Diary of a USGA Rules Official: Bunker Incidents & More

I first met Dr. Robin Farran back when I was a student at the Golf Academy of America. Not only is he one of the USGA’s top Rules Officials, Dr. Farran is a one-man wrecking crew when it comes to educating others about the nuances of the Rules. He once told me that his weekly email list was more than 400 strong, and I’m proud to say I’m one of those recipients. In this month’s Diary of a USGA Rules Official, Dr. Farran first takes us into the bunker to school us on the Rules in and around the sand:

Once a shot is played out of a bunker, the sand may be raked to its prior condition.

Bunker Incidents
Incident 1
Player A’s ball is in a bunker. Player A’s next stroke is OB. Prior to dropping a ball in the relief area as defined by Rule 14.6b, Player A rakes the bunker, restoring the bunker to the condition prior to the stroke.

**Rule 12.2b(3) states that there are no restrictions on touching or smoothing sand in a bunker after the ball is played out of the bunker.

Incident 2
Player A’s ball is in a bunker. After lifting the ball and prior to proceeding under Rule 19.3b, Player A rakes the bunker, restoring the bunker to the condition prior to taking relief.

**In proceeding under Rule 19.3b, Player A will be proceeding under back-on-the line relief outside the bunker. Although Rule 8.1a and Interpretation 8.1a/1 state that the penalty for improving the conditions affecting the stroke by raking a bunker on the line of play is the general penalty, Interpretation 12.2b(3)/1 clarifies that Player A is allowed to smooth sand in the bunker to care for the course when intending to take relief outside the bunker. Interpretation 12.2b(3)/1 states, “The term “played out of the bunker” in Rule 12.2b(3) also includes taking relief outside the bunker”.

Incident 3
Player A’s ball is embedded in the dirt face of a deep bunker. Player A elects to proceed under the back-on-the-line relief option for a ball unplayable and drops the ball in the general area.

**Player A’s ball lies in the general area – see Definition of Bunker. In proceeding under Rule 19.2b, Player A may drop the ball in any area of the course incurring a penalty of one stroke.

Incident 4
Player A’s ball is in the fairway about 120 yards from the hole behind a low-faced bunker. A player in a previous group did not rake the bunker. While waiting for his or her turn to play, Player A restores the bunker to its original condition.

**Most likely, Player A did not create a potential advantage for his or her next stroke so raking the bunker for care of the course is permitted. See Rules 8.1 and 8.1a and Interpretation 8.1a/2. Incident 5 Player A’s ball is in the light rough near the putting green just behind a high-faced bunker close to the putting green. Prior to playing his or her next stroke, Player A rakes the footprints in the bunker, restoring the bunker to its original condition. **Player A incurs the general penalty for improving conditions affecting the stroke, a breach of Rule 8.1a – see Rule 8.1 and Interpretation 8.1a/1.

Because a soda can is not considered a loose impediment, there is no penalty if removing it causes your ball to move.

Incident 5
Player A’s ball is in a bunker on the sand resting against a soda can. As Player A removes the soda can, the ball moves several inches. Player A lifts the ball and replaces the ball carefully on the original spot.

**Player A has proceeded correctly – see Rule 15.1(1).

Incident 6
Player A’s ball is in a bunker on the sand resting against a pinecone. As Player A removes the pinecone, the ball moves several inches. Player A lifts the ball and replaces the ball carefully on the original spot.

**Player A gets a penalty of one stroke for moving a ball in play – see Rule 15.1b.

Incident 7
Player A’s ball comes to rest on a towel in a bunker. Player A lifts the ball, removes the towel and places the ball on the spot directly under where the ball originally lay on the towel.

**Player A gets the general penalty for placing a ball when the relief procedure requires dropping a ball – see Rule 15.2a(2). Also, see Rule 14.3b(3), last bullet.

Incident 8
While Player A is waiting to play the ball from a fairway bunker, Player A leans on his or her club touching the sand. Player A sees a stone partly buried several inches in front of the ball and removes the stone prior to making the stroke.

**Loose impediments may be removed from bunkers – see Rule 15-1a. There is no penalty for leaning on a club touching sand in a bunker – see Rule 12-2b(2).

