Some tough luck on this one. You may not move posts, stakes or other objuects that mark Out-of-Bounds. You must play the ball as it lies. You may move yellow and red hazard stakes.

Matt,

Technically, if the ball was touching the out of bounds stake then it is considered out of bounds. If the ball settles on any part of the out of bounds line then it is deemed to be out of bounds. From an earlier response, you cannot move the out of bounds stake but from your description it seems the ball was touching the out of bounds stake. Sorry, go back to your orignal position and try again.

Matt,

Please disregard my previous post. i was wrong. the ball must be completely out of bounds befopre it is deemed to be out ofbounds. A ball touching an out of bounds stake is still in bounds so you'd have to play it as it lies.

The ball has to be entirely out of bounds to be considered out of bounds, so you saved a penalty there ... however, you cannot alter any boundary markings, so your only options are 1. play it as it lies or 2. take the penalty of an unplayable lie.

It might be a good idea to get a USGA rules book.  Your pro shop should have them.  You need to be able to find the rule while you are out on the course.  Knowing the rules can really help.

You got the answer now; however, how would you all feel if the USGA and R&A amended the penalty to that of water hazards - 1) stroke and distance or 2) drop within 2 club lengths of where ball last crossed the margin? To me, it would speed up play.

I think drop within 2 club lengths, no closer with a stroke penalty is perfect for any OB infraction, would like to see it as an  offiical option.

To make it consistent with the current rule you would have to drop and add two strokes.  So you would be hitting 4...which is what you would be had you gone back to the tee and hit a second tee shot and landed in the same position.

Frankly, it would be a mess on weekends if everyone went back to the original spot on lost balls and/or OB shots.  But I have played with folks that only add one stroke penalty too.  That seems improper.

Fred - That's how my friends and I have played in our "friendly" matches for years.  I see very little difference between OB and a water hazard, so I don't know why they are treated differently.  I'm sure there must be a reason, but I'm missing it.

I have played a few rounds in Japan and on some of the courses they have two ropes going across the fairway in the driving zone. Hit it OB and you drop between the ropes and are hitting 4.