mansell
Head Pro
I remember when Michelle Wie lost here balance and used her club to stop her falling over she was penalised
Touching Sand in Bunker
- Thread starter 3offTheTee
- Start date
I remember when Michelle Wie lost here balance and used her club to stop her falling over she was penalised
Leftie
Tour Winner
I think you'll find that she wasn't falling over at the time
mansell
Head Pro
I thought she lost her balance before she hit the ball and grounded the club
I may be wrong
bigslice
Tour Winner
ive never touched sand in bunker but have touched cloth on the first tee
Swoosh
Newbie
Think the rules here are meant to stop a person from swinging/striking through the sand deliberately to test its condition. I Remember an occasion when Rory Mcllroy was nearly called on this but was not penalised after because he wasn't deemed to be testing the sand. Common sense and your judgement have to prevail.
JT77
Tour Winner
no mate, she just put her club down in disbelief at the poor quality of the shot as she landed back in the hazard.
I dont think it has to do with swinging in the sand, it is about testing the sand not swinging in it.
Rory was not called on it as he said he was smoothing the sand after having played a shot from the bunker, which i beleive is allowed, before he played again from the same bunker.
I dont think it has to do with swinging in the sand, it is about testing the sand not swinging in it.
Rory was not called on it as he said he was smoothing the sand after having played a shot from the bunker, which i beleive is allowed, before he played again from the same bunker.
Golfmmad
Tour Winner
Why not just pick the rake up without club in hand, thereby alleviating any chance of a penalty
Simples eh?
Golfmmad.
Simples eh?
Golfmmad.
mansell
Head Pro
Thanks for the explanation
Leftie
Tour Winner
Have just checked. Assume that this is the incident you meant. Give it a few seconds.
http://www.thegolfchannel.com/golf-videos/wie-little-mishap-13849/
I could watch this clip a few times before getting bored
http://www.thegolfchannel.com/golf-videos/wie-little-mishap-13849/
I could watch this clip a few times before getting bored
mansell
Head Pro
Have just checked. Assume that this is the incident you meant. Give it a few seconds.
http://www.thegolfchannel.com/golf-videos/wie-little-mishap-13849/
I could watch this clip a few times before getting bored
That's the one.. I need a cold drink now
RGDave
Money List Winner
Good for you.
If I was in a game and someone hoiked up the rake with their sand wedge (is this what you mean?) and inadvertently touched the sand I'd immediately erase any memory of it from my mind.
"what the eyes don't see, the heart doesn't grieve over"....
rickg
Money List Winner
No penalty...Rule 13-4 exception 1
1. Provided 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 (a) touches the ground or loose impediments in any hazard or water in a water hazard as a result of or to prevent falling, in removing an obstruction, in measuring or in marking the position of, retrieving, lifting, placing or replacing a ball under any Rule or
(b) places his clubs in a hazard.
1. Provided 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 (a) touches the ground or loose impediments in any hazard or water in a water hazard as a result of or to prevent falling, in removing an obstruction, in measuring or in marking the position of, retrieving, lifting, placing or replacing a ball under any Rule or
(b) places his clubs in a hazard.
handelhouse
Newbie
I know a guy who was standing in a bunker waiting to play a shot when another player from another hole who had also played into the same banker asked him to throw his ball back to him because he was picking up. My pal's competitor in his match called a foul "testing the condition" that certainly did sour the atmosphere in the match!
Smiffy
Grand Slam Winner
Tend to think along the same lines. Although I guess it would depend on how much the wager was for.
£1, £1, £1 I think I'd let it go.
Tenner or more?
I'd call it
chrisd
Major Champion
The problem is that you are "calling" a very debatable point. You have to accuse the player of "testing " the conditions and if he maintains he wasn't how do you proceed?
The rules certainly say that you can touch the sand in certain circumstances - in fact, if you choose to, you can walk into the bunker with 4 different clubs and lay the 3 you choose not to play out with, in the bunker.You would clearly touch the sand with all 3 clubs so how is that not "testing" but lifting the rake with a club and touching the sand is "testing".
Frankly, if I took a handfull of sand and had it biologically tested and the results texted to me - testing it, wouldn't help me one jot as every bunker I go in has enough sand in it to build a small bungalow, where I wiggle my feet in and my ball seem to have been sitting, precariously balanced, on the only grain of sand that I am not standing on!!
If you called me for lifting the rake I would never accept that I was testing the sand and you could stick it where the sun dont shine!
The rules certainly say that you can touch the sand in certain circumstances - in fact, if you choose to, you can walk into the bunker with 4 different clubs and lay the 3 you choose not to play out with, in the bunker.You would clearly touch the sand with all 3 clubs so how is that not "testing" but lifting the rake with a club and touching the sand is "testing".
Frankly, if I took a handfull of sand and had it biologically tested and the results texted to me - testing it, wouldn't help me one jot as every bunker I go in has enough sand in it to build a small bungalow, where I wiggle my feet in and my ball seem to have been sitting, precariously balanced, on the only grain of sand that I am not standing on!!
If you called me for lifting the rake I would never accept that I was testing the sand and you could stick it where the sun dont shine!
thegogg
Head Pro
What's the ruling if to speed up play a player who's ball is in the bunker picks up the rake inside the bunker on his way to play his shot (club in his other hand) then lays/throws it down to the side of his ball before playing his shot to save time in having to go back and pick up the rake?
jammydodger
Tour Winner
No penalty
viscount17
Money List Winner
wouldn't I'd have called it as I tend to do this myself but now I hope I'd say something like 'careful that could be considered testing . . .'.
memo to self, pick the rake up by hand in future (I won't of course).
but it's another sloppy rule. testing is establishing a condition or comparing against a known standard.
where is this standard defined?
simply walking on the sand tells you whether it's firm or not, digging your feet in tells you the depth, quality (eg how many stones you're likely to encounter), whether it's dry on top but wet beneath, etc.
how much extra information is an inanimate, misshapen lump of metal going to give you?
memo to self, pick the rake up by hand in future (I won't of course).
but it's another sloppy rule. testing is establishing a condition or comparing against a known standard.
where is this standard defined?
simply walking on the sand tells you whether it's firm or not, digging your feet in tells you the depth, quality (eg how many stones you're likely to encounter), whether it's dry on top but wet beneath, etc.
how much extra information is an inanimate, misshapen lump of metal going to give you?
3offTheTee
Tour Rookie
Never thought my query would ensured so much debate.
I di NOT call the penalty; however he DID place his club in the bunker as it would have been physically impossible to pick the rake out without touching the sand. He could not have denied what happened. However I accept your comments.
HTL
Tour Winner
Report him to the club, fine hime, call the penalty and bitch about him all rounfd the club after. HOW DARE HE!!!
