Rules Refresher – When Is A Ball In A Bunker?

Most of the time it is obvious whether a ball is in a bunker or not, but there are occasions when uncertainty creeps in.

A bunker is defined as a “specially prepared area of sand, which is often a hollow from which turf or soil was removed.” But where does the edge start and stop? The definition goes on to say that the following is not part of a bunker: “a lip, wall or face at the edge of a prepared area and consisting of soil, grass, stacked turf or artificial materials.” You may remember Ian Poulter embedding his ball in a grass bunker face in last year’s Scottish Open. That was not part of the bunker.

The definition also says that soil or any growing or attached natural object inside the edge of a prepared area (such as grass, bushes or trees) is not part of the bunker, so the ball on the little island here is not in the bunker.

Sand that has spilled over or is outside the edge of the prepared area is not part of a bunker either, so you need to base your decision on where the edge indicates sand should normally be. The definition also references other areas of sand on the course that are not inside the edge of a prepared area and so are not part of a bunker – for example, natural sandy areas.

It is important to know whether or not your ball is in a bunker because different Rules apply in different areas of the course. For example, under the unplayable ball rule (Rule 19), back-on-the-line and lateral relief for a one-stroke penalty must be within the bunker, but only from bunkers is there the further option to drop back-onthe-line outside the bunker for an additional penalty stroke.

Rule 12.1 says that a ball is in a bunker when any part of it “touches sand on the ground inside the edge of the bunker.” It also states that your ball is in the bunker when inside the edge where sand would normally be, meaning that even when the sand has been washed

“Sand that has spilled over or is outside the edge of the prepared area is not part of a bunker”

or blown away, your ball is still in the bunker. The same applies to a ball resting in or on a loose impediment, movable obstruction (such as the rake in the diagram), abnormal course condition or integral object touching sand in the bunker or lying on ground where sand would normally be.

4

During a match, Fergus grounds his club in the sand, but before playing decides to take unplayable relief and drop outside the bunker. What is the ruling?

A. Fergus can drop outside for a penalty of two strokes. B. Four penalty strokes – grounding club/dropping outside. C. Fergus gets the general penalty (loss of hole).

A. Jezz and Fergus get the general penalty (two strokes). B. Jezz gets one penalty stroke. C. Jezz gets the general penalty (two strokes).