Did you know storm names follow the alphabet? We’ve just had Amy. On the way is Bram, Chandra, Dave – you get the drift.
But it’s not the names that are necessarily catchy as much as what those storms can do to your golf course. If the torrential rain doesn’t quickly shut them, it will often leave something else in its wake to dampen the mood of players.
Here’s another name that does tend to stick. Casual water, standing water – it’s known by many names. But its official title in the Rules of Golf is temporary water, and it’s a common sight on our golf courses, especially in this era of stormy summers, angry autumns and wet winters.
When golfers see a puddle on the ground, or spy a spot of damp on the course, they’re itching to take advantage of the casual water golf rule and take relief.
But is it that straight forward? What actually is temporary water and are there times when you can’t pick up your ball and take a free drop? What if a huge area of the course is covered in liquid?
Here’s everything you need to know about the casual water golf rule and taking relief from temporary water…
Casual water golf rule: What is temporary water?
Let’s start with the definition in the Rules of Golf. Temporary water is described as “any temporary accumulation of water on the surface of the ground (such as puddles from rain or irrigation or an overflow from a body of water)”.
That was straightforward, wasn’t it? But there are a couple of provisos. It’s not temporary water if it is in a penalty area. It also needs to be seen “before or after the player takes a stance (without pressing down excessively with their feet)”.
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So if you’re having to stomp around to find a smidgen of liquid, it’s not temporary water. Just in case that hasn’t sunk in, the definition further explains in some detail what the conditions need to be.
It says: “It is not enough for the ground to be merely wet, muddy or soft or for the water to be momentarily visible as the player steps on the ground; an accumulation of water must remain present either before or after the stance is taken”.
Some of you are now realising you’ve been doing it wrong for a while…
OK, so what isn’t temporary water?
Dew and frost – so be really careful not to start sweeping it away. But snow and natural ice are temporary water when they are on the ground. They are also loose impediments.
How do I take relief?
So your ball is in a puddle, or you’ve otherwise met the conditions required in the definition of temporary water. What now?
Well, you’re not expected to hit from there. Temporary water is an abnormal course condition and, if your ball touches or is in it, if it interferes with your area of intended stance or swing, or – if it’s on the green – is in the line of play, you can take free relief under Rule 16.
How do you go about it? It can be slightly different depending on where you are on the course so let’s start with the general area. That is everywhere that isn’t a teeing area, penalty area, bunker or putting green.
You need to find the nearest point of complete relief that is in the general area, isn’t closer to the hole, and has complete relief from the temporary water.
Complete relief means what it says. If you’re going to take advantage, you can’t be standing in the temporary water to swing the club even if your ball isn’t in it.
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Once you’ve found that point, you’ve got a one club relief area in which to drop. But before you pick the ball up, have a think.
That nearest point of complete relief in the general area could be some distance away – depending on how big the puddle is that you’ve found yourself in. You aren’t entitled to better conditions when you take relief from an abnormal condition.
If you found, for example, that your nearest point of complete relief from the temporary water was in a bush then you’d be dropping in that bush.
So scout out your surroundings first before you pick your ball up. You might decide to play it as it lies.
When you’re in a bunker, your nearest point of complete relief must be within that bunker. If there isn’t such a point, and your club hasn’t made the bunker ground under repair if it’s completely flooded, then you can find what’s called the point of maximum available relief.
This is the estimated point that is nearest to the ball original spot – not nearer the hole – where the temporary water “least interferes” with the stroke you would have made had the liquid not been in the bunker.
Once you’ve found that, use that as the reference point for your drop.
If all else fails, you can take relief outside the bunker – using the back-on-the-line rule – but that will cost you a penalty shot.
The green is the only place where you’ll get free relief for temporary water that is in your line of play.
Again, whether your ball is in the water, or if it interferes with your line, find the nearest point of complete relief. You don’t drop it on the putting surface, though, you place it at that point and – contrary to if your ball was in temporary water on a teeing area, in a bunker, in the general area, the ball doesn’t have to stay on the green.
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The nearest point of complete relief here can be on the green OR in the general area. If you’re struggling to find somewhere, you can find the point of maximum available relief to establish your reference point.
Any other questions?
What if you know you’ve hit your ball into temporary water but can’t find it? As long as it’s known or virtually certain to be in there, you are entitled to free relief.
You use the estimated point where the ball last crossed the edge of the temporary water and use that to find the nearest point of complete relief. From there, take your drop as already outlined.
Finally, wait until you hear this one. What if your ball is moving in temporary water? A clarification to Rule 16.1 says you are “allowed to let the ball move to a better spot before determining the nearest point of complete relief so long as they do not unreasonably delay play”.
Now have your say
What do you think of these casual water golf rules? Let us know by leaving a comment on X.
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