Yellow stakes

[Chieflongtee]

Ok. I hit a drive that sails over the water hazard(yellow stakes) and then the ball hits a tree on the right and the ball then goes goes backward and sideways into the yellow stake hazard?

Do I hit the next shot from behing the hazard or from the side where it went in?

[justsomeguy]

If it is yellow stakes only, then behind the hazard:

Drop a ball behind the water hazard, keeping the point at which the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind the water hazard the ball may be dropped;

If they had yellow stakes along the front and back of the hazard and red stakes along each side, then you would have the option of two club-lengths on either side of the hazard if the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard over the red stakes.

[jvincent]

The rule says where the ball LAST crossed the hazard so you would use the entry point at the side for your drop.

[jvincent]

Just to clarify my post above, the point where it last crossed is on the side. Since it is yellow staked you would use a direct line between that point and the flag.

[leftylucas]

This front and back is confusing to me, so he would get to drop passed the hazard then, closer to the hole that you can see in the distance? You have a lot of nerve hitting into my trees Chief!! You have to know which tree to hit to the ball back in the fairway, I own those trees on the right off that #3 tee box!!

[jvincent]

If he drops properly there is no way for him to drop closer to the hole as that is not allowed by the rules.

For a yellow staked hazard it's quite simple.

1. Determine where the ball LAST crossed the hazard. There is one and only one point where this is true.

2. Keep that point between you and the hole.

3. Drop your ball.

[AAA]

This front and back is confusing to me, so he would get to drop passed the hazard then, closer to the hole that you can see in the distance? You have a lot of nerve hitting into my trees Chief!! You have to know which tree to hit to the ball back in the fairway, I own those trees on the right off that #3 tee box!!

The rule uses the word 'behind' which in this context means that the WH must be between the drop point and the hole.
The drop must be on the dotted line from the hole, through X (where the ball last crossed the margin) as far behind the WH as you like.