Rules Question... Rakes in Bunkers?

what2do

Another rules question..

Is there a rule that deems that if you move the rake in the bunker prior to hitting your shot that there is a one shot penalty as this could be classed as testing the surface?

My thoughts were that if you are at one of end of a large bunker if you pick up the rake and move it up beside where your ball is this will help speed up play?

Thanks!

Jasonw

no. as long as you don't test the condition of the sand when you do it.

Fourcandle

As far as I know, there is no issue with moving a rake and placing it in a bunker prior to playing. If you rake the bunker prior to playing I believe that would be deemed testing, but I stand to be corrected. From other posts I have seen, you can also place clubs in the bunker without penalty. I presume the action of raking or playing the sand with any object would be deemed testing.

danthefan

You are perfectly entitled to pick up the rake and move it before your shot - as long as you don't test the sand.

Gophur

The only time you can use the rake in a bunker before playing your shot is where two balls have come to rest close to each other in the bunker. The procedure is to pick up one of the balls, play the other one, then recreate the original lie. This may require you to rake any imperfections in the sand resulting from the other player's shot.

hurleronditch

Dont mean to thread-jack, but this can you guys help me with this,

was playing a scotch foursomes matchplay in the european club, playing the 6th (par 3), our opponents put one ball in the river, and the other to the edge of the bunker front right of the green. The thing was that the ball ended up just above the bunker on teh downslope, and had rolled down the slope and was lying against the rake.

Moving the rake would move the ball, most likely into the bunker. Not one of the four of us had a clue what we were gonna do with the situation. We suggested they pick up the ball move the rake, and drop back down. and if it rolled twice then just place it. They felt this would give them an unfair advantage, and insisted that they do their best to move the rake, and leave the ball untouched. We agreed but still didnt think it was right.

The ball rolled slightly as he lifted it, onto a bare patch above the bunker, from where they were unable to make an incredibly difficult up and down from a bad lie over a steepish bunker with the fllag very short sided, and we won with a straightforward three.

I dont think we were at fault, as we repeatedly said we were happy to go with whatever course of action they thought best, and that was their call, but it seemed somehow unfair.

All this would be solved of course if clubs would make it a rule to place the rakes in the flat of the bunker, avoiding this situation.

Gophur

The correct procedure is to remove the rake and, if the ball moves, to place it back in the original position (not drop it)

The basic premise of golf is a ball must be played where it comes to rest. (Not where it comes to rest if you remove a supporting obstruction.)


EDIT: And yet another story and reason why one should have a rule book in one's golf bag.

hurleronditch

Gophur wrote: »

The correct procedure is to remove the rake and, if the ball moves, to place it back in the original position (not drop it)

The basic premise of golf is a ball must be played where it comes to rest. (Not where it comes to rest if you remove a supporting obstruction.)


EDIT: And yet another story and reason why one should have a rule book in one's golf bag.

I actually did have a rule book, but my bag was 40 yards away (left across the bridge as i looked for a ball), and i suggested we look it up, but we had a group up our holes (excuse the ungentlemanly terminology) and they were insisting that what they were doing was fairest. In the end the ball moved about a foot, and the lie was similar so no real advantage was taken or given so it ended well