Lifting, Dropping, and Placing

[spidey]

Gary... a follow-up question.

Note: This post has been moved here from the "standing water" thread for clarity

Assume the water nearly fills the bunker. I want to take relief inside the bunker, but the areas of free relief are so sloped that the ball keeps rolling into the casual water. May I place the ball if it won't stay on the spot determined for relief?

[Gary Hill]

The dropping procedure MUST be followed before any placement procedure comes into effect.

1. A ball when dropped must first strike a part of the course where the applicable Rule requires it to be dropped. Rule 20-2b

In your case, the ball must strike a part of the course INSIDE the bunker.

2. There are seven circumstances in which a ball must be re-dropped. The circumstance specific in your case:

A dropped ball shall be re-dropped without penalty if it: rolls to and comes to rest in a position where there is interference by the condition from which relief was taken under Rule 25-1 (abnormal ground conditions). Rule 20-2c(v.)

3. If the ball when re-dropped rolls into any position listed above, it shall be placed as near as possible to the spot where it first struck a part of the course when re-dropped. Rule 20-2c

So, in a nutshell:

Drop the ball. If it rolls back into the casual water, you must re-drop.

Drop the ball again. This time, pay attention to where your ball strikes the course when you re-drop.
If your ball again rolls into the casual water, you place it on the spot where it strikes the course on the re-drop.

There is no third drop.

However, if you have compliled with the dropping procedure and your ball, when placed, will not remain at rest, then a different procedure comes into effect.

If a ball when placed fails to come to rest on the spot on which it was placed, it shall be replaced without penalty. Rule 20-3d

If it still fails to come to rest on that spot:

In a hazard, it shall be placed in the hazard at the nearest spot where it can be placed at rest which is not nearer the hole.

If no spot can be found, not nearer the hole, where the ball will remain at rest:

Under penalty of one stroke, drop the ball, outside the bunker, keeping the point where the ball lay directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped.

There is nothing in the Rules of Golf permitting a player to press his ball lightly into the sand or ground to make it remain at rest.

The player would be subject to penalty for creating an irregularity of surface.

BTW - This is exactly WHY rakes should be placed OUTSIDE bunkers. If your ball rests against a rake in a bunker, you may remove the rake. If your ball moves, you may replace the ball on the spot. However, if your ball fails to remain on that spot and no spot can be found where it will remain at rest no nearer the hole (eg. if the rake was at the back lip of the bunker) , then you MUST incur a penalty by dropping outside the bunker. Grrrr... :mad