Ball in Casual Water

[gbower]

The attached diagram isn't the greatest as I can't draw anything but we'll try. The ball is hit from the tee and crosses over point "A" of the casual water and goes past point "B" where it hits a tree and my fellow competitor and I both see the ball come back into the casual water crossing at appoximately point "C" going in. When we get up to the area we are unable to find the ball. We're not sure of what we should do now. Any suggestions as to how to proceed in this situation?????

[mjf]

As you are certain the ball is lost in casual water, wouldn't you use the point where the ball entered ("C") and drop within one club-length no nearer the hole? No penalty...

[gbower]

Why point "C" and not point "A" as the ball crossed "A" first???

[mjf]

The ball last crossed at point "C".

[BC MIST]

The ball last crossed at point "C".

Now what do you do?

[jvincent]

Find nearest point of relief from Point C and drop within 1 club length. No penalty.

[gbower]

You guys are good, now what if he ends up taking his drop using point "A" to find his nearest point of relief??? This is where I'm sure the majority of players will want to drop.

[mjf]

Well... if he drops at point "A" then I'll tell him he dropped it in the wrong place and he should pick it up and re-drop it as jvincent and I described above with no penalty.

Of course, I suspect the intent of your question was to determine what happens if he drops and then hits from the wrong spot. I'm not really sure and I'm too lazy to Google it so I'll say it's a 2 stroke penalty.

[BC MIST]

Well... if he drops at point "A" then I'll tell him he dropped it in the wrong place and he should pick it up and re-drop it as jvincent and I described above with no penalty.

Of course, I suspect the intent of your question was to determine what happens if he drops and then hits from the wrong spot. I'm not really sure and I'm too lazy to Google it so I'll say it's a 2 stroke penalty.

And where does he play the next stroke from?

[mjf]

I guess that means it is a 2 stroke penalty.

Where does he play his next stroke from? Wherever his shot ended up. He just plays out the hole...

[BC MIST]

I guess that means it is a 2 stroke penalty.

Where does he play his next stroke from? Wherever his shot ended up. He just plays out the hole...

Correct.

Play a wrong ball and you must correct but play from a wrong place and you don't. EXCEPT, if by playing from a wrong place you gained an advantage,(serous breach) you must correct and play from the right place, or be DQ'd.