Rake Placement in Bunker - Reader - I pulled up a FC

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Ok ok, seriously though, say it won't stay when placed, what do you do then, place it at the nearest point to that, still in the bunker, not nearer to the hole, where it will stay without rolling? Or what?

Being totally honest, if I was just playing a nothing round with my mates I would absolutely just move the rake and play from where it ended up, because none of them would give a toss and there is nothing riding on our rounds. In a comp I would have had to ask the other players in the group so as not to break a rule, and I'm sure we would have gone through the same entire conversation we've just had here.

Indeed and maybe I might do the same in similar circumstances (though with my mates as there would be money on it I have my doubts) - but please remember that this was in our most important and prestigious open competition (the Silver Frigate for those who know my club)

 

[TheJezster]

I assume that you are jesting. It is not difficult to place the rake in the middle of the bunker and - as you can see - there is no great indentation in the bunker as a result of it being put there.

As for the rough just before the bunker. Yes there is a narrow band of maybe a yard or two of what is probably 1st cut length that side of the bunker. However the fairway runs up to that rough and - though it stops slower balls going into the bunker - it does not stop all balls. As it happens the photo is not reflective of the situation described in my OP where the rake was placed with the rake handle running along the line of the rake head shown in the pic. What I have showed is how I am finding many rakes positioned now that we have the steep sides of the faces of the revetted bunkers to prop them up.

The second pic simply shows how we are asked to place rakes - and is typical of our new revetted faced bunkers (though many have much deeper greenside faces)

I actually wasn't, but for the life of me I really cant get over you are told to simply bung your rakes into the middle like that!!! :-D

Cant see that cottoning on very well...

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I move the rake and it rolls down exactly where it would have gone if someone hadn't have left the bloody rake there!

precisely...

 

[Orikoru]

Yes you place it on the nearest place it won't roll from that isn't nearer the hole.
If that's not possible your looking at taking an unplayable and a penalty.

I can tell you now, there is absolutely no way I'd be taking a penalty because of where some other bloke left a rake. Not a chance in hell. That would be an absolute farce.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I can tell you now, there is absolutely no way I'd be taking a penalty because of where some other bloke left a rake. Not a chance in hell. That would be an absolute farce.

What choice do you have in a competition?

And the possible 'farce' of the situation is exactly why I moved rakes into the bunker on almost every one of the 36 holes I played in the comp. I did not do it for me - I did it for the players behind me.

 

[Orikoru]

What choice do you have in a competition?

And the possible 'farce' of the situation is exactly why I moved rakes into the bunker on almost every one of the 36 holes I played in the comp. I did not do it for me - I did it for the players behind me.

Haha, yeah, you win man. Keep moving those rakes for the good of mankind.

 

[Orikoru]

What if the rake had stopped your ball getting into trouble? Would you be happy if it rolled out of bounds or into a pond when you moved it ?

Why is there a rake by the pond? You wouldn't rake a pond..

 

[Wolf]

I can tell you now, there is absolutely no way I'd be taking a penalty because of where some other bloke left a rake. Not a chance in hell. That would be an absolute farce.

So what you do in a comp then not apply the penalty and hope nobody finds out means you've cheated the field. Or someone does find out you didn't apply penalty and you get DQ'd. Penalties sadly are not optional.

Regardless of whether we agree with it or not thems the rules, take the medicine good or bad and move on.

 

[Orikoru]

So what you do in a comp then not apply the penalty and hope nobody finds out means you've cheated the field. Or someone does find out you didn't apply penalty and you get DQ'd. Penalties sadly are not optional.

Regardless of whether we agree with it or not thems the rules, take the medicine good or bad and move on.

Haha, was tongue in cheek but I would be downright furious. Am now fully on board with SILH's rake-moving malarky.

 

[rulefan]

How can you drop or even place it on a steep slope?? It's going to roll down to the middle every single time. Even placing it.

And that is the issue that the R&A/USGA identify. If you can't get the ball to stay in a legal position, without pressing it down, in the bunker you will have to take a penalty to play from outside the bunker

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

And that is the issue that the R&A/USGA identify. If you can't get the ball to stay in a legal position, without pressing it down, in the bunker you will have to take a penalty to play from outside the bunker

And that is two shots these days?

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Haha, was tongue in cheek but I would be downright furious. Am now fully on board with SILH's rake-moving malarky.

Yes - it's a malarky and one I'd rather not have to do - but yes - I do it for the players behind as a courtesy in the spirit of the game we play - it's a hard enough game as it is.

 

[clubchamp98]

I have been thinking I might well discuss this with some fellow members and if there is a consensus we can raise a suggestion (I cannot raise a suggestion on my own - we must submit suggestions signed by 6 members). In the past 'incorrectly' placed rakes were really just an irritation in respect of inconsistency across the course - but with our new bunkers the situation has - I feel - changed.

For reasons I can understand, I have been on receipt of a fair amount of disbelief and slagging off over this - however here's a pic of the scenario so you can see what I mean and why I said what I said to my FC. Note the other rake in the 'correct location.

I only do this out of a duty of care to other golfers playing behind me. I am not too sure why that is such a nonsense thing to do. Also pic of one of the bunkers rebuilt this spring. This used to be a simple greenside parkland style bunker that had a slightly raised face to the green - but pretty much no drop in around the rest of it's perimeter.

You should put the rake up the steps so if this scenario happens you get relief from the steps anyway.

 

[Jacko_G]

7 pages.

😂😂😂

 

[Orikoru]

7 pages.

😂😂😂

I take some responsibility, whenever I give my opinion on one of the rules of golf that seems to add 2 pages minimum.

 

[clubchamp98]

7 pages.

😂😂😂

You must have used half a page complaining about how many pages there are.

 

[clubchamp98]

I take some responsibility, whenever I give my opinion on one of the rules of golf that seems to add 2 pages minimum.

You only learn if you ask.

 

[Wolf]

You should put the rake up the steps so if this scenario happens you get relief from the steps anyway.

Seems like the single most sensible answer to this thread and would prevent any aggro surely..

I take some responsibility, whenever I give my opinion on one of the rules of golf that seems to add 2 pages minimum.

Sure it's just 2 pages 😂
But if you dint ask you don't know..

7 pages.

😂😂😂

I get the feeling it's got a while to run yet 😂😂😉

 

[JohnnyDee]

Started to read this and was about to reply then noticed we'd racked up 8 pages so guess there might be some sub-discussion going on now (God I do hope so for 8 pages - but apologies as I haven't the time or inclination to read 'em all )

So purely in answer to the OP - Yes, I think you were completely right and that you handled it very diplomatically - he's the numpty for having copped the hump.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

You should put the rake up the steps so if this scenario happens you get relief from the steps anyway.

That's a pretty good idea for one rake...most of our bunkers have 2 or 3 rakes.