Winter/Bunker Rule Query

markpauldunne

Hi All,

My Club has issued Local rule that:

"Please be aware of the new local rules which will apply from today onwards and until further notice.

"Bunkers - all out of play."

Given this Situation below in practice and taking that A, B & C are not nearer the hole (And B should be actually behind the Bunker but didnt get it in photo) where do I drop to?

Thanks in Advance,

Long Turn

A - nearest point that's not nearer the hole

markpauldunne

Long Turn wrote: »

A - nearest point that's not nearer the hole

I was Hoping that, It had been suggested to me about keeping the hazard in a line (Point , which I thought was a bit harsh.

mike12

Long Turn wrote: »

A - nearest point that's not nearer the hole

So you drop nearest point from where the ball is as reat rather than where it entered the bunker?

cgh

yes,

you drop at the nearest point of relief, but no closer to the hole.

Long Turn

Line of entry is for hazards

Doesn't apply to GUR

markpauldunne

Got it! Thanks Folks.

Poker Face

A few years back our club brought in a local rule where its option B that is the option when bunkers are out of play in the winter. You keep the line where the ball lies and the line of the flag and drop behind the bunker.

The reason this was done is because "some people" found it hard to drop in the right places!! Another is to make the next shot harder for someone who is in bunker so the bunker is effectively still in play. On example above you have a nice chip shot from position A but on our course your next shot you have to chip over the bunker.

markpauldunne

Poker Face wrote: »

A few years back our club brought in a local rule where its option B that is the option when bunkers are out of play in the winter. You keep the line where the ball lies and the line of the flag and drop behind the bunker.

The reason this was done is because "some people" found it hard to drop in the right places!! Another is to make the next shot harder for someone who is in bunker so the bunker is effectively still in play. On example above you have a nice chip shot from position A but on our course your next shot you have to chip over the bunker.

Yes I see your point there, But if the Bunker is explicitly out of play as apposed to casual water relief then why be penalized ?

Wombatman

They should really say the the bunkers are GUR.

Is it a club length from nearest point of relief?

shaneon77

If they are GUR can you go back as far as you like keeping the bunker between you and the flag?

stitcheddepin

markpauldunne wrote: »

Yes I see your point there, But if the Bunker is explicitly out of play as apposed to casual water relief then why be penalized ?

missing a green and hitting a bunker or missing a fairway nd hitting a bunker deserves a penalty in my opinion. I like the idea of having to hit next from behind the bunker. too easy to drop beside bunker with easy up and down, but that's the local rules. makes winter golf scores very misleading.

PARlance

stitcheddepin wrote: »

missing a green and hitting a bunker or missing a fairway nd hitting a bunker deserves a penalty in my opinion. I like the idea of having to hit next from behind the bunker. too easy to drop beside bunker with easy up and down, but that's the local rules. makes winter golf scores very misleading.

Really like that rule myself, no point fooling ourselves with a much easier chip.

slave1

Played Esker Hills Saturday and the place was soaked, first time I saw that amount of water there, bunkers were out of play and rightly so as some were holding huge and deep puddles.
Drop out, not nearer the hole and one club length from nearest point of relief was the rule in play...

Tommo 76

stitcheddepin wrote: »

missing a green and hitting a bunker or missing a fairway nd hitting a bunker deserves a penalty in my opinion. I like the idea of having to hit next from behind the bunker. too easy to drop beside bunker with easy up and down, but that's the local rules. makes winter golf scores very misleading.

I think it really depends on the situation and how good a bunker player you are. I agree in ways that scoring can ber misleading, and understand when there is water in bunkers they are unplayable.

I played recently and due to the shape and position of the bunker it would be nigh on impossible to get the chip shot close, (pin close to to side of green, wet fringe, so couldnt judge run etc) I would have rathered on two occasions to actually play the bunker shot as it was. One situation was a bunker near an overhanging tree. All around and behind the bunker was all leaves and beech seeds from the tree, so basically playing off this unknown lie as opposed to from sand. I do agree however on a local rule to specify where the drop take place as it avoids confusion (Including myself, we were unsure at the start whether we had to drop behind bunker / in line with flag no closer hole) or to side of bunker no closer hole. Good point said above that it is GUR and not a hazard, mind you some can be hazardous!!

I guess there is two sides to it, some guys will rather a short bunker shot as they can get control, height and soft landing rather than a chip shot, while others mightnt get out of a bunker in 3 shots! And its all or nothing with bunkers in or out of play. You make a fair point that bunkers are not there to help, but there to punish a wayward shot so from that sense you should probably have to play over a bunker as it will discourage players intentionally going for these bunkers.

HighLine

Back to the OP's scenario... if points A and C were equidistant from the position of the ball, the determination of your nearest point of relief would depend on if you are a right or left handed player. A pedantic point to keep in mind. :P

markpauldunne

I'm good but if anyone was unsure of this still. I just saw this last night our club pro explains it well.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1405148766447962

stitcheddepin

had a look at the video. makes perfect sense however makes me laugh , the length of time it takes him to figure it out and get the drop. Could you imagine a senior member doing this every Sunday on every hole. It would be interesting on the slow play thread. go behind the bunker every time, solves all problems, I prefer this for practice anyway, shouldn't be too concerned in winter golf rules.

HighLine

stitcheddepin wrote: »

had a look at the video. makes perfect sense however makes me laugh , the length of time it takes him to figure it out and get the drop. Could you imagine a senior member doing this every Sunday on every hole. It would be interesting on the slow play thread. go behind the bunker every time, solves all problems, I prefer this for practice anyway, shouldn't be too concerned in winter golf rules.

Ah sure since it's winter rules, we might as well call all putts inside 6ft gimmes

There is no slow play issue in determining NPR, the pro above was going through it slowly so that people could take it in. Also glad he mentioned that the ball can roll up to 2 club lengths outside the designated dropping area because 90% of club golfers I play with, do not understand that concept.

Also, dropping behind the bunker does not solve all problems. Pebble Beach, 18th hole, 130yrd bunker and your ball ends up at the greenside end of it... "Sorry mate, back you go 130yrds to the start of the bunker for NPR"

The NPR rule is a perfect solution... the problems arise when ignorant golfers don't know the rules and quite often, think its nicest point of relief and not nearest.

stitcheddepin

6ft gimmies, that's a bit stingy for winter, middle of the green anywhere below the hole should suffice a gimme!
NPR rule is ideal, but its never going to be practiced correctly. I suppose the point I was trying to make is that its only winter golf, nothings at stake, lads will always gain unfair advantages with the rules/local rules at this time. summer rules sorts it out quick enough.
so I don't get too caught up in it, the winter scores that come in around our place, id need an accumulator factor on the stableford system to keep up.

HighLine

Yeah I see what you mean but sure I just think it's easier in the long run if people get used to what they should be doing by the rules.

Oh and I hear ya regarding winter scores... my place had TWO 38 points yesterday.... for 14 holes!! :eek:

slave1

markpauldunne wrote: »

I'm good but if anyone was unsure of this still. I just saw this last night our club pro explains it well.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1405148766447962

Cheers, really explained it very well, bunkers out of play for us at the minute as being upgraded greenside so good to know

Letree

We have that in our course but they have circled out a drop zone behind the bunker. So you always have to chip over the bunker.