In 2019, ‘water hazards” will be replaced by the expanded concept of ‘penalty areas.’ As now, players will get relief with a one stroke penalty if their ball comes to rest in this area. But, there will no longer be any special restrictions when a ball is in a penalty area.
Here’s the detail:
- There will be two types of penalty area. The first will include all areas currently defined in the Rules as a water hazard or lateral water hazard. The second will include any other areas the Committee chooses to define as penalty areas. Recommended guidelines on this will be provided in the guidebook.
- Penalty areas may therefore include desert, jungle, lava rock fields and so on.
- The two types of penalty areas will be known by the colour of their marking: yellow, which gives two relief options; and red which gives the additional option of lateral relief. Committees will be given the discretion to mark all penalty areas as red so that lateral relief will always be allowed.
- The term “hazard” will no longer be used in the Rules.
- A player will be allowed to touch or move loose impediments and touch the ground with hand or club for any reason. For example, a player can ground the club right behind the ball. However, they must not improve conditions for the stroke.
