Robbed by a 'Silly Golf Rule'

[HawkeyeMS]

Played monthly S/F yesterday. First hole (P5)...
> Driver gone to the right (sometimes called a slice)
> 2nd shot... fairly decent but the ball still among the trees. leaving 135y to centre. Flag at back and protected by bunkers
> Beautiful 8i splits the tree and nearly gets on the green but gets into the bunker. PP/FC applaud

All I needed to do was get up and down. Strode up to see that the bunker only to realise that the bunker was flooded. I could see the ball, but cant hit as it is underwater. No place to drop the ball. 5 mins of discussion later, had to drop the ball outside the bunker with a 1 stroke penalty.

1 stroke penalty and it was not even my fault. Finished with 1 point on the hole, and wrecked my front nine. Otherwise front 9 was 2s or 3s. (Dont ask me about back 9)

Arguing the bit in bold...

1) Was it not your fault you sliced the tee shot?
2) Was it not your fault you failed to get your 2nd shot out of the treeline?
3) Was it not your fault you hit the ball in the bunker?
4) Was it not your fault that you failed to get up and down for a 6?

Apart from that, I can certainly see how it wasn't your fault, I'd be fuming

 

[chrisd]

so, you assume that you would have got up and down in one from the bunker had it not been filled with water?

 

[MegaSteve]

One things for sure... You'll always get a sympathetic ear on a forum... NOT!

 

[woody69]

I don't understand why people keep complaining about this and saying it is a stupid / silly rule. It's a perfect rule in my opinion. You went into a hazard. Therefore, by rights you shouldn't get any relief just because it is flooded. Your committee have the option to mark the bunker as GUR, but they didn't so you can try and play the shot where it lies or take a penalty drop. How annoyed would you have been if you were playing a match and someone went in the bunker and then got a free drop and an easier chip on?

Also, just look forward to summer when you go into a water hazard, but the levels have receded due to evaporation and you don't have to take a penalty drop to play your shot. Will you be back on here saying, "gained a shot when it wasn't even my fault!"

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

All of us agreed that it was the clubs fault for not declaring most bunkers as GUR. As we made our way thru, you could see people fishing for their balls and starting to get their scuba gear out.

From where I was, there was no way of seeing if the bunker was flooded, so it was an unplanned visit to the bunker. Avoiding the bunker was not an option either from among the trees

3rd into the bunker, 4th drop, 5th chipped on, 6&7th putt.. 7 for 1 on an 18 HC. boo hoo hoo...

Yes it was. Why not chip out sideways and give yourself a chance of an up and down?

Course management. Scientific surveys have shown it can save shots :thup:

 

[vkurup]

Yes it was. Why not chip out sideways and give yourself a chance of an up and down?

Course management. Scientific surveys have shown it can save shots :thup:

From where it lay, I had a 50% chance to split the trees and with a fair wind would have carried the bunker and then putt putt for a par!!!. I could have be a hero, and got some admiring looks from my 50+ year lovely lady partner

if I chipped out, it was a 90+% chance for a bogie and no hero wings.

Why would I choose a 90% chance over a 50% chance?

 

[delc]

Played monthly S/F yesterday. First hole (P5)...
> Driver gone to the right (sometimes called a slice)
> 2nd shot... fairly decent but the ball still among the trees. leaving 135y to centre. Flag at back and protected by bunkers
> Beautiful 8i splits the tree and nearly gets on the green but gets into the bunker. PP/FC applaud

All I needed to do was get up and down. Strode up to see that the bunker only to realise that the bunker was flooded. I could see the ball, but cant hit as it is underwater. No place to drop the ball. 5 mins of discussion later, had to drop the ball outside the bunker with a 1 stroke penalty.

1 stroke penalty and it was not even my fault. Finished with 1 point on the hole, and wrecked my front nine. Otherwise front 9 was 2s or 3s. (Dont ask me about back 9)

Having had the same experience myself a few weeks ago, I sympathize with you. In my case it was a longish Par-4. I hit a good tee shot and a pretty decent looking second shot until a combination of wind and an unlucky bounce took it into a green-side bunker where I saw a big splash. The ball was found to be lying under about 2 feet of water, with the only dry sand being at the back of the bunker, nearer the hole. Under the current rules I could only take a penalty drop outside the bunker. Bloody annoying! I guess the only answer is to get course managers to make any flooded bunkers GUR, so you can take a free drop out of them.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

From where it lay, I had a 50% chance to split the trees and with a fair wind would have carried the bunker and then putt putt for a par!!!. I could have be a hero, and got some admiring looks from my 50+ year lovely lady partner

if I chipped out, it was a 90+% chance for a bogie and no hero wings.

Why would I choose a 90% chance over a 50% chance?

Well obviously it is your choice how to play the hole but 50/50 chance of splitting the trees? If you had hit one of them full on, what score are you looking at then....double?.....treble?......lost ball?

With all due respect and I don't mean this in a condescending way but if you thought about your options you could probably knock 2 or 3 shots off your handicap. I would rather take the guaranteed bogey than bring a card wrecking score into the equation.