Incident 9
Player A’s ball comes to rest in a deep footprint in a bunker. As Player A enters the bunker, in frustration, Player A strikes the sand with his or her wedge. During the backswing for the stroke from the bunker, Player A’s club touches the sand in the bunker.

**There is no penalty for striking the sand with a club in frustration or anger – see Rule 12.2b(2). Player A gets the general penalty for the club touching sand in the bunker during the backswing for the stroke – see Rule 12.2b(1).

Incident 10
Player A’s ball played from the teeing area strikes a large palm tree near a spectator that is following Player A’s round. When Player A and his or her group arrive in the area, there is no ball visible in the tree. The spectator informs the players that he is “virtually certain” that Player A’s ball is in the palm tree.

**Player A’s ball is lost if not found and identified within three minutes after Player A begins to search for his or her ball – see Rule 18.2(1). In order to be found, the ball must be visible and identified as Player A’s ball – see Rule 7.2 and Interpretation 7.2/1. Player A must return to the teeing area and play another ball under penalty of stroke and distance – see Rule 18.2b.

The word of an on-course official is sufficient to identify a player’s golf ball.

Incident 11
An on-course official sees the tee shot played by Player A land in the desert and roll under a large bush. When Player A arrives, the official points to the ball (under the impenetrable bush) and relates his observations to Player A. The ball is situated on a spot where it is not possible to see the markings or to retrieve the ball.

**Player A’s ball has been found and identified – see Interpretation 7.2/1. Considering the location of the ball, Player A is likely to proceed under one of the Rule 19 options.

Incident 12
Player A’s tee shot comes to rest in the desert area. Player A is playing a red ball with a “1” imprinted on the ball, no other identifying markings. Player A finds a red ball in the desert area before the search time expired and completes the hole in 4 additional strokes. When Player A lifts the red ball from the hole, Player A sees the “4” imprint on the ball and realizes that he did not find the ball played from the teeing area.

**Player A has played a wrong ball and gets the general penalty – see Rule 6.3c(1).

In match play, Player A loses the hole.

In stroke play, to avoid disqualification, Player A must correct the mistake before starting the next hole either by playing the original ball, if found before the three-minute search time expires, or by returning to the teeing area taking stroke-and-distance relief for a lost ball, adding one penalty stroke. Although the strokes played with the wrong ball do not count, Player A gets a penalty of two strokes for playing a wrong ball – see Rules 6.3c(1) and 18.2b

Incident 13
Player A’s tee shot crosses the red line of a penalty area about 160 yards from the green and is found in an animal hole in the penalty area about 150 yards from the hole. Player A determines the reference point for free relief from the animal hole, drops the ball in the penalty area and plays the dropped ball onto the putting green. Player A completes the hole with two additional strokes.

**Player A’s score for the hole is 7. 1 stroke from teeing area, 1 penalty-stroke under Rule 17.1, 2 penalty-strokes under Rule 14.7a, plus 3 more strokes to complete the hole.

Player A is not entitled to free relief from an animal hole in a penalty area – see Rule 16.1a(2). When Player A lifted, dropped and played the ball from the penalty area, the Committee should determine that Rule 17.1d applies; Player A gets the one stroke penalty under Rule 17.1 and a penalty of two strokes for playing from a wrong place, Rule 14.7a, no serious breach. In match play, loss of hole. See 6C(9) in Committee Procedures, pages 426-427.

Incident 14
On a 420-yard hole, Player A’s tee shot crosses the red line of a penalty area near the teeing area and comes to rest in a terrible lie deep in the penalty area about 150 yards from the green. Player A decides to proceed under the lateral option for a ball unplayable, drops a substituted ball in the relief area and completes the hole in three additional strokes.

**The Rules do not permit Player A to proceed under Rule 19.2 when his or her ball is in a penalty area. Under Rule 17.1, the applicable Rule determined by the Committee, Player A’s relief options would require a ball to be played from near or from the teeing area for the hole.

Player A, in stroke play, would be disqualified for a serious breach of playing from a wrong place unless the mistake is corrected prior to starting the next hole. See 6C(9), Rule 14.7b and Definition of “Serious Breach.” If Player A corrects his mistake and proceeds under a Rule 17.1d relief option, the stroke played from the wrong place and strokes to complete the hole from the wrong place do not count. After completing the hole correctly, Player A would add a penalty of two strokes for playing from a wrong place, when the stroke was played from 150 yards from the green.

