JUST READ THE RULES AND...

[time_vans]

apparently if you touch the ball at address on the tee and knock it off it can be re tee'd with no penalty(rule 11-3) didn't realise that and also you can gain relief from a bunker under penalty. what scenario would someone use that option instead of playing it as i have been advised that chipping sideways is sometimes the only option. also have i misunderstood the rule about not touching the sand with your club prior to your stroke. does this mean at address you cant touch the sand??

 

[medwayjon]

You are not allowed to touch the sand with your club as this would be viewed as testing the sand in the hazzard.

I think this rule is silly as you are perfectly free to test the sand with your feet when in the bunker.

 

[StuartD]

Testing the bunker with your feet gives little help at our club. Usually there is about a foot deep of sand at your feet and an inch deep behind the ball or the other way about

 

[Atticus_Finch]

What if, when entering the bunker you drop your club and it hits the sand?
I could look this up and get the answer myself, but I thought I'd post it to get some discussion going.

I always take my grip outside the bunker before I go in incase of this scenario.

 

[medwayjon]

A_F, Haven't been arsed to look it up but my feeling on this is that you wouldn't be testing the sand as you would not actually be holding the club so would have no influence on the clubs movement in the sand so you wouldn;t be able to feel, and indeed test it.

I am probably totally wrong.

Where is birdieman when you need him, he is the man when it comes to the rules.

 

[Basher]

apparently if you touch the ball at address on the tee and knock it off it can be re tee'd with no penalty(rule 11-3) didn't realise that and also you can gain relief from a bunker under penalty.

Accidentally knocking the ball off the tee (nervous waggle perhaps) is not penalised.
You can also take your stance and swing at the ball. As long as you stop your swing before contact area (not air shot) you will not be penalised either.

Relief from bunker with a penalty stroke is a god option if you're not too good at bunker escape shots!

 

[stevelockie]

I have a feeling that even dropping your club in the sand, or letting it rest just inside the bunker while you pick up the rake for example counts as a penalty!

 

[Leftie]

Rule 13-4 Ball in Hazard

(Bits left out for clarity)

Exception 1. Provided that nothing is done that constitutes testing the condition of the hazard or improves the lie of the ball, there is no penalty if the player ......
(b) places his clubs in a hazard

From this my interpretation is that there should be no penalty if the club is accidently dropped or placed in the hazard subject to the opening paragraph in Exception 1.

 

[Leftie]

[quote
Relief from bunker with a penalty stroke is a god option if you're not too good at bunker escape shots!

[/QUOTE]

If you are claiming relief from casual water in a bunker the ball MUST be dropped in the bunker at the nearest point of relief no nearer the hole. Only if that is impossible can you drop outside the bunker under penalty. In that circumstance the drop can be taken as far back on a direct line with the pin as you like.

Similarly if you declare a ball in a bunker unplayable (which you are allowed to do anywhere on the course apart from a water hazard) the the drop must be made in the bunker under penalty.

 

[muttleee]

I think this rule is silly as you are perfectly free to test the sand with your feet when in the bunker.

Actually I don't think you're officially allowed to test the sand with your feet. You can fairly take your stance and if in so doing you can tell what the sand is like, good for you.

 

[RGuk]

I think the sand rule sucks.......

As if addressing the ball as per normal is going to give you any "expert reading" of the state of the sand! If one (not me) were psychic enough to tell anything by gently sitting the club behind the ball, one could probably get the ball out with mind-control alone.

Personaly, I'd be up for looking at this rule, but then again, a bunker is a hazard, and therefore.......

Dave