Linda,
Under the new rules, if a bunker is completely filled with temporary water, can one get free relief by dropping one club length from the nearest point of relief outside the bunker or by taking back-on-the-line relief with no penalty? I know under the old rules it was just considered bad luck and you had to take a penalty if you dropped outside the bunker. Did this seemingly unfair rule change under the new rules?
Thanks,
Lou from St. Augustine, Florida
Dear Lou,
I am not aware of any Rule changes regarding flooded bunkers.
If no Local Rule has been adopted, the player is only entitled to free relief if he can find a spot in the bunker no closer to the hole to drop the ball. If he chooses to drop back on the line outside the bunker, he must add one penalty stroke to his score [Rule 16.1c].
If one or several bunkers are flooded, the Committee may adopt Model Local Rule F-16, which would allow free relief outside the bunker under Rule 16.1b by labeling specific bunkers as ground under repair in the general area. This Local Rule should identify which bunkers on the course are affected; the Committee may not adopt a Local Rule declaring all flooded bunkers to be ground under repair.
Linda
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