Incident 15
In Stroke Play, Player A played a stroke on the putting green with a foot placed on each side of the line of play (croquet style).

**Player A gets a penalty of two strokes – Rule 10.1c.

Incident 16
In Stroke Play, Player A played a stroke from the fringe of the putting green with a foot placed on each side of the line of play (croquet style).

** Player A gets a penalty of two strokes – Rule 10.1c.

Playing a stroke with a foot on each side of the line of play is considered croquet style. 

Incident 17
In Stroke Play, Player A played two successive strokes on the putting green with his or her gripping hand held against his or her chest.

**Player A gets two two-stroke penalties – Rule 10.1b. The breaches are unrelated acts; each breach was associated with a stroke – Rule 1.3c(4).

Incident 18
In Stroke Play, on two different holes during U.S. Open Local Qualifying, MLR G-5 in effect, Player A measures distance with a distance-measuring device.

**Player A is disqualified. Player A gets a penalty of two strokes for the first breach of Rule 4.3a(1) (Local Rule in effect) and is disqualified for the second unrelated breach of Rule 4.3 – see the Penalty Statement under Rule 4.3.

Incident 19
In Stroke Play, on hole #3, while waiting for his or her turn to play from the teeing area, Player A made several practice swings with a fiberglass alignment rod to check and adjust the swing plane for his or her next stroke.

**Player A gets a penalty of two strokes – Rule 4.3a(6). The two practice swings with the swing aid were related acts – Rule 1.3c(4).

Incident 20
In Stroke Play, on hole #3 and again on hole #4, while waiting for his or her turn to play from the teeing area, Player A made several practice swings with a fiberglass alignment rod to check and adjust the swing plane for his or her next stroke.

**Player A is disqualified. Player A gets a penalty of two strokes for first breach of Rule 4.3a(6) and is disqualified for a second breach of Rule 4.3, an unrelated breach of Rule 4.3 – see the Penalty Statement under Rule 4.3.

True or False
1. Player A damages his or her wedge during the round when playing a ball near a tree, causing the club to be non-conforming. The 2019 Rules permit Player A to continue to use the wedge during the round.

True     False

Player A is permitted to use a club that has become non-conforming during the round being played – see Rule 4.1a(2)

A club damaged and left unrepaired the following round is considered non-conforming and cannot be used.

2. Player A, after starting his or her round, discovers that the wedge, damaged in a previous round resulting in the wedge becoming non-conforming, is in the bag. As long as Player A does not use the non-conforming club, there is no penalty.

True     False

A player is penalized for using a non-conforming club, not for having a non-conforming club with him or her during the round – see Rule 4.1a(1) and the bullets following the penalty statement at the end of Rule 4.1a.

3. Player A makes a stroke with his or her wedge that was damaged in a previous round and was accidentally still in Player A’s bag when Player A started the current round. There is no penalty for using the club since the use of the club was accidental.

True     False

Player A is disqualified for using a club that is not a conforming club – see Rule 4.1a(1) and the penalty statement following Rule 4.1a.

4. On hole #5, Player A accidentally makes a distance measurement with a DMD with the slope feature turned on. On hole #7, Player A measures the slope of the putting green with a BreakMaster green-reading device. In stroke play, Player A gets two two-stroke penalties.

True     False

Player A has breached Rule 4.3a(1) on hole #5 and on hole #7. Player A is disqualified for two unrelated breaches of Rule 4.3. See Rule 4.3a(1) and Interpretation 4.3a(1)/1, and the penalty statement following Rule 4.3.

5. In four-ball stroke play, Player A and Player B are partners. When Player A takes relief for a ball unplayable, either Player A or Player B is permitted to drop the original ball or another ball in proceeding under the lateral or back-on-the-line options.

True     False

See Rule 23.5a for actions permitted by a player concerning partner’s ball.

6. There is no penalty if Player A accidentally leaves the ball-marker in place when he or she plays the ball from the putting green.

True     False

Player A gets one penalty stroke – see Rule 14.1a.

7. Player A’s first drop in a relief area hits the ground in the relief area and then accidentally hits Player A’s foot before coming to rest in the relief area. Player A must re-drop the ball.

True     False

See Rule 14.3b(2).

As long as a ball does not touch any part of your body before it hits the ground, it does not have to be re-dropped.

