Removing stone pebbles in bunker

[poppadon56]

I was playing with my buddy and he was in a bunker and started removing tiny stone pebbles from behind his ball. I told him he couldn't do that, but he said he saw Stewart Cink doing it awhile back and that it was Ok.

Can you remove loose impediments from a sand bunker? This was not a waste bunker.

Thanks

[leafseh]

As far as I know, it has to be a local rule where they specify it is ok to remove loose impediments (such as rocks in this case).

When i played this weekend at the intersectionals, they had this noted on the rules sheet as their bunkers were covered with rocks.

[gbower]

Cink was in a waste area and not in a bunker. If there's a local rule where you're playing that stones in bunkers are movable obstructions then you can remove them otherwise play it as it is.

[imozzie]

OK, understand the rule completely. However, I don't think that all those rules were written with Canadian courses in mind. If I lived in any of the southern states, I'd be more than happy to send a ball out of (or, more to the point, swing my club through) practically any trap as those traps actually have SAND. Not so on many, many Canadian tracks .... and I am just not willing to fork over big bucks for nice irons to have them dinged and scuffed by some of the 'stuff' they put in sand traps these days. Again, understand the rule and appreciate the explanation.

Fortunately, I'm not a competitive golfer...with me, you can pluck crap out of the sand trap until the cows come home and I, for one, will thank you!

IMHO...lol

[AAA]

The rule was written with all individual clubs in mind. It is upto the club or competition committee to decide whether their bunkers justify the introduction of the local rule.

[leftylucas]

The Open has this local rule in place right now

[jeffc]

OK, understand the rule completely. However, I don't think that all those rules were written with Canadian courses in mind. If I lived in any of the southern states, I'd be more than happy to send a ball out of (or, more to the point, swing my club through) practically any trap as those traps actually have SAND. Not so on many, many Canadian tracks .... and I am just not willing to fork over big bucks for nice irons to have them dinged and scuffed by some of the 'stuff' they put in sand traps these days. Again, understand the rule and appreciate the explanation.

Fortunately, I'm not a competitive golfer...with me, you can pluck crap out of the sand trap until the cows come home and I, for one, will thank you!

IMHO...lol

I agree. It's easy to hit rocks or off a cart path when you just have to visit the tour van after the round for a replacement.

[AAA]

The Open has this local rule in place right now

All the Opens are played on links seaside courses where the sand is natural (not quarried) and therefore may have pebbles in it.
Most tours and the Masters do not.

[goochy]

All the Opens are played on links seaside courses where the sand is natural (not quarried) and therefore may have pebbles in it.
Most tours and the Masters do not.

That is actually the original definition of a pot bunker. Original bunkers were just hollows in the land where sheep grazed and later "designed" links courses built in the 1800s built bunkers by just digging down till thaey hit the sand below the thin soil. All links courses are sand based...none of that artificially imported pristine silicone sand there

[LobWedge]

All links courses are sand based...none of that artificially imported pristine silicone sand there

I've never been a fan of implants.

[Sunny D]

OK, understand the rule completely. However, I don't think that all those rules were written with Canadian courses in mind. If I lived in any of the southern states, I'd be more than happy to send a ball out of (or, more to the point, swing my club through) practically any trap as those traps actually have SAND. Not so on many, many Canadian tracks .... and I am just not willing to fork over big bucks for nice irons to have them dinged and scuffed by some of the 'stuff' they put in sand traps these days. Again, understand the rule and appreciate the explanation.

Fortunately, I'm not a competitive golfer...with me, you can pluck crap out of the sand trap until the cows come home and I, for one, will thank you!

IMHO...lol

I agree totally.... actually played a week ago with a guy who had a rock 3/4 buried just behind his ball. He hit --- the ball came out of the bunker so did the rock pretty much like a bullet.

[mpare]

You guys would not have wanted to play golf at the Miramichi Golf Club in northern New Brunswick. Their traps were composed entirely of tiny stones or pebbles. It was great stuff out of which to spin a ball. However, it could be a bit rough on the clubs. Since I never cared much for keeping my irons pristine, it didn't bother me in the least. Best stuff I ever played out of.

[LobWedge]

There's a reason they're called hazards folks.

[AAA]

dangerous_when_wet.png

[PapaPat]

The Open has this local rule in place right now

It is also on the GAO hardcard.