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The Guidelines of Golf are tough! Fortunately, we’ve received the guru. Our Guidelines Man is aware of the guide entrance to again. Acquired a query? He’s received all of the solutions.
My ball in a greenside bunker was held by a rake in order that it didn’t roll down the slope into the underside of the bunker. I urged to my taking part in companions that I carry the rake, which might let the ball to roll down into the underside of the bunker. In any case, that’s what it will have completed so if the rake had not been there. Ideas? —Bruce Gardner, Springs, South Africa
Sounds affordable, Bruce … solely it’s not the right process.
There’s no penalty for eradicating the rake and inflicting the ball to maneuver within the course of. Nonetheless, you’re required to interchange the ball on its authentic spot, per Guidelines 15.2 and 9.4. If the ball received’t keep at relaxation on the spot after making an attempt twice, then beneath Rule 14.2e you’d discover the closest spot the place it will keep at relaxation, no nearer the opening and in the identical bunker.
The principles of gravity and the Guidelines of Golf aren’t all the time one and the identical.
For extra bunker-related steerage from our guru, learn on …
My method shot landed in a greenside bunker. After I thumped my sand shot, my ball appeared to have break up! The truth is, there was a spread ball just below the sand proper behind and beneath my ball, which my wedge had hit. Each balls moved ahead about 4 ft and remained within the bunker. Did I’ve the choice to replay my shot? My companion stated I didn’t, and it most likely value us $20, as a result of we had 4 carryovers on the opening. —Matt Biel, Los Angeles, Calif.
I’m sorry on your loss, Matt. On the intense aspect, your companion is aware of his guidelines. You made a stroke at your individual ball. Though one other, deserted ball was dislodged within the course of, you’re not thought-about to have performed the mistaken ball, and there’s no choice to replay the stroke without spending a dime. (Additionally on the intense aspect, there isn’t a penalty, both — chilly consolation, I do know.)
That buried ball is a movable obstruction, so you’d have been allowed to maneuver it had you seen it prior to creating your stroke. In fact, seeing a buried object is a quite neat trick; as a substitute, you had been a sufferer of quite dangerous luck. Each golfer is aware of the sensation sooner or later.
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