Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Ask Linda #1663-Casual water in bunker

Linda,
It’s been raining in northern California and it takes time for the traps to drain.

If I hit a ball in the trap, and it ends up in a pool of water, may I drop the ball in a sandy section of the trap, no penalty?

Thank you,
Lou from Pleasanton, California

Dear Lou,

Casual water is an abnormal ground condition under the Rules of Golf. Players are entitled to free relief from casual water [Rule 25-1].

When the casual water is in a bunker, free relief is available only for a drop in the bunker. The player must drop within one club-length of the nearest point of relief in the bunker that is no closer to the hole.

Since the Rules require that a free-relief drop be in the bunker, it is not required that the player find complete relief from the casual water if complete relief is not available. He may drop his ball on a spot where the water is more shallow [Rule 25-1b (ii)]. 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, or the player prefers to take his relief from the casual water outside the bunker, the player’s drop will be on the flagline, and he will incur a one-stroke penalty. The player may also deem his ball unplayable and drop where he hit his previous stroke, adding one penalty stroke to his score.

If several bunkers become completely filled with water, the Committee has the option to provide free relief without penalty from those specific bunkers. Please read Decision 33-8/27 for the details of this Local Rule.

Linda
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