Water Hole...

Question
I have a water hole in front of me between me and the green. I hit the ball with say a wedge, it flys over the water hole, lands on the fairway between the water hole and the green. I put back spin on it and as a result the balls rolls backwards about 4 feet and drops into the water hole. I have to drop a ball because I can't get the one from the water. Can I drop the ball on the green side of the water hole between where the ball landed and where it rolled backwards into the water, instead of having to drop it on the far side of the water hole from where I hit the shot?

Answer
Law,

There are two types of water hazards. Water hazards are when the water lies between the tee box and the green. This is what you are referring to. I'll address this now. In this case you have three options. 1) You can play the ball as it lies. No penalty. 2) You can play it from where you it it last. 1 stroke penalty 3) You can keep the spot where the ball last crossed the hazard between yourself and the flagstick and go back as far as you'd like. 1 stroke penalty.

Now to answer your question. You could have chosen either option 2 or 3. You do not have the option of dropping on the green side of the hazard.

The second type of water hazard is the lateral water hazard. This is when the hazard is parallel to the fairway. You have two additional options with options 1, 2, and 3 from above.

4) You can drop the ball two club lengths, no nearer the hole, from where it last crossed the hazard. 1 stroke penalty. 5) Very few players are aware of this one. You drop on the other side of the hazard equidistant from the flag. 1 stroke penalty.

Hope this helps.