Water Hazards
Sun, December 13, 2009 at 12:25PM If you are anything like me, you have on more than one occasion found yourself in the drink...if you are a novice golfer you may not know the difference between a lateral hazard and a water hazard.
A "lateral water hazard" is a water hazard or that part of a water hazard so situated that it is not possible or is deemed by the Committee to be impracticable to drop a ball behind the water hazard. It is marked with red stakes or lines.
A "water hazard" is any sea, lake, pond, river, ditch, surface drainage ditch or other open water course (whether or not containing water) and anything of a similar nature on the course. Stakes or lines used must be yellow.
See Rule 26 of the USGA determine how to play your ball if you find yourself in a wet situation.
Rule 26, Water hazards in Etiquette