Water in a bunker

[woody69]

Having to drop in a wet bunker and not then being able to roll the ball a finger turn out of the inevitable plugged lie is one if the stupidest rules in golf, right up there with having to play from a divot in the middle of a perfectly mown fairway.

Sorry, but I think that this IS a daft rule - totally unfair. I am a pretty good bunker player but what chance do you have in this situation?

The rules of golf are not about what is fair to YOU it is about what is equitable.

How is it 'fair' if your ball ends up in the casual water within the flooded bunker that you can drop and then place to remove from the plugged lie, versus another player who's ball ends up simply plugged in the part of the bunker that isn't flooded? Should they be allowed to unplug their ball as well?

 

[KenL]

A ball played into a bunker rarely plugs. One that is dropped will plug every time.

 

[rulefan]

There is no harm is introducing local rules to protect the course and make it a bit more enjoyable through the winter months during social golf and golf where the HC isnt on the line. Its just common sense.

Why not use the LRs provided. They cover all reasonable ways of protecting the course.

We also had pick and place throughout the golf course during the winter months.

Doy you really think the rough needs protecting?

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Why not use the LRs provided. They cover all reasonable ways of protecting the course.



Doy you really think the rough needs protecting?

Why not allow the greenkeeper who knows about the course to decide how best to protect it.

Again what is wrong with having rules like that through the winter when they are playing no qualifying comps ?

 

[Billysboots]

I'm not sure I really understand why individuals are being such sticklers. If greenkeepers want to use variations of rules during winter and outside of qualifiers to improve our odds of playing on good quality courses during the season, surely we should be all for it. If they want members to tee it up in the fairway instead of using a mat, is that really such an enormous problem?

 

[Colin L]

I'm not sure I really understand why individuals are being such sticklers. If greenkeepers want to use variations of rules during winter and outside of qualifiers to improve our odds of playing on good quality courses during the season, surely we should be all for it. If they want members to tee it up in the fairway instead of using a mat, is that really such an enormous problem?

A fairway mat gives better protection anyway. I’ve seen many a fine divot taken with a ball teed up!

 

[rulefan]

Again what is wrong with having rules like that through the winter when they are playing no qualifying comps ?

If you use the appropriate authorised local rules the course can be protected adequately and you can play qualifiers from time to time.

 

[Billysboots]

But what is wrong with a departure from those authorised local rules, if local conditions are such that greenkeepers think it necessary? That's the question, and you keep banging on about "rules being rules".

If there are occasions when a greenkeeper thinks a variation on a local rule will help protect the course, surely we should be applauding their efforts rather than reaching for the rule book.

 

[SammmeBee]

But what is wrong with a departure from those authorised local rules, if local conditions are such that greenkeepers think it necessary? That's the question, and you keep banging on about "rules being rules".

If there are occasions when a greenkeeper thinks a variation on a local rule will help protect the course, surely we should be applauding their efforts rather than reaching for the rule book.

Sounds like some hard work for him wouldn't go amiss to sort the problems out......

 

[Deleted member 15344]

If you use the appropriate authorised local rules the course can be protected adequately and you can play qualifiers from time to time.

We don't play qualifiers and have no intention of doing so will respect the wishes of the ground staff

There is nothing wrong at all with adding in local rules that will help the club when non qualifiers are happening.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

But what is wrong with a departure from those authorised local rules, if local conditions are such that greenkeepers think it necessary? That's the question, and you keep banging on about "rules being rules".

If there are occasions when a greenkeeper thinks a variation on a local rule will help protect the course, surely we should be applauding their efforts rather than reaching for the rule book.

Fully agree - more common sense approach

 

[Billysboots]

Sounds like some hard work for him wouldn't go amiss to sort the problems out......

So you don't think we share a responsibility to help protect the course during winter then, if greenkeepers suggest a break from the norm?

Or are you just pedantic by nature?

 

[rulefan]

We use winter tee mats, fairway mats, preferred lies on the 'fairway', winter greens, lift clean a replace TTG - as appropriate and when the course manager and green chair decide. We have embargos on buggies if necessary and roped off trolley routes. Or close the course (or parts of it).
As it happens most winter play is 4BBB but we do manage to play qualifiers on and off during the winter. We couldn't this year because we were under 6' of water for days and over 50% of the bunkers were out of action for weeks.
We don't need to invent rules.

 

[SammmeBee]

So you don't think we share a responsibility to help protect the course during winter then, if greenkeepers suggest a break from the norm?

Or are you just pedantic by nature?

If it's that bad then yes.....don't play.....