Hi Linda,
The ball is in the bunker and touching the rake. The player
moves the rake and the ball moves forward closer to the hole. Do you play it
from the new position, place it back where it was, or drop it?
Thanks,
Lulu from Scotland
Dear Lulu,
When a ball that touches a movable obstruction moves when
the obstruction is removed, the ball must be replaced by placing it. If it rolls after you place it, you must place it
again. After two tries, you must place the ball at the nearest spot in the
hazard that is no closer to the hole where the ball will remain at rest.
Be aware that you may
not press the ball into the sand to keep it from rolling [Decision 1-2/9]. If there is no
spot in the hazard that is not closer to the hole where the ball will remain at
rest, you have two options [Decision 20-3d/2], both of which include one penalty stroke:
• Play the ball under the stroke-and-distance option of the
unplayable Rule.
• Drop the ball outside the bunker on the flagline.
This issue is one of several reasons why it is recommended
that rakes be placed outside bunkers [Decision Misc./2]. Miscellaneous decisions
are located immediately following the last Decision for Rule 34].
Linda
Copyright © 2017 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
