Casual Water

As was mentioned in an earlier explanation of the rules in The Ground We Play On, is defined as “any temporary accumulation of water on the course that is visible before or after the player takes his stance and is not in a water hazard.  Dew and frost are not casual water.  A ball is in casual water when it lies in or any part of it touches the casual water.

How do I recognize Casual Water? Is soft, mushy earth casual water?

No. Soft, mushy earth is not casual water unless water is visible on the surface before or after I take my normal stance

If a pond (water hazard) has overflowed, is the overflow casual water?

Yes.  Any overflow of water from a water hazard, which is outside the margin of the hazard, is casual water.

My ball plugged deeply in short rough.  No casual water was visible on the surface, but the pitch-mark in which the ball came to rest filled with water.  Am I in casual water?

Yes.  By definition, a ball is in casual water when it lies in or any part of it touches casual water.

In a wet area, casual water is not visible before or after I take my normal stance.  However, by pressing down hard with one foot, I cause water to appear around the sole of my shoe.  Am I entitled to relief for casual water?

No.  Water visible through undue effort with my feet is not casual water.

My ball lies on the putting green.  Casual water is not visible on the green.  However, when I walk beside my line of putt, casual water is visible around my feet.  Am I entitled to relief from casual water?

I am entitled to relief only if there is casual water visible around my feet when I take my normal stance to putt the ball.

How do I take relief from Casual Water?

Through the Green is defined as the entire course except the Teeing area, the Green and all Hazards on the course.  Relief taken through the green is the point on the course nearest to where the ball lies and must meet these three criteria:

a.      relief is not nearer the hole than where the ball originally lay;

b.     relief avoids interference from the casual water;

c.     relief is not in a hazard or on the green.

You shall lift the ball and drop it, without penalty, within one club-length of the point determined that meets all the above 3 criteria.

In a Hazard (any bunker or water hazard), you shall lift and drop the ball either:

a.      in the hazard, as near as possible to the spot where the ball lay, but not nearer the hole, that gives maximum available relief from the condition;

b.     under penalty of one stroke, outside the hazard, keeping the point where the ball lay directly between the hole and where the ball is dropped, with no limit as to how far behind the hazard the ball is dropped.

c.     If the local course rules that, due to recent heavy rains, the bunkers are unplayable, relief outside the bunker can be taken, without penalty of one stroke.

On the Putting Green:  you shall lift the ball and place it without penalty at the nearest position to where it lay that gives me maximum available relief from the casual water, but not nearer the hole nor in a hazard.

When relief is taken for Casual Water, the ball may be cleaned when lifted and before dropping or placing.

If the dropped ball rolls back to where the casual water causes interference, you can drop the ball again.

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