I need a ruling on this one...?

Question

After the heavy rains here in the KC area over the last week, my course has not been able to keep the course in decent playing shape. There are certain bunkers on the course that always collect water and get washed out, and of course I ended up in one of them. All of the sand had washed out of the bunker, creating gullies all around the edges, and the bunker was almost completely flooded...no attempt had been made to make it playable after the rain. My ball was in one of the gullies on the edge of the bunker and was basically unplayable. Would this situation fall under ground under repair, even though it had not been declared by the course, or would it fall under the "abnormal playing conditions" stipulation in the rules? Or was I just screwed from the start? I played it out and made double, but feel like I was penalized 2 strokes because of the lie, would have been an easy up and down with a decent lie.

Answer 1

i dont the offical rule as the other seem to but i would of played it as ground under repair because to me its the course managers fault for not making their bunkers playable...but thats just me

Answer 2

Water in bunkers and washouts cause problems. The Committee, before play can rule regarding the playability of bunkers. They cannot rule about the water for that is casual and relief is granted only to the extent of avoiding the water and the ball is dropped within the bunker so as to avoid the water. If the entire bunker was water, the drop is still made in the bunker where maximum relief is granted. The Committee cannot overturn a rule of golf. If the drop is made outside the bunker, the unplayable lie rule takes effect and the penalty is that of an unplayable lie - one stroke. If the ball is in a washout it has avoided the water and must be played as it lies. If you were playing

Answer 3

Unless there is a local ruling covering the washed out water collecting bunkers you played it correctly. Golf, like life, is not always fair.



Next time ask before you play

Answer 4

where were you playing? i am also in the KC area and ive played twice since the rain and the bunkers have still looked really good