Reminder to members that we are to play bunkers as per the Rules of Golf. The days of no rakes on the course and improving bunker lies because of this are long gone.
All of our members are excellent bunker rakers, and our members always leave bunkers better than when they found them [needs verification].
Maybe in addition to always fixing an additional ball mark or two on the green, we might find time to rake any unraked bunkers we spot, time permitting.
Laughed out loud at the citation space holder. I love this website and the frequent updates. Thanks for all you do!
ReplyDelete🏖️ Someone had to say it! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteBut seriously……because the masses are TERRIBLE rakers (not like our members), what is the official club rule if you are unlucky enough to have your ball end up in a bunker in (a) a deep unraked footprint, or (b) the deep unraked divot left by some other player’s bunker shot?? To me this seems to be the same as finding yourself in the fairway in a dirt hardpan area, where generally relief from this unfair condition is granted. I would vote that a clear unfair lie in a bunker should be given relief (place ball in bunker no closer to hole). /ned whittemore
ReplyDeleteCurrently, there is no local club rule allowing relief from a bad lie in a poorly maintained bunker. Judging a lie to be unfair would be very subjective. Free relief is allowed if there is standing water or the bunker is marked as ground under repair. If the ball is unplayable, your options are described here by the USGA:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.usga.org/RulesFAQ/rules_answer2019.asp?FAQidx=206&Rule=0&Topic=3
I do understand the complaint. To create such a rule would be similar to our standing rule of relief from dirt lies on the fairway. Our fairway relief rule is already a stretch of the USGA rules. If the majority of the club or the board wants such a rule, it could be adopted.
Thanks, Bill Cloud