Typically your lob wedge will go about ten yards, your sand wedge twenty yards and your pitching wedge thirty yards. Remember the key thing is to actually get out of the bunker, so make sure you choose a club with sufficient loft land over the bunker lip.
Full Answer
What are the new rules for bunker in golf?
After the current golf rules were brought in at the beginning of 2019, there were two key changes to note when it comes to bunker. Below we have explained them both and indicated how both rules have changed. In a bunker, you must not touch the sand with either hand or club, or touch or move any loose impediments in the hazard.
What is a bunker in golf?
What is a bunker? Let’s start simple. A bunker, according to the definitions in the Rules of Golf, is a “specially prepared area of sand, which is often a hollow from which turf or soil was removed”. When is my golf ball in a bunker?
What happens if you leave your golf ball in the bunker?
The final exception is if you leave your ball in the bunker and in a fit of anger hit the sand with your club, there is no penalty for that. 2. Loose Impediments A loose impediment is defined as an unattached natural object and now the rules have changed in terms of how you can remove them.
How do you get relief from a bunker in golf?
For an extra shot, so two penalty strokes in total, you can take back-on-the-line relief outside the bunker. Base it on a reference line going straight back from the hole through the spot of the original ball in the bunker and drop in a one-club relief area that’s no nearer the hole.
What are the rules of golf related to bunkers?
According to Rule 12.1, your ball is considered in the bunker if “any part of it touches sand on the ground inside the edge of the bunker.” Your ball is also considered in the bunker if it's inside the edge of the bunker and rests on the ground where sand would normally be, or “on a loose impediment, movable ...
Can your club touch the sand in a sand trap?
Not allowed to ground your club in the bunker The main rule to follow in bunkers is you are not allowed to touch the sand with your club whether that be grounding it behind the ball, shifting sand on your backswing or having a practice shot in the sand.
Can you move your ball out of a footprint in a bunker?
“When a player's ball lies in a bunker the player may take free relief once by placing the original ball or another ball within 6 inches of the original ball, but still within the bunker and not nearer the hole.
Can you touch the sand in a bunker on a practice swing?
Touching the sand with a club in taking a practice swing continues to be prohibited both for pace of play and to avoid having large amounts of sand deposited outside bunkers (especially greenside bunkers) as a result of repeated practice swings.
Can you take a rake into the bunker?
Locate a bunker rake before you go into a bunker and go ahead and bring it into the bunker with you. There is no penalty if you lay the rake down in the bunker provided you do nothing to test the condition of the bunker. After playing from the bunker, go ahead and use the bunker rake to smooth the sand in the bunker.
Can a golf ball be declared unplayable in a bunker?
A. If you don't want to or decide you can't play your ball as it lies when your ball is in a bunker, you may decide it is unplayable. If you do this, you have four total options, and two will always require that you take relief inside the bunker. You have three one penalty stroke relief options.
Can you clean your golf ball on the putting green?
When you lift your ball from the putting green. it may always be cleaned. When you lift your ball from anywhere else it may always be cleaned except when you lift it: To see if it is cut or cracked – cleaning is not allowed.
Are animal allowed in bunkers?
All breeds are welcome. Each family may bring up to one household pet in a shared Vivos bunker, and as many as you like in a private bunker. Only well-behaved, socialized, obedient, “toilet” trained, cleanly groomed and supervised pets will be allowed inside a Vivos shelter.
Can I take a penalty drop out of a bunker?
Relief Options for Unplayable Ball in Bunker. When your ball is in a bunker, you may take unplayable ball relief using one of four options shown in Diagram 19.3. Penalty for Playing Ball from a Wrong Place in Breach of Rule 19.3: General Penalty. A player decides that his or her ball in a bunker is unplayable.
What can't you remove before hitting from a bunker?
The Old Rule: Most golfers know to be careful once entering a bunker. No grounding the club. No touching the sand. No removing leaves or any kind of debris.
Can I ground my club in a hazard 2022?
On the subject of hazards, golf's governing bodies have declared golfers can now touch the ground with their golf club in hazard and can even move impediments in a hazard without any penalty. The rule has been classed as "relaxed rules in a penalty area."
Can a golfer ground his club in a bunker?
Grounding a club in the bunker is a penalty in golf for both stroke play matches and match play. The rule prohibits a golfer from grounding his club and making contact with the ground when hitting from a bunker. If the golfer makes contact or disturbs the sand in a bunker, there is a penalty awarded.
Who is the rules guru for bunkers?
In this video, Neil Tappin is joined by rules guru Jeremy Ellwood to look at the rules specifically related to bunkers. They discuss what you are and are not allowed to do to help avoid any confusion and potential penalty shots.
What happens if you can't drop your golf ball?
If you can’t then you can take maximum available relief which could mean your feet would still be in the water but your ball wouldn’t be. If there is nowhere in the bunker to drop it then you would have to drop outside, under penalty. Related: 7 Simple Golf Rules Mistakes.
