Steps inside a bunker

[sawtooth]

Today my ball came to rest on a step going down into a bunker. No mention of what to do on the back of the scorecard so I decided to play it off the step as it lies.I didn't have a score going so I wasn't fussed about playing a second ball but I toyed with the idea.

Assuming a drop was OK I couldn't drop anywhere in the bunker that wasn't closer to the hole.

I presume therefore that a drop outside the bunker would be a penalty drop?

 

[Colin L]

If your ball is in the bunker and there is no point of relief in the bunker that is not nearer the hole, your remaining options are a) to drop outside the bunker on a line from the hole through where the ball lies, as far back as you wish at the cost of 1 penalty stroke; and b) stroke and distance.

Do check that your ball is actually in the bunker: the top part of some steps might be outside it and if your ball is lying on that part, it is not in the bunker and you could take relief through the green without penalty.