Unplayable drop from bunker

[shortgame]

Hi rules gurus!
First time poster, long time lurker after some advice please...

Today, following a decent tee shot on a par 4, I hit an 80 yard (gps measured) wedge into the face of a nasty bunker (plugged about 6 inches under the lip) hence I deemed it unplayable

Then figured I had 3 options:

a) return and replay from as near as possible to the same place (80 yards) under penalty of stroke & distance

b) drop within 2 club lengths within the bunker

c) drop back in a straight line etc, within the bunker

As I figured dropping into the bunker would result in a difficult (probably plugged) lie I opted for option a and proceeded to drop as described then hit the green with my 4th shot

Upon reaching the green my 3 fc's had all agreed amongst themselves my drop was illegal and had to be within the bunker

I stuck to my guns stating that you always have the option of returning to replay from the last place under penalty of s&d

As it happens, I couldn't score (stableford) anyway after missing my bogey putt (SI 12 playing off 9) so in and of itself the drop was immaterial

Speaking over lunch with another 4 of our other groups members (it was only a small society comp) they also all insisted that "any drops from a bunker have to be in the bunker!"

Help please rules experts, if I'm wrong then that's fine but if I'm right it would be nice to politely educate the others accordingly

Thanks in advance
S

 

[fundy]

welcome to the madhouse

youre right they are wrong, you always have the stroke and distance option ie option a)

http://www.randa.org/Rules-of-Golf/MainRules/28-Ball-Unplayable

 

[chrisd]

As Fundy says.

you can even declare your ball unplayable on the green and return to where you last played

 

[shortgame]

Great, thanks both... appreciated
The others were so adamant I was starting to doubt myself 👍

 

[pogle]

As Fundy says.

you can even declare your ball unplayable on the green and return to where you last played

Or even, after putting the ball into a bunker, deeming it unplayable and replacing the ball on the putting green.

 

[bobmac]

There will always be 'discussions' about the rules which is why you should always carry a rule book in your bag.
Then, if someone gives you a ruling you think is wrong, hand them the rule book and ask them to show you the rule.

 

[chrisd]

The others were so adamant

They always are, especially when they're wrong!🙄

 

[Marshy77]

Excellent, learnt another rule that I wasn't 100% sure of.

 

[Maninblack4612]

Great, thanks both... appreciated
The others were so adamant I was starting to doubt myself 

You should have had a bet with them.

 

[Colin L]

S&D can be a good option to take if you are uncertain that after a drop in the bunker you will get out. At the moment, if you don't get out, that's you stuck: you don't have any way out other than playing it. Option (a) for ball unplayable is going to be in the bunker.

I've always felt that this is one of the few times, maybe the only time that the rules do not give you an escape. It looks as if I am not alone as one of the proposed changes to the rules for 2019 is that where you have had two or more hacks in a bunker and not got out, the ball unplayable options will include going back to where you played your last stroke outside the bunker with a 2 stroke penalty. Costly but it's the escape that was missing.

 

[guest100718]

S&D can be a good option to take if you are uncertain that after a drop in the bunker you will get out. At the moment, if you don't get out, that's you stuck: you don't have any way out other than playing it. Option (a) for ball unplayable is going to be in the bunker.

I've always felt that this is one of the few times, maybe the only time that the rules do not give you an escape. It looks as if I am not alone as one of the proposed changes to the rules for 2019 is that where you have had two or more hacks in a bunker and not got out, the ball unplayable options will include going back to where you played your last stroke outside the bunker with a 2 stroke penalty. Costly but it's the escape that was missing.

ouch... I think I'd have a couple more hacks at it...

 

[Hosel Fade]

Get the app or carry the book with you. That way when someone claims some nonsense you can tell them to show you where it says so.

 

[rulefan]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqHgqkHhDP8

 

[Region3]

S&D can be a good option to take if you are uncertain that after a drop in the bunker you will get out. At the moment, if you don't get out, that's you stuck: you don't have any way out other than playing it. Option (a) for ball unplayable is going to be in the bunker.

I've always felt that this is one of the few times, maybe the only time that the rules do not give you an escape. It looks as if I am not alone as one of the proposed changes to the rules for 2019 is that where you have had two or more hacks in a bunker and not got out, the ball unplayable options will include going back to where you played your last stroke outside the bunker with a 2 stroke penalty. Costly but it's the escape that was missing.

It's better than that

Penalty drop outside the bunker for a cost of 2 strokes at any time.


There will be no penalty for moving loose impediments in a bunker or for generally touching the sand with a hand or club. A limited set of restrictions (such as not grounding the club right next to the ball) is kept to preserve the challenge of playing from the sand; however, an extra relief option is added for an unplayable ball in a bunker, allowing the ball to be played from outside the bunker with a two-stroke penalty.

 

[rulefan]

This was in the draft changes for 2008 but didn't make it through.

 

[pogle]

There will always be 'discussions' about the rules which is why you should always carry a rule book in your bag.
Then, if someone gives you a ruling you think is wrong, hand them the rule book and ask them to show you the rule.

My advice is to do what you want to; it's your ball after all. If your opponent in match play disagrees they can make a claim. If your marker in stroke play disagrees then refer the matter to the committee. Either way it comes down to the committee to decide the facts and make a ruling. Markers and opponents aren't referees and can't make a ruling or impose a penalty.

I've seen too many instances where one player says "show me where it says you're right" and the other says "no, you show me where you're right".

 

[shortgame]

Thanks everyone, some great advice here 👍