What happens if you move a pine cone?
If you move that pine cone, then your ball will move which will result in a penalty and you must replace the ball. Therefore the best course of action in that specific situation would be to play it as it lies. 3. Unplayable Lies. Sometimes you may find your ball in a completely unplayable area of a bunker.
Can you find your ball in a bunker?
Unplayable Lies. Sometimes you may find your ball in a completely unplayable area of a bunker. The options here include the usual options of going back to play the previous shot again from wherever that was, you can drop within two clubs lengths no nearer the hole or in line for a one-stroke penalty.
Can you ground your golf club in a bunker?
1. Not allowed to ground your club in the bunker. The main rule to follow in bunkers is you are not allowed to touch the sand with your club whether that be grounding it behind the ball, shifting sand on your backswing or having a practice shot in the sand.
Can you take a drop back in line outside of a bunker?
Indeed the old rules said this drop still had to take place in the bunker but under the new rules you can take a drop back in line, outside of the bunker but that would be with a two-stroke penalty, not one. In terms of water in a bunker, you are entitled to relief from that but you must take relief within in the bunker.
Can you put two clubs in a bunker?
Additionally if you take two clubs into the bunker to see which one to use, once you have decided you can put the club you decided not to use on the ground too. Also you can use the club to steady yourself if the bunker is particularly steep of precarious to get in to.
What is bunker in golf?
A bunker, according to the definitions in the Rules of Golf, is a “specially prepared area of sand, which is often a hollow from which turf or soil was removed”.
How to take care of a bunker?
These include: Digging in with the feet to take a stance. Smoothing the bunker to care for the course. Placing clubs, equipment or other objects in the bunker – whether by setting or throwing them down. Leaning on a club to rest, stay balanced or prevent a fall. Striking the sand in frustration or anger.
What is a ball in a bunker?
A ball is also in a bunker when any part of it is “in, or on, a loose impediment, movable obstruction, abnormal course condition or integral object that touches sand in the bunker or is on ground where sand would normally be”.
What is the rule for sand in golf?
But, under Rule 7.1b, if sand affecting the lie of a ball is moved while you’re doing that, you must recreate the original lie in the sand. This rule allows you to “leave a small part of the ball visible if the ball had been covered by sand”. If you play without doing this, you’re going to be penalised two shots.
What is the rule for unplayable ball?
Rule 19, unplayable ball, is here to help and you’ve got four options. The first three carry one penalty stroke and allow you to either take stroke-and-distance relief, take back-on-the-line relief and drop it in the bunker, or take lateral relief of two club lengths in the bunker.
Can you find your ball in a bunker?
Yes, you’ve found your ball in a bunker. If it’s not hard enough extricating yourself from the sandy mess, you also have to remember the Rules of Golf that govern what you can do when you’re within the confines of the bunker. So let’s get into it, and next time all you’ll have to worry about is getting it out.
Is sand inside a bunker?
Soil, or “any growing or attached natural object inside the edge of a prepared area”, is also not part of a bunker. Neither is sand that has spilled over, or is outside the edge of that prepared area, nor all other areas of sand on the course that are not inside the edge of such a prepared area (unless defined as such by a committee).
When did bunker rules change in golf?
After the current golf rules were brought in at the beginning of 2019, there were two key changes to note when it comes to bunker. Below we have explained them both and indicated how both rules have changed.
When can you drop outside the bunker?
You may only drop outside the bunker when proceeding under the stroke and distance option (1 on diagram) of the unplayable ball Rule. If dropping back on line (2), or within two club-lengths (3), you must drop within the bunker.
Can you touch sand in a bunker?
From 2019. An acceptable sight from 2019. You are now able to touch or move loose impediments in a bunker and generally touch the sand with hand or club. However, you still must not deliberately touch it to test its condition.
What is bunker golf?
Bunkers are one of the five defined areas of the course. Your ball lies in a bunker when any part of it touches the sand. So that the challenge of playing from the sand is preserved, there are a few things you are not permitted to do when your ball is in a bunker.
How to play from a bunker?
In preparing to play from a bunker, you can set your clubs down in the bunker and rake the bunker to care for the course before playing, as long as you aren’t testing the bunker or improving the conditions for your next stroke.
Rules of Golf explained: Our expert says
Don’t worry. If this ever happens to you – and it’s happened to me plenty – you don’t have to be punished for your initial error by dropping into your dug in footmarks.
Have a question for our Rules of Golf expert?
Despite the simplification of the Rules of Golf at the beginning of 2019, there are still some that leave us scratching our heads. And as I’ve passed the R&A’s level 2 rules exam with distinction, I am more than happy to help.
Have a question for our Rules of Golf expert?
Despite the simplification of the Rules of Golf at the beginning of 2019, there are still some that leave us scratching our heads. And as I’ve passed the R&A’s level 2 rules exam with distinction, I am more than happy to help.
Subscribe to NCG
Rules of Golf explained: Can I change my ball when taking relief under preferred lies?
