rules question

dnjoyce

here's one for the rules gurus out there.
A "friend" of mine was just short of a greenside bunker, then proceeded to duff it into the bunker, with the divot from the aforementioned duff falling into the bunker. En route to play the next shot he picked up the divot out of the bunker and threw it towards where the original shot was played from, for later replacement. My question is, is he now deemed to have removed something illegally from the bunker, i.e not a stone? (not that it matters but the divot was nowhere near where the ball was)

Thoughts please.

FlutterinBantam

I'd say one shot penalty myself.

Marshy

I don't think there's a penalty incurred in this instance.

The issue would be whether the divot is deemed to be a loose impediment in the bunker, where moving it would incur a 2 stroke penalty.

The definition of a loose impediment in the Rules doesn't seem to include a divot however so would seem to be no penalty.

PhilipMarlowe

I'd say penalty for removing the divot...

jampotjim

I would see the divot as a loose impedement..

Once he wasn't testing etc then I would say he should be ok..

dnjoyce

my initial thought was a penalty but as it was only the difference between a net 78 and a net 79, I wasn't all that pushed about confirming it for sure before I signed the card - that's a point 1 back whatever way you look at it!

GreeBo

13-4
Except as provided in the Rules, before making a stroke at a ball that is in a hazard (whether a bunker or a water hazard) or that, having been lifted from a hazard, may be dropped or placed in the hazard, the player must not:
a. Test the condition of the hazard or any similar hazard;
b. Touch the ground in the hazard or water in the water hazard with his hand or a club; or
c. Touch or move a loose impediment lying in or touching the hazard.

23-1
Except when both the loose impediment and the ball lie in or touch the same hazard, any loose impediment may be removed without penalty.

Note: If the ball lies in a hazard, the player must not touch or move any loose impediment lying in or touching the same hazard – see Rule 13-4c.


Looks like 2 stroke penalty/loss of hole to me I'm afraid.

ShriekingSheet

GreeBo wrote: »

13-4
Except as provided in the Rules, before making a stroke at a ball that is in a hazard (whether a bunker or a water hazard) or that, having been lifted from a hazard, may be dropped or placed in the hazard, the player must not:
a. Test the condition of the hazard or any similar hazard;
b. Touch the ground in the hazard or water in the water hazard with his hand or a club; or
c. Touch or move a loose impediment lying in or touching the hazard.

23-1
Except when both the loose impediment and the ball lie in or touch the same hazard, any loose impediment may be removed without penalty.

Note: If the ball lies in a hazard, the player must not touch or move any loose impediment lying in or touching the same hazard – see Rule 13-4c.


Looks like 2 stroke penalty/loss of hole to me I'm afraid.

Yep, that's the case.

So does moving stones in bunkers need to be a local rule?

Hobart

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

So does moving stones in bunkers need to be a local rule?

Yes.