Linda:
We were golfing in a group. My ball was not in the
bunker, but was on the ground leaning against a rake that was outside the bunker.
When I moved the rake the ball fell into the bunker. Was I entitled to mark the
ball and place it outside the bunker where it came to rest in the first place??
Lulu from Michigan
Dear Lulu,
Yes, but it is not an entitlement; it is a requirement.
A rake is a movable obstruction. If your ball moves when you
lift the rake, the ball must be replaced [Rule 24-1a]. I always recommend that
a player mark a ball when she suspects that it will move when she lifts the
obstruction, but she is not required to do so. The only requirement is to
replace the ball if it moves.
There is no penalty in this procedure. However, if the
player does not replace the ball,
she incurs a two-stroke (loss of hole in match play) penalty.
Linda
Copyright © 2015 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
