Good day Linda,
Please help resolve an issue that happened while playing
golf some days back.
A player's ball was in a bunker with water and the player
took relief from the water. However because there was no part of the bunker
that was completely without water, he elected to take the relief within the
bunker but in an area with little water where he felt he could have better
contact and less interference with his swing and such position is not nearer the
hole. Is this decision correct? If not, what are the options available to the
player other than a penalty drop outside the bunker?
Thanks and do have a pleasant day.
Lou from Nigeria
Dear Lou,
The player proceeded correctly. When a bunker is filled with
casual water, and complete relief is not available, the player may drop the
ball at a spot in the bunker that is no closer to the hole where he can get
what is known as “maximum available relief” [Rule 25-1b (ii) (a)]. This may
mean his feet or the ball are in shallower water than the original lie.
Ordinarily, a player is required to find complete relief; this is a rare
exception.
If the player decides to take relief outside the bunker, he
must drop on the flagline and will incur a one-stroke penalty [Rule 25-1b (ii)
(b)]. His other relief option is to play under stroke and distance, which means
he would hit a ball from the spot where he last played the original ball and
incur a one-stroke penalty.
Linda
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