Ball hits sprinkler head - what happens now?

[Shawn Paul]

I was playing a casual round last night with a buddy and a guy we got paired with. I had a nice T shot that was looking to settle on the right side of the fairway when all of a sudden the ball took a wicked bounce right and high. From there it landed on the rocks outlining the pond on the right and continued on into the water.

 

We all said in near unison WTF?

 

It was clear that my ball had hit something and careened into the pond. I didn't take a provisional because we were just playing a casual round and I said I'd just drop. My ball was clearly in the water. When we walked up it appeared that my ball had hit the side of a sprinkler which sent it right about 25 - 35 yards into the water. If it had not hit the sprinkler I would have had a nice GIR on the way. I took it all in stride and laughed it off.

 

 

It got me thinking. What if this had been a round we were playing for $ or league or tournament? What happens when the ball hits a sprinkler head and careens into a water hazard? If we have a gentlemen agreement can I take a free drop? If this was a PGA event what is the ruling?

 

 

 

Two holes later my t shot hit a stick that sent it right next to OB. It was just one of those days...

[Rock Chalk Jayhawk]

rub of the green.

[glk]

[quote name='Rock Chalk Jayhawk' timestamp='1437760039' post='12013276']
rub of the green.
[/quote]

Ditto plus water is usually a hazard and not OB so provisional doesn't apply.

[cphrey]

Sprinkler heads are in play. Bad luck. Take your drop plus stroke and move on.

[KMeloney]

[quote name='Shawn Paul' timestamp='1437757581' post='12013030']
It got me thinking. What if this had been a round we were playing for $ or league or tournament? [/quote]

It would have still bounced into the water.

[quote] What happens when the ball hits a sprinkler head and careens into a water hazard? [/quote]

It sinks to the bottom.

[quote] If we have a gentlemen agreement can I take a free drop? [/quote]

You can do whatever you want, but doing that wouldn't be according to the rules. You can't agree to your own rules. That's against the rules.

[quote]If this was a PGA event [b]what is the ruling?[/b][/quote]

There are most likely red stakes (or yellow) at the water hazard. Determine where it went in, and go from there. Aside from that, even if a ball that hits a sprinkler head and goes into the water was hit by a PGA Tour pro, it's going to sink to the bottom.

[nogopehrs]

Bad bounce. I have had similar shots hit sprinkler heads with the bounce going in my favor. They balance out unless you're one of those guys who has a tiny rain cloud always over your head.

[bandrz]

I hit the 150 yard stake twice in the same 9 hole round. One of the drives careened off into the rough. oh well. played it as it was....

Not that it mattered, but in a scramble i hit a drive right down the middle. bent to pick up my tee and glanced up to see my ball rocket dead left at least 50 yards into a pasture and OB. It hit one of those old school yardage discs at just the perfect angle. It was kind of awesome! Wouldn't have been if i was playing my own ball.

Can you imagine what would happen if someone lost a tourney on tour because of a commemorative plaque in the fairway? that would suck royally

[Shawn Paul]

I guess I'll note those items are in play for future reference. Next time I'll just have to hit my drive 330 yrds to avoid that sprinkler head

[Guia]

Depending on how the water hazard is marked makes a difference of what your options are. No matter what option you take (or allowed) your next shot is your third. Golf can be cruel.

[billyhandsomeface]

The last episode of the Big Break a few years ago (Tony Finau vs Pat Perez' brother) had a similar shot but it hit the cart path. Finau never recovered from the shot and blew a lead. I have hit just about everything on the course (including myself, which I learned was a penalty) and as stated before it is the rub of the green.

[bazinky]

[quote name='bandrz' timestamp='1437764071' post='12013676']
I hit the 150 yard stake twice in the same 9 hole round. One of the drives careened off into the rough. oh well. played it as it was....

