Hi Linda,
During a seniors match, I put my 2nd shot into a greenside
bunker. We were all (4 players) certain the ball had gone into the bunker, but
there was no sign of it. After much scratching of heads we investigated a hole
(burrow) located in the face of said bunker. There was my ball, approximately 12
inches down the hole. We retrieved the ball, but the question then arose as to
what I should do with it (within the Rules of Golf).
I was for just dropping it in the bunker, no closer to the
hole, but one of the opposing pairing said no and came up with the following
ruling:
As the ball had travelled 12 inches into the hole, it had
gone beyond the perimeter of the bunker and the following should apply. The
position of the ball should be projected vertically, and the ball should be
placed on the surface the same distance as to what it had gone into the hole. As
I was benefiting from such a ruling, I did not argue, but what would have been
your ruling?
Regards,
Lou from West Midlands, U.K.
Dear Lou,
Your opponents were mostly correct. After you establish the
position of the ball above the ground, you have to drop the ball (not place it) within
one club-length of that spot, no closer to the hole [Decision 25-1b/23]. In
your case, the burrowing animal gave you a free pass out of the bunker. Lucky
you!
Linda
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