The committee has upon review has decided to overrule the local course rule on hole number 7 at Southern Wood.

The course set up currently has yellow water hazard markers at the bottom of the fairway on Hole No 7 . The course rules states that If you go into the hazard crossing the yellow hazard post you are entitled to take your drop at the drop zone next to the green. This entitles a player who's T ball is driven into the water hazard ( yellow stakes) to drop next to the green ( with one penalty stroke ).

XGS, as a social but still competitive society have decided that this rule is not in keeping with the spirit of the game and as a committee have decided to overrule it.

Now T shots (This only effects T shots) that enter the hazard through the yellow stakes must be dropped in accordance to USGA / R&A Rule 26.1b ie. Drop the ball behind the water hazard on a line directly from the hole to the point where the ball entered the hazard and on that line back with no limit.

No rule change for the Lateral water hazard ( red stakes ) on the hole. As per Rule 26.1c drop within two club lengths of where the ball entered the hazard no closer to the hole.

Relief Provision for Water Hazards.

Y E L L OW S TA K E S

Firstly - With any ball hit into a hazard the player has the option to, under one penalty stroke - Play another ball as near as possible ( by dropping ) from the spot from which the original ball was played - This is beautifully depicted at the end of the movie ?Tin Cup? [hit this link and go to the 1hr :20min mark] where Costner refuses to take a drop and blast?s 6 balls into the water from distance...

However, the only other relief option when your ball is in a water hazard (yellow stakes), under penalty of one stroke, is to 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 - So! you can drop the ball back as far as you like as long as you keep a line between the pin and where the ball entered the hazard.

RED STAKES

If the hazard is a lateral water hazard (red stakes) As well as (including) the above relief provisions for water hazards under penalty of one stroke, you can drop a ball WITHIN TWO (2) club-lengths ( preferably your driver ) from the point where the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard, no nearer the hole.” Ensure that this is where the ball crossed the margin of the hazard ( entered the hazard ) and not where the ball came to rest.

Drop Zones

When dropping a ball in a drop zone, the dropped ball must NOT be redropped if it comes to rest within two club-lengths of the spot where it  first struck a part of the course even though it may finish outside the boundaries of the dropping zone or even if comes to rest nearer to the hole. As some of our Xiamen Drop Zones can sometimes be a little unsavory it is permitted to drop within two club lengths behind the front line of the drop zone. ( use your driver )

Under no condition (even winter rules) is it permitted to place the ball when you are taking relief in a drop zone.

Yes to both line Y Y and X X (above question)