Not that it mattered, but in a scramble i hit a drive right down the middle. bent to pick up my tee and glanced up to see my ball rocket dead left at least 50 yards into a pasture and OB. It hit one of those old school yardage discs at just the perfect angle. It was kind of awesome! Wouldn't have been if i was playing my own ball.

Can you imagine what would happen if someone lost a tourney on tour because of a commemorative plaque in the fairway? that would suck royally
[/quote]

I once played a dog leg right with water running up the right side, and a cart path running along the right side. The cart path had a raised curb, and I hit the ball over the water (past the turn) and directly into the side of the curb at a perfect angle to cause the ball to ricochet of the curb some 30 yards straight back into the middle of the hazard. If the ball carries a foot more or a foot less, I would have had a easy approach. It also didn't help my mood that it cost me a six-hole carryover, and I was playing for more than I should have given my income at the time. I think I was eating Ramen for a month ...

[TheGeekGolfer]

As all have said, it's 'rub of the green', play it as it lies / ends up. If you gain 50 yds down the fairway because of a bounce off a sprinkler head, I'm sure you would take that, right? Bounces are all part of the game.

[Guia]

I give up, what is the mascot in your avatar?

[dlygrisse]

You take the good with the bad, one time I landed my drive on a concrete 150 yard marker in the middle of the fairway and it shot forward a good 130 yards towards the green. The next time you hit something it might go in a hazard. It's and outdoor game, these kind of things happen.

[Sawgrass]

Shawn, yesterday I hooked my drive and hit into deep trees. It bounced out in the middle of the fairway!

It seems that taken as a whole, golf has evened things out for the two of us. ;-)

[WhiZ]

[quote name='Sawgrass' timestamp='1437773922' post='12014592']
Shawn, yesterday I hooked my drive and hit into deep trees. It bounced out in the middle of the fairway!

It seems that taken as a whole, golf has evened things out for the two of us. ;-)
[/quote]

You'll understand if I hate you just a little bit right now... These great bounces never seem to happen to me!

WhiZ

[TheGeekGolfer]

[quote name='Guia' timestamp='1437768369' post='12014106']
I give up, what is the mascot in your avatar?
[/quote]That's 'Butch' the Washington State University Cougar mascot. Go Cougs!

[Mr. Bean]

[quote name='Guia' timestamp='1437764792' post='12013742']
Depending on how the water hazard is marked makes a difference of what your options are. No matter what option you take (or allowed) your next shot is your third.
[/quote]

Why? Is it forbidden to play the ball from within the WH..?

[WhiZ]

[quote name='Mr. Bean' timestamp='1437849357' post='12018456']
[quote name='Guia' timestamp='1437764792' post='12013742']
Depending on how the water hazard is marked makes a difference of what your options are. No matter what option you take (or allowed) your next shot is your third.
[/quote]

Why? Is it forbidden to play the ball from within the WH..?
[/quote]

You do sometimes get 'environmental hazards' from which you are forbidden from even entering to look for your ball, let alone playing from it. There has to be a local rule in effect as covered by Appendix I Part A Section 3. Such areas are usually marked in a special manner - red stakes with green tips is the most common I see but courses can use other means as well.

[i]Areas of the Course Requiring Preservation; EnvironmentallySensitive Areas Assisting preservation of the course by defining areas, including turf nurseries, young plantations and other parts of the course under cultivation, as ground under repair from which play is prohibited. When the Committee is required to prohibit play from environmentallysensitive areas that are on or adjoin the course, it should make a Local Rule clarifying the relief procedure.[/i]

However, you may usually play from a WH if you wish, provided you do not ground your club, remove loose impediments, etc etc.

WhiZ

[suprfli6]

On my second to last hole in this years club championship, I hit a great looking tee shot on a par 3. Instead of a flat 10 foot birdie putt from the fringe, my ball hit a sprinkler the size of a silver dollar and bounced 25 yards past the green onto a path. I ended up with a double bogey and finished 3 strokes behind the winner of my flight... That's golf, unfortunately.

