Hazard
Definition: A Hazard is an area of a disc golf course designated by the Tournament Director where a disc coming to rest incurs a penalty throw. A disc is in a hazard when it is clearly and completely surrounded by the hazard boundary or by a combination of hazard and out-of-bounds areas. Unlike an out-of-bounds throw, a throw into a hazard ordinarily does not change the location of the player’s next lie; the player receives the penalty and plays from where the disc came to rest.
Why It Matters: Hazards increase the strategic consequences of inaccurate or overly aggressive throws. Because the player generally keeps the resulting lie while adding a penalty throw, a poorly placed shot can create both a scoring penalty and a difficult next throw. Players must consider the hazard’s boundaries, distance, surrounding terrain, wind, likely skips or rolls, and whether the potential reward justifies the risk. Good course management may favor a safer landing zone or more controllable disc and shot shape.
Term Observations:
- A hazard must be specifically designated; a tree, pond, bunker, or rough area is not automatically a rules-defined hazard.
- The line marking the edge of a hazard is part of the hazard area.
- A disc must be clearly and completely surrounded by the hazard, or by hazard and out-of-bounds areas combined, to receive the penalty.
- A player whose disc comes to rest in a hazard receives one penalty throw.
- The hazard does not ordinarily relocate the lie, so the player generally throws next from where the disc came to rest.
- Unlike out-of-bounds, a hazard does not provide one meter of relief, and a player may take a stance in the hazard area.
- Hazards can encourage careful shot selection by making aggressive lines or landing areas more costly.
