One of my friends just presented me with this situation:

So I hit a ball into a lateral water hazard. I attempted to hit the ball out of the hazard. The ball went about 10 yards without clearing the hazard and landed in the hazard near a sprinkler head. Do I get relief from the sprinkler? What are my options?

Les' Answer

Below is the extract from the Rules which do not allow for relief from immovable obstructions (sprinkler heads) in water hazards.

Rule 24-2. Immovable Obstruction
a. Interference
Interference by an immovable obstruction occurs when a ball lies in or on the obstruction, or when the obstruction interferes with the player's stance or the area of his intended swing. If the player's ball lies on the putting green, interference also occurs if an immovable obstruction on the putting green intervenes on his line of putt. Otherwise, intervention on the line of play is not, of itself, interference under this Rule.

b. Relief
Except when the ball is in a water hazard or a lateral water hazard, a player may take relief from interference by an immovable obstruction as follows:

The options: Play the ball as it lies, return to where you previously hit the ball (stroke and distance), or exercise the options provided for when the ball first entered the hazard...2 club lengths from where the ball last crossed the hazard, 2 club lengths on the opposite side of the lateral hazard equidistant from the hole, or return to the previous shot. For example, if the ball in the hazard was off the tee, stroke 2 put the ball at the sprinkler and is unplayable, the ball is dropped 2 club lengths from where the ball last crossed the margin (on the tee shot) for a penalty of one stroke and now the 4th stroke will be made.

The applicable rule is extracted below:

26-1. Relief for Ball in Water Hazard
It is a question of fact whether a ball that has not been found after having been struck toward a water hazard is in the hazard. In order to apply this Rule, it must be known or virtually certain that the ball is in the hazard. In the absence of such knowledge or certainty, the player must proceed under Rule 27-1.

If a ball is in a water hazard or if it is known or virtually certain that a ball that has not been found is in a water hazard (whether the ball lies in water or not), the player may under penalty of one stroke:

a. Play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5); or

b. 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; or

c. As additional options available only if the ball last crossed the margin of a lateral water hazard, drop a ball outside the water hazard within two club-lengths of and not nearer the hole than (i) the point where the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard or (ii) a point on the opposite margin of the water hazard equidistant from the hole.

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