Anybody whose golf course has a public proper of means inside will probably be nodding their heads at this emailer’s woe…
“Is it doable to take reduction from bunkers which were trampled in by canine walkers? Do they not grow to be irregular situations, or can I rake the bunker, place or drop my ball? I’ve requested my golf committee why we will’t we now have a neighborhood rule, however they are saying they’ll’t.”
I’ve heard all kinds over time. Youngsters with buckets and spades in a entice. Animals operating wild and utilizing them as impromptu bathrooms. However is there something you are able to do beneath the Guidelines?
Ball in footprint in bunker: What do the foundations say?
Sadly, you’re going to have make the very best of it, otherwise you’re going to pay a worth with a penalty.
Whereas it’s totally irritating, this isn’t an irregular course situation. These are floor beneath restore, animal holes, immovable obstructions, and non permanent water.
Footprints don’t rely and neither do the paw prints of an excited mutt, so Rule 16 isn’t coming to your rescue. If a canine was hunkered down within the bunker and also you critically feared in your shins, you may attempt to persuade your enjoying companions you had been going through a harmful animal situation. However that’s not what we’re coping with right here.
And whereas an out of doors affect has undoubtedly brought on this kerfuffle, it hasn’t lifted, moved, or deflected the ball. You’ve simply landed in the course of their mayhem.
You’re not allowed to enhance the situations affecting the stroke, so raking the realm of your lie, space of supposed swing and stance or line of play could be breaching Rule 8.1a.
If the ball is unplayable then you possibly can declare it as such. However it’ll price you both one stroke and also you’ll need to take lateral or back-on-the-line reduction whereas staying within the bunker, or two strokes if you wish to take back-on-the-line reduction exterior no matter sandy mess you’re going through.
You’d prefer to hope your fellow gamers may discover a trouble in a bunker and see match to carry out some routine housekeeping earlier than it has the possibility to have an effect on one other golfer. That’s definitely what I at all times attempt to do.
However if you happen to’ve landed in a large number, even when it’s not of your making there’s no leeway within the guidelines to get you out of hassle.
Obtained a query for our skilled?
Regardless of the modifications to the Guidelines of Golf in 2019 and 2023, there are nonetheless some that depart us scratching our heads. I’ll attempt to assist by that includes the very best of your queries on this column.
What do you consider these ball in footprint in bunker guidelines? Let me you what you assume, and ship me your personal guidelines questions, by emailing me at s.carroll@nationalclubgolfer.com or by leaving us a remark beneath, or on X.
NOW READ: What can (and may’t) you do in case your ball is in a bunker?
NOW READ: The place do I drop if a bunker is floor beneath restore?
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