.

Huat Siong promised us he will update the blog day-by-day. So watch this space for the highlights.

It will be interesting to see who his playing partner will be.

The eagle has landed..

I was over the moon yesterday! I shot an eagle on Army 1st, the par 5!

I was playing with Jimmy, Peter Teo and Bobby and after teeing off with my driver and hitting my second with my 3 hybrid, I was left with about 60 m to the green. My intention was just to put it close to the blue pin.

I hit a 3/4 swing with my 60deg wedge but I felt that I hit it a little too strong. The ball landed about 2 m from the pin and rolled. I shouted "Bite!". But the ball refused to listen, it rolled and rolled right into the cup for the 3rd eagle of my life!

I was totally elated and was jumping for joy.

The last time I had an eagle was at Kranji 6th hole, and one of my playing partners was Jimmy Ang.

So the lesson learnt is: if you want to shoot an eagle, play with Jimmy Ang.

How I wish I can shoot my next eagle on a par 3 and in a tournament where there is a Merc to be won! Still waiting for that day.

Bobby captured this shot after I picked the ball out of the cup.

Relief from Red Ants

Today on Navy 9th, after my tee shot, I found my ball in the position as shown in the picture above. I thought to myself, damn, there goes my par.

As I moved closer, I saw the trees and the rope were infested with an army of red ants, then I recalled the LPGA game where Michelle Wie was given a free drop because of a couple of bees with no beehive.

I quote a news article :

"Wie exhibited a grown-up game and a strong knowledge of the Rules of Golf. She said she first heard of golfers getting relief from certain insects while she was watching a PGA Tour event on television.

"One player, he was in the bush and he had all of these fire ants, and he got relief," Wie said. "So I remembered that and I asked the rules official. "


Here is Rules 1-4/10: Dangerous Situation; Rattlesnake or Bees Interfere with Play

Q. A player’s ball comes to rest in a situation dangerous to the player, e.g., near a live rattlesnake or a bees’ nest. Does the player have any options in addition to playing the ball as it lies or, if applicable, proceeding under Rule 26 or 28?

A. Yes. It is unreasonable to expect the player to play from such a dangerous situation and unfair to require the player to incur a penalty under Rule 26 (Water Hazards) or Rule 28 (Ball Unplayable).
In equity (Rule 1-4), as an additional option the player should be permitted, without penalty, to drop a ball on the nearest spot not nearer the hole which is not dangerous.

I could have chipped it out, but red ants will be all over me. Vincent Loh refused to give it to me. Robert after inspecting the situation, agreed.

I took relief, then changed to a fairway wood, because the situation is different now. I parred the hole.

Vincent, the photographer, was a little "buay song", he even named this picture "kelong.jpg".

Well, knowing the rules and playing by the rules is part and parcel of the game, and winning bets!