The current rules of golf include 24 rules so there is no rule 26.
Golf rules water hazard 2019.
This will be the same in the proposed 2019 rules of golf.
Up through december 31 2018 it was an official term used in the rules of golf.
The usga and r a decided to create the idea of penalty areas as a catch all term to include.
Bear in mind that from within the hazard you are not permitted to rest your club on the ground when addressing the ball.
Water hazard is now just a vernacular term.
In the current rules of golf you are only allowed to apply the water hazard rule 26 1 if it is known or virtually certain that the ball is in the water hazard.
Thus there must be almost no doubt that the ball is in the water hazard for you to proceed under the water hazard rule.
Now you can remove them anywhere without penalty including in bunkers and penalty areas new name for water hazards.
Loose impediments rule 15 previously touching leaves twigs stones branches and other loose impediments in bunkers and water hazards was not allowed.
In the rules in effect since 2019 water hazards have been renamed penalty areas penalty areas are covered in current rule 17.
Prior to 2019 the rule book was longer and a rule 26 did exist.
In the 2019 rules of golf water hazards are now known as penalty areas what are penalty areas.
Penalty area is a new term in the rules of golf that expands on the previous concept of water hazards.
However as of jan.
There must almost be no doubt that the ball is in the water hazard for you to proceed under the water hazard rule.
Under the current rules of golf you are allowed to apply the water hazard rule 26 1 under penalty of one stroke only if it is known or virtually certain that the ball is in the water hazard.
Water hazard in either case if you find your ball you always have the option to play the ball as it lies from within the hazard at no penalty.
Learn more about the two different types of penalty.