Ladies:
Problem areas are always a problem and the question about your ball being on the bridge on hole #12 has come up again.
I have attached a photo of the situation to this e mail. Hopefully you all can open it!
FACTS
The bridge is IN the hazard.
You are ALWAYS allowed to hit from a hazard without penalty.
But……You MAY NOT ground your club in a hazard.
The bridge, although it is deemed to be IN the hazard, is an “obstruction” in the hazard , NOT ‘”ground” in the hazard
Decision/Rule 13-4/30 allows you to touch an “obstruction” in a hazard.
So this is what you may do:
1. You may, without penalty, hit your ball from the bridge and ground your club.
2. You may, with a one stroke penalty, take relief from the bridge using Rule 26, Water Hazards.
As you well know that means:
Hit from where you were before, if from the tee box you may tee your ball up again.
Go back and drop a ball as far as you like, in line with the pin and where your ball last crossed the hazard.
Drop a ball within two club lengths, no closer to the pin, from where your ball last crossed the hazard.
I do not advocate plagiarism but this time I have included here link here http://www.usga.org/videos/2015/07/07/150707-womens_rules-of-golf-bridges-4342577694001.html to the USGA Rules website that will visually help you.
I hope this helps you,
Hilary
dbwgc.com 