Stones in Bunker - Hidden

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

In medal on Saturday. Ball in greenside bunker. Sitting perfectly in middle of bunker. No problem. Just pop it out of the bunker - putt for par or two for bogey. Swing - Ping! Ball shoots out of bunker and way over the green. Chip and two putts for a double.

What had happened? My ball was sitting on one or two cm of sand covering a couple of big stones (let's say 3cmx3cm). Stones completely hidden. Sole of club hit the stones so did not take much sand at all so ball came rocketing out.

And same thing happened to me last night in another bunker - grrrrr.

What a to do. Not happy but I guess that's just rub of the green.

But a thought.

If I was in a bunker and could see that there were stones in it, and I was worried there was one hidden under or close to my ball covered in sand - could I carefully prod the sand behind and close to my ball checking for stones? - say with a knitting needle or similar. I'm guessing not however just asking...

BTW - I've now got a nice chunk out of, and a scrape on, the sole of my club

 

[North Mimms]

Are you sure you didn't just thin it?

 

[jim8flog]

If a certain gentleman was allowed to poke around for a bunker liner I cannot see what is wrong with poking around for stones if you are pretty sure there are some there.

 

[Tashyboy]

Played a course in Norfolk and the flint stones in the bunkers looked horrendous. They could of made a right mess of your clubs.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Are you sure you didn't just thin it?

At first that's what I thought I'd done - but if I'd thinned it, it wouldn't have got out of the bunker. So I had a close look at where my ball had been and there - now just slightly uncovered - were stones under where my ball was and where my club entered the sand. Checked sole of club - yup - gouge and scraped.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

If a certain gentleman was allowed to poke around for a bunker liner I cannot see what is wrong with poking around for stones if you are pretty sure there are some there.

Would I not be testing the sand in the bunker? That's why I suggested using something akin to a knitting needle. I guess if I could do this and discovered stones - could I mark my ball position - dig and remove the stones - tidy up sand - and replace my ball?

Or would I be stuck with having to choose between hitting it as it lay or taking a penalty drop (in the bunker not nearer the hole)