Hi Linda
You may be aware of unprecedented weather conditions during
the last year in the UK (including months when there was 30-50% more rain than
EVER previously recorded) swamping erstwhile satisfactory drainage systems. On
our course (and presumably many others) this resulted in (i) a large number of
our bunkers being full (or nearly full) of water and/or (ii) conditions that
did not permit effective repair and maintenance (of the bunkers.)
Our committee's response was to declare variously some, most
or all bunkers as GUR. Whilst this was an eminently reasonable response, was it
legal?
[I am thinking of a recent question (re scorecards) and,
indeed, many other situations, where a committee makes rules instead of
applying them.]
Lou from the UK
Dear Lou,
Declaring flooded bunkers to be GUR is both reasonable and legal!
In exceptional circumstances, when Committees are convinced
that certain particular bunkers that are flooded have no chance of drying up
during the round, it may introduce a Local Rule that provides free relief
without penalty outside the bunker. It must list those specific bunkers in the Local
Rule.
The situation should be monitored carefully. As bunkers dry
up, they should be removed from the “free relief” list in the Local Rule.
A detailed explanation, including the proper wording for the
Local Rule, can be found in Decision 33-8/27. You may also want to take a look
at the R&A explanation: http://www.randa.org/Rules-and-Amateur-Status/Rules-in-Focus.aspx
Linda
Copyright © 2013 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
