Ball lands on grass and then rolls into water

Question
I tee off on a par three hole over water, the ball lands on 3 yards of grass between the water hazard and the green and then bounces back into the water hazard.  Do I have to hit a second ball from the tee box or can I chip onto the green from the spot where the ball entered the water by the green?

Answer
Rusty:  The margins of a hazard are usually marked with lines and/or stakes.  Red lines for lateral and yellow for regular water hazards.  Because it seems the hazard was directly in front of the green, it would be a regular hazard and you must determine where the ball LAST crossed the margin.  Here are your options:  1.  Play the ball as it lies, 2.  Keeping the point where the ball last crossed the margin between you and the hole, drop a ball anywhere along that line adding a stroke, or 3.  Stroke and distance from the original spot.

If it was a lateral hazard, you have the 3 options above along with: 4. drop a ball within two club lengths from the point at which the ball last crossed the margin, or 5.  Drop a ball within 2 club lengths from a point on the other side of the hazard an equal distance from the point at which it last crossed.  Add a stroke with either of these options.

Fairways and Greens,

John
www.golfnutts.com