 

[ColchesterFC]

Played monthly S/F yesterday. First hole (P5)...
> Driver gone to the right (sometimes called a slice)
> 2nd shot... fairly decent but the ball still among the trees. leaving 135y to centre. Flag at back and protected by bunkers
> Beautiful 8i splits the tree and nearly gets on the green but gets into the bunker. PP/FC applaud

All I needed to do was get up and down. Strode up to see that the bunker only to realise that the bunker was flooded. I could see the ball, but cant hit as it is underwater. No place to drop the ball. 5 mins of discussion later, had to drop the ball outside the bunker with a 1 stroke penalty.

1 stroke penalty and it was not even my fault. Finished with 1 point on the hole, and wrecked my front nine. Otherwise front 9 was 2s or 3s. (Dont ask me about back 9)

You say that this hole ruined your front 9, as the rest were all 2 or 3 pointers. But you also say that this was the first hole. Sounds to me like you recovered from this and had a pretty decent front 9 and should be much more upset with yourself for blowing it on the back 9. Did the pressure of having a good round going get to you or was it something else.

 

[One Planer]

I'm shaking my head. I have to type that as there's no smiley

If I read post #26 correctly. After 2 'errant' shots, if you chipped the ball back to the fairway you were 90% on for bogey whereas if you played the 'Seve' escape, with conditions permitting, you were 50/50.

Personally, I think those %'ages should be the other way round. If you are playing a 'hero' shot, surely there is more risk in playing that than simply chipping out?

Either way, the rule does not only affect you, but anyone who plays in that competition. I agree if the course was surveyed prior to the competition it could have been marked GUR.

The fact the rules are the same for everyone keeps it fair. I bet you weren't the onlt one who had a splash down in that bunker during the competition.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

From where it lay, I had a 50% chance to split the trees and with a fair wind would have carried the bunker and then putt putt for a par!!!. I could have be a hero, and got some admiring looks from my 50+ year lovely lady partner

if I chipped out, it was a 90+% chance for a bogie and no hero wings.

Why would I choose a 90% chance over a 50% chance?

And that's why you play off 18. From that situation you should be thinking "how do I make no worse than bogey" not "how do I make par?"

 

[Slab]

Unless it was raining at the time or flooded since comp started, it would be interesting to hear the reaction of Comp committee as to why a flooded bunker on the 1st hole wasn't marked as GUR

You play at what looks like a nice course with meaty memberships rates and I'd wonder where my cash was being spent if no one even checks the course before play

 

[vkurup]

One does not get much sympathy on this forum.. does he...

Not sure what happened on the back 9.. twice had a wayward drive, twice shanked my approach, was robbed of a point thrice by soggy greens where the ball bounced the wrong way at the last second. Only the 18th hole provided a 3 pointer, which means I will go back and fight the course again.

Finished with a 29 for the day.

 

[harpo_72]

And that's why you play off 18. From that situation you should be thinking "how do I make no worse than bogey" not "how do I make par?"

Oo your all getting a little mean now! Lessons are best learnt through experience, this is an experience he needs to chalk up and say how could I have done better... Not moan about the rules. My groan about the rules relates really to letting people damage the course and leave it ..for me the Dyson case should have created a point of discussion, the player leaving the damage should have been penalised.

 

[harpo_72]

One does not get much sympathy on this forum.. does he...

Not sure what happened on the back 9.. twice had a wayward drive, twice shanked my approach, was robbed of a point thrice by soggy greens where the ball bounced the wrong way at the last second. Only the 18th hole provided a 3 pointer, which means I will go back and fight the course again.

Finished with a 29 for the day.

so your pretty 50+ playing partner wasn't impressed, should have appealed for sympathy .... Usually works :thup:

 

[vkurup]

Unless it was raining at the time or flooded since comp started, it would be interesting to hear the reaction of Comp committee as to why a flooded bunker on the 1st hole wasn't marked as GUR

You play at what looks like a nice course with meaty memberships rates and I'd wonder where my cash was being spent if no one even checks the course before play

I was not the only in the bunker and the 1st wasnt the only flooded bunker. As we walked off the 8th tee box, we saw 3 guys fishing for a ball in the greenside bunker on the 7th. 2 guys with a rake and another with a club - could have been panning for gold. It was a sight to see, shame did not take a picture

 

[vkurup]

so your pretty 50+ playing partner wasn't impressed, should have appealed for sympathy .... Usually works :thup:

She was not pleased with her game.. fatted a few off thick mud which sprayed everyone. A bit of under the breath swearing at the club. Glad to know that even ex-office holder are impacted by such things..

 

[harpo_72]

I was not the only in the bunker and the 1st wasnt the only flooded bunker. As we walked off the 8th tee box, we saw 3 guys fishing for a ball in the greenside bunker on the 7th. 2 guys with a rake and another with a club - could have been panning for gold. It was a sight to see, shame did not take a picture

Sounds like you should all have invested in a ball scoop .... Incidentally what handicap do you stop carrying a ball scoop/ retriever ?

 

[vkurup]

Sounds like you should all have invested in a ball scoop .... Incidentally what handicap do you stop carrying a ball scoop/ retriever ?

you can only use a scoop if you knew where the ball is.. Some of our bunkers are deep and they can get muddy.. so the rake is probably the best way to find it.

ps: I have a telescopic retriever... have used it once in 2013.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

you can only use a scoop if you knew where the ball is.. Some of our bunkers are deep and they can get muddy.. so the rake is probably the best way to find it.

ps: I have a telescopic retriever... have used it once in 2013.

<Shakes head in dismay>

I hate those things.