Bunker Play 2

[AAA]

Now how about this: Player is in a green side bunker and hits it out onto the green. The shot didnt carry as far as he would have liked, and as the ball starts to roll back towards the bunker, the player slams his club into the sand in anger. The ball comes to rest back in the bunker... is he not given a penalty for grounding his club? is this different from testing the sand with the rake?

Read the first sentence of 13-4 and the question carefully.

[LobWedge]

Now how about this: Player is in a green side bunker and hits it out onto the green. The shot didnt carry as far as he would have liked, and as the ball starts to roll back towards the bunker, the player slams his club into the sand in anger. The ball comes to rest back in the bunker... is he not given a penalty for grounding his club? is this different from testing the sand with the rake?

Read the first sentence of 13-4 and the question carefully.

13-4/35.5 Ball Played from Bunker onto Grass Bank; Player Hits Sand with Club; Ball Then Rolls Back into Bunker
Q. A player plays from a bunker and the ball lands on the grass bank of the bunker. Before the ball comes to rest, the player swings his club into the sand, after which the ball rolls back into the bunker.
Rule 13-4b prohibits touching the ground in a hazard with a club when the ball lies in the hazard. Does the player incur a penalty under this Rule even though the ball was outside the bunker when the club was swung into the sand?
A. No. However, if the club was still touching the sand when the ball rolled back into the bunker, a breach of Rule 13-4 occurred, and any doubt on this point should be resolved against the player.

[AAA]

That is just showing off. The words in the rule itself are sufficient.

[LobWedge]

That is just showing off. The words in the rule itself are sufficient.

Not really showing off, but I know what you mean. I enjoy digging through the decisions. Sometimes it's easier to find a shoe that fits if you look at the clearance rack.

That being said, I'm a practical/visual learner and have a harder time with the theoretical aspect. I think I need to put the "big book" away for a while and concentrate more on the main document when searching for answers. Good practice.

[AAA]

Not really showing off, but I know what you mean. I enjoy digging through the decisions. Sometimes it's easier to find a shoe that fits if you look at the clearance rack.

That being said, I'm a practical/visual learner and have a harder time with the theoretical aspect. I think I need to put the "big book" away for a while and concentrate more on the main document when searching for answers. Good practice.

Yes. I have only rarely had to resort to the Decisions when out in the field. I never carry it when playing but always when officiating.

[Crackberry]

The USGA rules must be different. The player I saw do this in an event lost the event by 1 because of this penalty.

I played most of my golf in the US. Sorry to create the confusion.

[BC MIST]

The USGA rules must be different.

Don't think so. If you have a copy of the Book of Decisions the second page indicates that "Since 1951, the USGA and the R&A have been meeting regularly in order to establish a uniform set of rules."

There are decisions that are applicable only in the USGA's jurisdiction but they pertain to things like, clubs face markings, balls not on conforming list, flag stick dimensions, advice in college tournaments, and so on. Nothing relevant to the basic rules under which we all play.

[AAA]

The USGA rules must be different. The player I saw do this in an event lost the event by 1 because of this penalty.

I played most of my golf in the US. Sorry to create the confusion.

What exactly did he do?

[Sakuraba]

I recall seeing Jesper Parnevik in a tournament use his foot to quickly smooth out the "divot" he had just taken with a bit of a fat sand wedge shot from a greenside bunker, and he was not penalized because he did it before the ball returned to the trap.

[Crackberry]

What exactly did he do?

We were playing in an NCAA regional event in the late 90s. The guy I was paired with had a 1 shot lead going into the 54th hole and hit his approach into a greenside bunker. His first bunker shot made it up to the top of a ridge on the green but it didn't quite stay there. As it rolled down towards the fringe, he released a little anger in the bunker (soft fluffy sand) and when the ball stopped rolling, it was back in the bunker. Another coach informed a rules official and he was set with a 1 shot penalty, which was after he got up and down for 5. This lead to a 6 and he missed the playoff.

Now... this wouldn't be the first time there was a bad ruling in collegiate golf.

[BC MIST]

...and hit his approach into a greenside bunker. His first bunker shot made it up to the top of a ridge on the green but it didn't quite stay there. As it rolled down towards the fringe, he released a little anger in the bunker (soft fluffy sand) and when the ball stopped rolling, it was back in the bunker. Another coach informed a rules official and he was set with a 1 shot penalty, which was after he got up and down for 5. This lead to a 6 and he missed the playoff.

Now... this wouldn't be the first time there was a bad ruling in collegiate golf.

Decision 13-4/35.5
Q. A player plays from a bunker and the ball lands on the grass bank of the bunker. Before the ball comes to rest, the player swings his club into the sand, after which the ball rolls back into the bunker. Rule 13-4b prohibits touching the ground in a hazard with a club when the ball lies in the hazard. Does the player incur a penalty under this Rule even though the ball was outside the bunker when the club was swung into the sand?

A. No. However, if the club was still touching the sand when the ball rolled back into the bunker, a breach of Rule 13-4 occurred, and any doubt on this point should be resolved against the player.

And, the penalty is 2 strokes, not 1.