Why unethical ?
Can you practice in an adjacent bunker to your ball ?
- Thread starter Skytot
- Start date
williamalex1
Money List Winner
I always thought you weren't allowed to practice on the course on the day of a stroke play comp, except for chipping and putting on the green you have just played.
Maybe just a club or comp conditions rule.
Maybe just a club or comp conditions rule.
Slab
Occasional Tour Caddy
I know its a breach to practice shots before your strokeplay comp round and a breach to practice shots from a bunker after completing a hole
But I read the OP scenario as a practice 'swing' after a round has started and before the hole is complete i.e much the same as any (most) players taking a practice swing (no ball) before hitting an approach shot/putt, pitch or chip, it just happens to be in a handy adjacent bunker
Last edited:
Slab
Occasional Tour Caddy
Just guessing but maybe when they changed the rule to say you could take practice swings (even touching the ground) in staked penalty areas, they could hardly keep a rule denying the same practice swing in a non staked area of the course i.e changed just for consistency
D-S
Well-known member
Surely the definition of practice must include actually hitting a ball. In this scenario it is just a practice swing.
williamalex1
Money List Winner
Are you allowed to test the sand in bunkers ?
D-S
Well-known member
Evidently yes, as long as your ball is not in the bunker that you are ‘testing’.
bobmac
Major Champion
How many are you allowed to test?
Orikoru
Tour Winner
I actually can't believe this is a rule. That's astounding. Is it just like a loophole they forgot to close or what? 
williamalex1
Money List Winner
But your ball could easily end up in the adjacent bunker that you just tested/practiced in.
Colin L
Tour Winner
Choose one that's not on your line of play.
30 posts for a simple yes or no answer, must be a quiet day in work boys and girls?
williamalex1
Money List Winner
Have you ever played the last hole at West Lothian GC.
We watched a guy play from the front left-hand greenside bunker, his ball ricocheted off the wall behind the green into the front right-hand greenside bunker, much to everyone's amusement, except his lol
The answer is a simple yes.
But being a recent change, and going somewhat against the accepted philosophy of a century re touching hazards, has prompted some surprise.
But being a recent change, and going somewhat against the accepted philosophy of a century re touching hazards, has prompted some surprise.
clubchamp98
Journeyman Pro
What happens if you land in the bunker you have just practiced in after hitting a poor shot or when playing another hole.?
Cant belive this is allowed.
clubchamp98
Journeyman Pro
Line of play isn’t where most golf balls go though.
clubchamp98
Journeyman Pro
I think given how strict the rules are some of us find it incredible that this is allowed.30 posts for a simple yes or no answer, must be a quiet day in work boys and girls?
rulefan
Tour Winner
The same now applies to penalty areas. Touching sand in a different bunker brings it all into line. The exception for touching the sand in the same bunker is because there is an opportunity to test the surface. Which in a bunker is likely to be more consistent than a PA.l
Why do that ? You can use any one you like, until you are in it.
rulefan
Tour Winner
All the rules are strict but which do you suggest are particularly so?
