WGCRider
Newbie
Fairly basic question. My ball has come to rest against a bunker rake but is outside the bunker. Moving the rake will mean my ball roles into the bunker. What should happen here?
Given that the bold bit appears to be the OP's real question....See Rule 15.2a. Move the rake. If the ball moves, replace the ball on its original spot. The rake is a movable obstruction. Same procedure applies whether the ball and rake are in or out of the bunker - or anywhere else on the course for that matter. If the ball won't stay at rest on its original spot see Rule 14.2e - but I won't go into that here.
Thanks Foxholer - that's what I was on about in my poorly worded question.
So the ball won't stay there once the rake is moved and rolls forward into the bunker. I should keep moving backwards until I find a spot that the ball a stay. I assume on a line with the pin?
I should keep moving backwards until I find a spot that the ball a stay. I assume on a line with the pin?
Just a follow up question. The situation I was in the ball rolled forward into the bunker.
But what if it's the other way round - so rolls backward into the bunker once the rake is moved? My understanding is that the bunker is not part of the general area as it is a defined area. Since you can't move closer to the pin does that mean droping the other side of the bunker? (eg. if the ball in on the pin side of a fairway bunker, moving the rake means it rolls backwards into the bunker, I can't place it on it's spot without it moving, so I place it on the tee side of the bunker on the first spot where it will stay?
Absolutely.As an aside, and without wanting to labour this too much more, it is important for players to think carefully about where they position rakes after they have used them.
A poorly positioned rake - especially in and half way up the farthest side of a bunker from the hole - has the potential to trap a ball against it and cause difficult rules situations. The unfortunate owner of the ball through no fault of his/her own may be forced to take an unplayable outside the bunker.
Interpretation 14.2e/1: For example, a player's ball comes to rest on the downslope of a bunker against a rake and, in removing the rake, the ball moves. The player attempts to replace the ball as required, but it does not stay. He or she then follows the procedure of Rule 14.2e with no success and finds that there are no other spots to try in that bunker that are not nearer the hole. In this case, the player must take unplayable ball relief either by using stroke and distance for one penalty stroke (Rule 19.2a) or back-on-the-line relief outside the bunker for two penalty strokes (Rule 19.3b).
Guidance and practice may vary from club to club but it is best to leave the rake either in the bottom of the bunker or outside the bunker; definitely not halfway up the face of the bunker.
Can't read, somebody else's job, too lazy, paranoid about Covid are other possibilities, but there is no real excuse for their behaviour.We have new bunker rakes now, which, although hard to explain their make up have a sort of closed in plastic circular shaped head, anyway they work well, they have a label on the wooden handle stating that the sand should he raked away from you and to then place the rake in the centre of the bunker, playing the medal on Saturday I must have moved about 6 or 7 that had been left half in half out of the bunker, some folk just can't be bothered apparently
The steeper the bunker perimeters, the stronger the case for keeping rakes out of bunkers (and IMO it was already strong to begin with).Absolutely.
With our bunker rebuild programme now completed with all bunkers now having near vertical reverted faces (or hugely varying depth) all round…we have a big issue with rakes being placed in bunkers either leaning against a face and straight up with rake head stopping balls rolling away from the edge, or rakes left in bunker with handle along and close to a face. Leaves a player with no backswing and impossible shot other than out sideways.
It never ceases to amaze me that players are so lazy or unaware and unthinking about what a player following might have to deal with because of where a rake has been left.
Where they will least interfere with play.The steeper the bunker perimeters, the stronger the case for keeping rakes out of bunkers (and IMO it was already strong to begin with).
Exactly what the authorities recommend.The steeper the bunker perimeters, the stronger the case for keeping rakes out of bunkers (and IMO it was already strong to begin with).
I think we will have to change our guidance to 'out' as the stupidity and/or selfishness of too many players is unlikely to change. I don't know if there are conventions for 'out' but I'd ask for rakes to be placed by side(s) of bunker away from normal direction of incoming play. Again that's likely to be more in hope than expectation.Exactly what the authorities recommend.
I've seen some clubs paint the place on the ground the rakes are to be placed. There's a lot of sense in that. Clearly, many players are not capable of coming up with an intelligent location.I think we will have to change our guidance to 'out' as the stupidity and/or selfishness of too many players is unlikely to change. I don't know if there are conventions for 'out' but I'd ask for rakes to be placed by side(s) of bunker away from normal direction of incoming play. Again that's likely to be more in hope than expectation.
I doubt very much we'd go down the route of the vertical tube for the reason you give. It is so very frustrating as it's not at all difficult to place/gently throw or slide our rakes (they have rounded backs to the rake heads for smoothing the sand) into the middle of our mostly narrow (front-to-back) bunkers without creating significant impressions in the sand, and besides - whatever impression might be created is generally going to be filled by the rake.Some clubs have prominently located vertical tube in which to place the rakes but that can cause problems for the greenstaff.
Our rakes have integrated stands but against my advice the greens committee decided to tell players to leave then in the bunkers. Where do they leave them? With the stand outside and the rake head just inside the lip
Previously I had ruled they be left a full rake length away but some one tripped over one so they changed the rule.![]()
If it clearly states the rakes should be left in the middle of the bunkers, that that is what players should do. So, maybe they can't be bothered. Although, there may be more innocent explanations, outside of this being an instinct to many players. As most places don't often state what should be done, I've always personally wondered what the best thing to do would be, and can often see pros and cons in all:Can't read, somebody else's job, too lazy, paranoid about Covid are other possibilities, but there is no real excuse for their behaviour.