[Shawn Paul]

[quote name='suprfli6' timestamp='1437920168' post='12021604']
On my second to last hole in this years club championship, I hit a great looking tee shot on a par 3. Instead of a flat 10 foot birdie putt from the fringe, my ball hit a sprinkler the size of a silver dollar and bounced 25 yards past the green onto a path. I ended up with a double bogey and finished 3 strokes behind the winner of my flight... That's golf, unfortunately.
[/quote]

Awful! Now I feel better.

[double_d]

[quote name='Shawn Paul' timestamp='1437757581' post='12013030']
I was playing a casual round last night with a buddy and a guy we got paired with. I had a nice T shot that was looking to settle on the right side of the fairway when all of a sudden the ball took a wicked bounce right and high. From there it landed on the rocks outlining the pond on the right and continued on into the water.

We all said in near unison WTF?

It was clear that my ball had hit something and careened into the pond. I didn't take a provisional because we were just playing a casual round and I said I'd just drop. My ball was clearly in the water. When we walked up it appeared that my ball had hit the side of a sprinkler which sent it right about 25 - 35 yards into the water. If it had not hit the sprinkler I would have had a nice GIR on the way. I took it all in stride and laughed it off.


It got me thinking. What if this had been a round we were playing for $ or league or tournament? What happens when the ball hits a sprinkler head and careens into a water hazard? If we have a gentlemen agreement can I take a free drop? If this was a PGA event [b]what is the ruling? [/b]



Two holes later my t shot hit a stick that sent it right next to OB. It was just one of those days...
[/quote]

the ruling is that it is tough s**t

[sprcoop]

Yesterday hit a good drive on PAR 5. Too much trouble around the green to go for it in 2 so I hit a good 8 iron short of the trouble. Ball bouces nearly as high as original flight (sprinkler), to the left and ends up on the edge of one of the bunkers I was avoiding with the ball 18" below my feet. Cost me a stroke as I didn't play it very well, ended up short of the green and did not get up and down. First time that ever happened to me. I've had plenty of lucky bounces though.

[larrybud]

[quote name='Sawgrass' timestamp='1437773922' post='12014592']
Shawn, yesterday I hooked my drive and hit into deep trees. It bounced out in the middle of the fairway!
[/quote]

Couple years ago I hooked the ball into the trees, bounced into the middle of the fairway. Get up to the ball... in a divot.

[WhiZ]

[quote name='larrybud' timestamp='1438179012' post='12040734']
[quote name='Sawgrass' timestamp='1437773922' post='12014592']
Shawn, yesterday I hooked my drive and hit into deep trees. It bounced out in the middle of the fairway!
[/quote]

Couple years ago I hooked the ball into the trees, bounced into the middle of the fairway. Get up to the ball... in a divot.
[/quote]

If that doesn't make you manic depressive, I don't know what will.

WhiZ

[2bGood]

In the club championship I hit a drive OB, bounced down the road beside the hole, hit a fence and came back into to play about 100 yards longer than I could ever hit it. Made a tap in bird.

[TMBob]

[quote name='Rock Chalk Jayhawk' timestamp='1437760039' post='12013276']
rub of the green.
[/quote]

Laddie

[RickK]

[quote name='KMeloney' timestamp='1437760990' post='12013372']
[quote name='Shawn Paul' timestamp='1437757581' post='12013030']

[quote] What happens when the ball hits a sprinkler head and careens into a water hazard? [/quote]

It sinks to the bottom.[/quote][/quote]

Thanks a lot! Now I am cleaning up the coffee I spewed all over my keyboard.

[TheGeekGolfer]

Sprinkler control box helped me last Sunday. I was right, in the trees, hit a low punch hoping to run it up to front left of the green. It hit a sprinkler control box cover and added about 25 yards to the shot, ended up just off the green. Chipped up fairly close but missed the par save.

[Sawgrass]

If I were good, I'd love golf based on my excellence.

As things are, I love golf for the random ways in which it breaks my heart and saves my butt.