GETTING THE DROP FOR ANOTHER OPTION

When taking relief from a water hazard, one of the available options is to keep that point where the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard in a straight line with the hole and drop a ball behind the hazard anywhere on that line, with no limit as to how far back the player may go before dropping (Rule 26-1b). However, at the par-3 sixth hole at Blackwolf Run in Kohler, Wis., site of the U.S. Women's Open last month, that option really wasn't a viable one.

The area between the teeing ground and the green at the sixth is a ravine and an area of wetlands, marked as a water hazard. Its steep slopes are covered primarily with tall weeds and grass. It is difficult enough for a player to just find a ball on the slope in front of the green, let alone hit it. When a ball at the sixth comes up short of the green, one of the few places to take relief as prescribed in the first paragraph is on the front edge of the teeing ground, which means players are hitting a shot only a few yards from where they first played.

That's why, at the Women's Open, a ball drop was created at this and two other holes. It was an especially helpful additional option on Saturday, when steady winds of 30 mph made hitting the sixth green a difficult assignment. Players who hit into the hazard short of the green could hit their next shot from the drop area, which provided them a shot 40 to 50 yards shorter than the one they would have had if they had elected to hit from the same spot as their original ball or, by taking advantage of the option in the opening paragraph to its fullest, a few yards closer to the front of the teeing ground. Even by using the ball drop, players still had to negotiate the water hazard.

While it is proper to note the location of ball drops on the Local Rules sheet, ball drops installed for USGA championships always have the words "ball drop" painted within the white circle that defines the area. This eliminates any possible confusion that the circle marked with white paint could be interpreted as ground under repair, which is marked in similar fashion.

Section 6 under Local Rules in Appendix I permits the Committee to adopt a ball drop when it is not feasible or practical to proceed exactly in conformity with immovable obstructions, ground under repair, water and lateral water hazards and a ball unplayable.

When using a ball drop, the Committee must make it clear who can use it and whether it includes a penalty. Obviously, when a ball drop is used for water hazards or a ball unplayable, there would be a penalty; there would be none if used for obstructions or ground under repair.

There are some important questions and answers about ball drops that all players should be aware of, including:

  • Does the ball, when dropped, have to land (strike a part of the course) in the ball drop? The answer is yes.
  • How does a player proceed if the ball lands on the line? The line is considered in the ball drop. Thus a ball is in play if a dropped ball lands on the line.
  • Does a player have to stand in the ball drop while making a drop? No.
  • If the ball rolls closer to the hole when dropped, does it have to be redropped? No, unless it rolls more than two club-lengths.
  • If the ball lands in the ball drop and then rolls out, does it have to be redropped? If it rolls beyond the line, it is only redropped if the ball rolls more than two club-lengths.
The par-3 17th at the TPC at Sawgrass in Florida is another well-known example of a hole where the creation of a ball drop gives the player another practical option for a ball in the hazard. It makes perfect sense that any course with a hazard that does not give players the option of Rule 26-1b should consider not only adding a ball drop but also informing players of its location and usage.

— Tom Meeks