8. Player A’s ball is stepped on in the rough by a spectator altering the lie of the ball. Player A may place the ball or another ball anywhere within one club-length of its estimated original location.

True     False

Ball must be placed on the nearest spot with a lie most similar to the original lie within one club-length of the original spot – see Rule 14.2d(2).

9. In taking relief from a paved cart path, Player A drops a ball on the wrong side of the card path. Prior to Player A making a stroke, Player B, another player in the group, intercedes and informs Player A of his mistake and how to proceed correctly. Player B is penalized for providing advice.

True     False

See Definition of “Advice”. Information on the Rules is not advice.

Okay or Not Okay?
Incident 1
In match play, both players lie 2. Player A’s ball is on the putting green 10 feet from the hole and Player B’s ball is 20 feet from the hole on the fringe. Player B says to Player A, “Go ahead and play. I need to change clubs”. Player A says, “OK, I will” and makes the stroke.

OK – The Exception in Rule 6.4a(2) permits Player A and Player B to agree to play Player A’s next stroke out of turn to save time.

Incident 2
In match play, Player A’s ball lands in the pond marked as a yellow penalty area about 20 yards nearer the hole than where Player B’s ball lands in the yellow penalty area. Proceeding under the back-on-the-line relief procedure, Player A drops a ball about 50 yards from the hole and Player B drops a ball about 30 yards from the hole. While Player B is contemplating his or her next stroke, Player A plays his or her stroke onto the putting green.

Order of play is determined by the locations of Player A’s and Player B’s balls prior to taking relief from the penalty area. See Rule 6.4d(1). Player B’s ball before taking relief was further from the hole and therefore it was Player B’s turn to play. See 6.4a(1). Player B may recall Player A’s stroke or ignore the breach of Rule 4.1a. See Rule 6.4a(2).

Incident 3
In match play, as Player A and Player B complete the 4th hole, Player A, who is 2 up, states to Player B, “I always play terrible golf on the next two holes. I concede holes #5 and #6 to you. Let’s skip over to #7”. Player B says, “OK”.

OK – As noted in Rule 3.2b, a hole may be conceded at any time before the hole is completed, including before the players start the hole.

Incident 4
Player A’s ball is on a putting green about 25 feet from the hole. The putt will be downhill with quite a right to left break. Player A positions his or her feet relatively close together while standing on the line of play to make a judgement on the pace and direction of the line of play.

OK – In 2019, a player is permitted to touch or stand on his or her line of play when the ball is on the putting green but must not improve the conditions affecting the stroke in breach of Rule 8.1a – see Rule 10.2b(2).

A player’s ball may only be taken out of play for being cut or cracked during the hole where the damaged occurred.

Incident 5
Player A’s tee shot on hole #3 struck a metal fence resulting in the ball being cut or cracked. Player A examined the ball when he or she marked and lifted the ball on the putting green and elected to complete the hole with the damaged ball. During play of hole #7, when Player A marked and lifted the ball on the putting green, Player A substituted a new ball for the damaged ball.

Not OK – Player A incurs the general penalty for incorrectly substituting a ball, a breach of Rule 4.2c. A player’s ball may only be taken out of play for being cut or cracked during the hole where the damage occurred – see Rule 4.2c(2) and the penalty statement under Rule 4.2c.

Incident 6
Player A’s tee shot comes to rest in bad country about 150 yards from the putting green. Player A announces his or her intent to play a provisional ball which comes to rest in the fairway the same distance from the hole as where the original ball is estimated to be. Player A plays a second stroke with the provisional ball prior to searching for the original ball, then finds his or her original ball, within the 3-minute search time. Player A completes the hole with the original ball.

OK – In 2019, Player A may play the provisional ball from a spot that is the same distance from the hole or farther from the hole than where the original ball is estimated to be without causing the provisional ball to lose its status as a provisional ball – see Rule 18.3c(1).

Incident 7
Player A’s ball in the general area is accidentally picked up by Player X in another group playing a different hole. Player A watches as Player X replaces the ball on the estimated spot.

OK – Player A’s ball was moved by an outside influence – see Rule 9.6. The ball must be replaced on its original or estimated spot. Either Player X or Player A must replace the ball – Rule 14.2b(1).

