Bunkers out of play (NQ comps) - where to drop?

[Bratty]

We have yellow tee stableford comps in the winter and with the course not holding up too well in these months, the club have decided to make them NQs and make bunkers out of play and pick and place everywhere.

I need to know where people take relief from. My view is it should be treated the same as one option from a yellow staked penalty area, albeit free relief, dropping as far back with the point of entry between ball and flag. Some drop nearest point of relief and some drop nicest point!

Just need consistency, so, relief based on point of entry or nearest point?
Thanks.

 

[Steve Wilkes]

We have yellow tee stableford comps in the winter and with the course not holding up too well in these months, the club have decided to make them NQs and make bunkers out of play and pick and place everywhere.

I need to know where people take relief from. My view is it should be treated the same as one option from a yellow staked penalty area, albeit free relief, dropping as far back with the point of entry between ball and flag. Some drop nearest point of relief and some drop nicest point!

Just need consistency, so, relief based on point of entry or nearest point?
Thanks.

If it's a free drop or place, not sure this option should come into it

 

[IanMcC]

We have similar conditions in the Winter. We play as you suggest, keeping the point where the ball comes to rest in the bunker between the dropping point and the flagstick. A few years ago we took NPR out of the bunker, but this often gave an unfair advantage, with the bunker often not coming into play for the next stroke. And yes, we allow the player to drop as far back as he likes.

 

[Default Golfer]

In a similar situation, we declare all bunkers GUR and then the nearest point of complete relief can be used. Less confusing, I think.

 

[jim8flog]

It is the nearest point of full relief (not closer to the hole) then drop within a club length, of that point.
Rule 16.

Where it entered the bunker is irrelevant

If the club has just declared the bunker as GUR remember you still have the option of playing the ball as it lies and relief includes includes stance if you have to a play a ball outside of it but with one or both feet in it.

 

[jim8flog]

Just to add where it entered is to do with relief for when the ball cannot be found in an Abnormal Ground condition Rule 16.1e

 

[rulefan]

If the club has just declared the bunker as GUR remember you still have the option of playing the ball as it lies and relief includes includes stance if you have to a play a ball outside of it but with one or both feet in it.

If the committee wish to prevent players standing in or playing from affected bunkers they may declare them to be No Play Zones

 

[Bratty]

If the committee wish to prevent players standing in or playing from affected bunkers they may declare them to be No Play Zones

Does that then change the dropping option from what would be applicable for GUR?

 

[rulefan]

Does that then change the dropping option from what would be applicable for GUR?

No.
NPZ must be either GUR or a Penalty Area. If defined by the committee as GUR then the relief options under 16.1a still apply. As they would for a PA.

 

[Bratty]

Thanks all. Much appreciated.

 

[jim8flog]

Worth remembering if the club has declared an area as a NPZ if you deliberately ignore it and play as it lies it is a DQ penalty if you simply forget it is a 2 shot penalty.

 

[rulefan]

Worth remembering if the club has declared an area as a NPZ if you deliberately ignore it and play as it lies it is a DQ penalty if you simply forget it is a 2 shot penalty.

Rule # ?

 

[jim8flog]

Rule # ?

Long time since I looked it up specifically but it arose when we had a lot of NPZs when the bunkers were being renovated

14.7 (b) 1

Deliberately to gain an advantage we considered a serious breach.