Following the email from the club stating that the river alongside the river on the 7th and 8th fairways should be considered to be a Red Penalty area and to apply rule 17, we felt it would be useful to share the content of Rule 17
Its Rule 17.1d that applies...
When it is known or virtually certain that a ball is in a red penalty area and the player wishes to take relief, the player has three options, each for one penalty stroke. The player may:
Take stroke-and-distance relief by playing a ball from a relief area based on where the previous stroke was made.
Take back-on-the-line relief by dropping a ball outside the penalty area, keeping the point the ball crossed the edge of the penalty area, between the hole and the spot where the ball is dropped.
Take lateral relief (red penalty area only). The reference point for taking relief is the point the ball crossed the edge of the penalty area, and a ball must be dropped in and played from the two club-length relief area, which is no nearer the hole than point X.
the player may drop the original ball or another ball in this lateral relief area (see Rule 14.3):
So for the 8th fairway this means if your drive clears the river and then fades (or more likely slices) back into the river then relief can be taken based on where the ball is judged to cross the edge of the penalty area.
Please not that on the 7th in front of the green and the 8th directly in front of the tee the river in this section is a yellow penalty area. In which case you have to clear the river, if you dont the relief is taken so you still have to play over the penalty area (ie the river)
A more detailed explanation, including diagrams can be found here Rule 17.1d
Website System - Golf Club CMS