| Hazards are bunkers, such as sand traps and all | | | | is, without grounding your club in the hazard, or count |
| water hazards on the golf course. Your goal should | | | | one penalty stroke and drop anywhere behind the |
| be to avoid these hazards as much as possible. It is | | | | hazard, going as far back as you want, as long as |
| safer to fade or hook a ball around a bunker or | | | | you are not closer to the hole and you keep the |
| water hazard than to try to go straight over it and | | | | point where the ball last crossed the margin of the |
| take the risk of landing in it. | | | | hazard between you and the hole. |
| One of the widespread errors that lots of amateurs | | | | This means that if you drew a line between where |
| make is to not use enough club when going over | | | | you drop it and the point where it first crossed the |
| these obstacles, especially when going against the | | | | hazard, to the pin, it would form a straight line. It is a |
| wind. You should use enough club to clear any hazard | | | | good idea to drop the ball in the fairway to ensure |
| in front of the greens you play. | | | | yourself of a good lie, and as close to the hazard as |
| A neat trick is to use one more club than you were | | | | possible so your shot to the green is shorter. |
| thinking, and then choke up on the club. This means | | | | When red stakes define the beginning and end of a |
| placing your hands on the club about 1 to 2 inches | | | | water hazard: |
| from the top of the grip, instead of at the end of | | | | These hazards are usually to the left or right of the |
| the grip as you would for a normal shot. You'll still get | | | | fairway and not right in front of you. The local golf |
| the distance you need and the shot will be easier to | | | | course's rules can set which types of stakes are |
| execute. With regards to water hazards, know your | | | | used. You can drop on the other side of the water |
| rights and obligations according to the rules. | | | | but not closer to the hole, or play from within the |
| When yellow stakes define the beginning and end of | | | | hazard without grounding your club. However, the |
| a water hazard: | | | | correct play is usually to drop within two club lengths |
| These water hazards are usually right in front of you, | | | | of where the ball entered the hazard but not closer |
| between you and the hole. If your ball ends up in a | | | | to the hole. |
| yellow staked water hazard you can play the ball as | | | | |