Hello Linda,
I am hoping you could clear up a golf rule issue that arose
today. The situation was as follows:
A player’s ball finished about a foot outside a bunker that
was filled with water. He could not address the ball without standing inside
the bunker full of water. Does this entitle him to free relief under abnormal
ground conditions?
My thoughts are that, yes, he should receive free relief as
his ball is not in the bunker and casual water is casual water, whether it is
inside or outside the bunker. I have checked the rules and the closest similar
incidence I can find is when a player’s lie/stance is affected by water that
has overflowed from a water hazard. Under these circumstances, the player
receives free relief.
I would much appreciate your help with this matter.
Kind regards,
Lou from the UK
Dear Lou,
Water that has accumulated in a bunker is casual water,
which is an “abnormal ground condition.” When a player’s stance is in casual
water, he is entitled to free relief [Rule 25-1a]. Since the ball is located
outside the bunker, it is lying “through the green,” and there is no further
complication. The player must find the nearest spot no closer to the hole where
his stance will be completely out of the water. He will drop the ball within
one club-length of that spot.
On the other hand, if the player’s ball had settled in the bunker, his free relief would have
to be in the bunker. Since the Rules
require a drop in the bunker, it is not required that the player find complete
relief from the water. He may even drop his ball in a spot where the water is
more shallow. However, that spot must not be closer to the hole. If there is no
spot to drop the ball in the bunker that is not closer to the hole, the
player’s drop will be outside the bunker on the line-of-sight to the hole, and
will result in a penalty stroke. The player may also deem his ball unplayable
and drop where he hit his previous stroke. Having to take a penalty because a
bunker is filled with water is surely bad luck.
Linda
Copyright © 2013 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
