Rules Question, Water in Bunker

pressurecooker

have had a few issues with ball in water filled bunkers this fine summer, and was wondering if anyone can shed any light on a question that came up recently.

the assumption I have always used is that when your ball ends up in casual water in a bunker, you find the nearest point of relief, within the bunker, and drop within one club length, and play from there....

invariably, the rest of the bunker is like porridge, and your ball plugs in the goo, so is it permissable to drop the ball anywhere in the bunker, as long as it stays within the bunker.

the reason I ask is that I saw a chap recently who dropped his ball so that it hit the firmer sand at the side of the bunker, and rolled down to the flat part, and didn't plug...

fullstop

pressurecooker wrote: »

have had a few issues with ball in water filled bunkers this fine summer, and was wondering if anyone can shed any light on a question that came up recently.

the assumption I have always used is that when your ball ends up in casual water in a bunker, you find the nearest point of relief, within the bunker, and drop within one club length, and play from there....

invariably, the rest of the bunker is like porridge, and your ball plugs in the goo, so is it permissable to drop the ball anywhere in the bunker, as long as it stays within the bunker.

the reason I ask is that I saw a chap recently who dropped his ball so that it hit the firmer sand at the side of the bunker, and rolled down to the flat part, and didn't plug...

I think it has to come to rest within one clublength of the neares point of relief, and also must come to rest in the bunker.

f22

Nearest point of relief, full stop. After the ball is dropped and is no longer in casual water it is deemed in play.

Just because somewhere a little further may be a better lie thats not to say you can drop there.

nuts86

another question on this area... what if your nearest point of relief in the bunker is closer to the hole, as your nearest point off relief not closer to the hole is actually ouside the bunker...?

f22

Sorry should have clarified, nearest point no nearer the hole. Whether that be the lip behind you so be it.

Happened a player from the island in the junior cup semis in mullingar, he had a virtually non playable shot and had to come out backwards (official GUI decision).

stockdam

nuts86 wrote: »

another question on this area... what if your nearest point of relief in the bunker is closer to the hole, as your nearest point off relief not closer to the hole is actually ouside the bunker...?

You can't drop outside of the bunker without penalty. If the bunker is full of water then as far as I know then you must drop under penalty outside of it or else play it as it lies.

kingshankly

stockdam wrote: »

You can't drop outside of the bunker without penalty. If the bunker is full of water then as far as I know then you must drop under penalty outside of it or else play it as it lies.

Seems very unfair if you go in to a bunker that's full of water you have to drop a penalty surely the bunker should be out of play

soundsham

i thought it possible to drop nearer if say the back of the bunker was completely under water,
also would it be possible to drop in another bunker not nearer the hole under no penalty, if the bunker you are in was completely submerged and say there was another bunker beside you or slightly further away?

Daithio9

soundsham wrote: »

i thought it possible to drop nearer if say the back of the bunker was completely under water,
also would it be possible to drop in another bunker not nearer the hole under no penalty, if the bunker you are in was completely submerged and say there was another bunker beside you or slightly further away?

Of course you can soundsham, shure isn't it only a friendly game anyway.

soundsham

thanks for the bit of wisdom there dave

sorry i do not not know all the rules glad there are people like you out here to help

Daithio9

soundsham wrote: »

thanks for the bit of wisdom there dave

sorry i do not not know all the rules glad there are people like you out here to help

Your welcome sham.

PhilipMarlowe

Find the closest place to your ball (not nearer the hole) that is still in the bunker that gives you relief from the condition. You must drop within one club length of this spot and no nearer the hole than this spot.
However, if you can't get full relief from the condition then you can drop wherever you get the most available relief (shallower water in other words), still in the bunker and not nearer the hole than where your original ended up.
You still have the option of dropping outside the bunker under penalty of one shot, keeping the place where you lay in line with the hole and going back as far as you wish.
The rule references your "nearest point of relief" which by definition has to be not nearer the hole so there's no option to drop in the front of the bunker if the back is wet.
Also, if the bunker is full of water and you drop into shallow water near the edge and the ball rolls into deeper water, you are entitled to re-drop and if it again rolls into deeper water you may then place the ball where it landed from your drop.

fullstop

kingshankly wrote: »

Seems very unfair if you go in to a bunker that's full of water you have to drop a penalty surely the bunker should be out of play

A bunker is a hazard, no?

Dylan69

That is very interesting!

I assume that if it played in the winter and the winter rules come in, you can drop it behind the bunker without penalty! Would i be correct in saying this?:)

PhilipMarlowe

No.

kingshankly

fullstop wrote: »

A bunker is a hazard, no?

it's Not a water hazard

Nemesis

You get the greenkeeper to put a GUR sign into the bunker.

I was in one yesterday and it had a GUR sign in it (no white mark around bunker though) took relief chipped to the flag..and missed the putt

Dylan69

No doubt that the 7th hole!!!

Daithio9

Nemesis wrote: »

You get the greenkeeper to put a GUR sign into the bunker.

I was in one yesterday and it had a GUR sign in it (no white mark around bunker though) took relief chipped to the flag..and missed the putt

There doesn't have to be a white line to define GUR for a bunker (as it's already a clearly defined area) and infact there doesn't even have to be a sign, a simple notice in the clubhouse will suffice.

fullstop

kingshankly wrote: »

it's Not a water hazard

That's not the point, it's still a hazard and if I'm not mistaken there was a time they didn't even have rakes in bunkers. You can't ground your club in a bunker the same as you can't in a water hazard.

soundsham

another question
if the bunker was marked g.u.r. and you decide to play it as you are entitled to afaik from g.u.r. can you ground the club
i.e. does the gur sign over-rule the fact your in a bunker then

reason i ask is if your taking relief from the buker it might bring you back onto a steep slope to take your drop and the bunker may be still a bit easier to hit from

seen more guys taking their club length relief from way back from the bunker edges in these situations, the actually come right back up the slope before taking the drop, and if questioned they'd look at you like a goat staring at lightening:eek:

Daithio9

soundsham wrote: »

another question
if the bunker was marked g.u.r. and you decide to play it as you are entitled to afaik from g.u.r. can you ground the club
i.e. does the gur sign over-rule the fact your in a bunker then

reason i ask is if your taking relief from the buker it might bring you back onto a steep slope to take your drop and the bunker may be still a bit easier to hit from

seen more guys taking their club length relief from way back from the bunker edges in these situations, the actually come right back up the slope before taking the drop, and if questioned they'd look at you like a goat staring at lightening:eek:

If the bunker is marked GUR then I cant see why you wouldn't be entilted to play it the same as GUR marked anywhere else unless there is local rule stating you must take relief, also when taking relief your allowed to go back as far as you like keeping the point where your ball lay and the flag in line.

stockdam

kingshankly wrote: »

Seems very unfair if you go in to a bunker that's full of water you have to drop a penalty surely the bunker should be out of play

Yes ideally the bunker would be taken out of play by a local rule but that doesn't always happen and in that case if the bunker is full of water then it is unfair but them's the rules.

Woodgate

Dylan69 wrote: »

That is very interesting!

I assume that if it played in the winter and the winter rules come in, you can drop it behind the bunker without penalty! Would i be correct in saying this?:)

No