Incident 8
Player A’s ball in the general area is accidentally picked up by Player X in another group playing a different hole. Player A retrieves the ball from Player X, estimates where the ball originally lay and drops the ball on that spot. The dropped ball rolls about 6 inches from where the ball touched the ground.

Not OK – Player A was required to replace the original ball by placing the ball on its original or estimated spot. Unless Player A corrects the mistake as allowed by Rule 14.5a by placing the ball on the estimated spot before playing the ball, Player A gets a loss of hole penalty in match play or a two-stroke penalty in stroke play. The incorrect procedure and playing from a wrong place are related acts – see Rule 1.3c(4) and Interpretation 14.2b(2)/1.

Incident 9
Player A’s ball in the general area is accidentally picked up by Player X in another group playing a different hole. Player A retrieves the ball from Player X, estimates where the ball originally lay and replaces a substituted ball on the estimated spot.

Not OK – Player A must replace the original ball on its original or estimated spot – see Rule 9.6. Unless Player A corrects the mistake before playing the ball (Rule 14.5a), Player A gets the general penalty for making a stroke at an incorrectly substituted ball – see the penalty statement under Rule 9.6 and Rule 6.3b(3).

Dustin Johnson got a two stroke penalty for playing a wrong ball at Kapalua in January.

Incident 10
Player A’s ball in the general area is accidentally picked up by Player X in another group playing a different hole. Player A retrieves the ball from Player X, estimates where the ball originally lay and drops a substituted ball on the estimated spot. The dropped ball rolls about 6 inches from where the ball touched the ground.

Not OK – Player A must replace the original ball on its original or estimated spot – see Rule 9.6. Unless Player A corrects the mistakes before playing the ball (Rule 14.5a), Player A gets a loss of hole penalty in match play and a two-stroke penalty in stroke play. Also, see Rule 1.3c(4) and Interpretation 14.2b(2)/1.

In the following incidents, Player A finds his or her ball in an area of desert and vegetation marked as a red penalty area. Player A will play the next stroke with a wedge.

Incident 11
Player A picks up several loose stones and sticks very close to the ball and area of intended stance and swing.

OK – Rule 15.1a; “Without penalty, a player may remove a loose impediment anywhere on or off the course and may do so in any way (such as by using a hand or foot or a club or other equipment).” If the removal of the loose impediments causes the ball to move, Player A gets a penalty of one stroke and the ball must be replaced. (Rule 15.1b)

Incident 12
While waiting for his or turn to play, Player A rests the club on the ground not near the ball in play.

OK – Rule 8.1a and Rule 8.1b provide guidance as to restrictions on actions by a player in playing his or her ball. The action by Player A is not listed as a prohibited action, therefore it is permitted. Rule 17.1b – The player may: “Play the ball as it lies without penalty, under the same Rules that apply to a ball in the general area (which means there are no special Rules limiting how a ball may be played from a penalty area).”

Incident 13
While preparing for his or her next stroke, Player A takes a stance and rests the club-head of the wedge behind the ball touching the ground.

OK – Rule 8.1b(4), and, Rule 17.1b – The player may: “Play the ball as it lies without penalty, under the same Rules that apply to a ball in the general area (which means there are no special Rules limiting how a ball may be played from a penalty area).”

Incident 14
Player A makes several practice swings, not near the ball or affecting the conditions affecting the next stroke, touching the ground each time.

OK – Rule 8.1a and Rule 8.1b provide guidance as to restrictions on actions by a player in playing his or her ball. The action by Player A is not listed as a prohibited action, therefore it is permitted. Rule 17.1b – The player may: “Play the ball as it lies without penalty, under the same Rules that apply to a ball in the general area (which means there are no special Rules limiting how a ball may be played from a penalty area).”

Incident 15
Player A, deciding to take lateral relief from the penalty area, determines the correct reference point for relief, measures the two club-length relief area with the wedge and drops the ball in the relief area. The ball rolls about 6 inches outside the relief area not nearer the hole than the reference point for taking relief. Player A plays the dropped ball.

OK – Definitions of “Relief Area” and “Club-length” and Rule 17.1d(3). Although Player A did not measure with the longest club in his or her bag, we can be confident that the ball came to rest in the prescribed relief area. Rule 14.3c “Ball Dropped in Right Way Must Come to Rest in Relief Area”

Leave a Reply