Rules Guy: My tee shot ricocheted into a pond behind me. Where should I hit from next?

If your tee shot ends up in a pond behind you, where should you hit your next shot from? Rules Guy has the answer.

By Rules Guy · Golf

Published: Tuesday, 10 November 2026 at 12:54 PM

Key Things to Know

A golfer whose tee shot ricochets backward into a pond may take stroke-and-distance relief and re-tee.
Under Rule 17.1, a player can also take penalty area relief based on where the ball last crossed the margin.
Rules Guy notes the penalty area margin extends vertically upward when identifying where an airborne ball crossed the boundary.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Rules Guy addresses how a golfer should proceed after a tee shot hits a marker and ricochets backward into a pond. Under Rule 17.1, a player can take penalty area relief from where the ball last crossed the edge or opt for stroke-and-distance relief. Rules Guy advises taking stroke-and-distance relief, which permits the player to re-tee and play their third shot from the original teeing area.

The column also clarifies relief procedures when a ball ricochets off a tree back into a penalty area across a dogleg. Rules Guy explains that the vertical edge of the penalty area determines the point of entry, regardless of where the ball physically struck the water.

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Rules Guy: My tee shot ricocheted into a pond behind me. Where should I hit from next?

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