What are the new bunker rules in golf? (2023)

What is the new rule for unplayable ball in bunker?

Unplayable ball in a bunker: Lateral relief

Take the spot of the ball and your relief area is two club lengths. Again, add a penalty stroke to your score and, as for back-on-the-line relief, the ball must be dropped in, and come to rest in, a relief area in the bunker.

What are the new rules for sand traps?

You can't touch the sand with a club either in the area right in front or right behind the ball (unless you're looking for a ball or removing a loose impediment or movable obstruction). And you also can't either use a club, your hand, or really any other object to test the condition of the sand to help your next shot.

Can you ground your club in a bunker now?

In a bunker, the club can touch the ground. Please level sand after hitting the ball. Some golf courses have bunkers (sandy covered bare ground, sandbox) as obstacles to make park golf more interesting. A little attention is required to hit the ball which is in a bunker.

Can you ground your club in a bunker 2023?

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.

Is it a 2 shot penalty when you take an unplayable outside the bunker?

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.

Do you get relief from plugged ball in bunker?

Rule 16.3 allows relief for a ball embedded anywhere in the “general area” (that is, the area previously known as “through the green”), except when embedded in sand.

Can I take a practice swing in a bunker?

Rule 12.2b (1) says you can't. You're right, it does. Before making a stroke at a ball in a bunker, it states that a player must not touch sand in the bunker with a club “in making a practice swing”.

Can you touch the sand in a bunker now?

9. Touching the sand in the bunker (Rule 12) Previously, touching the sand in the bunker before the stroke was not permitted, except for very few exceptions. Now, touching the sand incidentally is basically allowed, i.e. you are permitted to lean on your club.

Can you take an unplayable in a sand trap?

Just as you would should you declare a ball unplayable in the rough or behind a tree, you can do so in a bunker. For a one stroke penalty, you are permitted to drop within two club lengths of your unplayable ball providing it is no nearer the hole and remains within the bunker.

Can you move your golf ball out of a divot?

You can move it anywhere on the golf course, but if by moving the divot you move the ball, you get a penalty and have to replace the ball.”

Can you touch your golf ball on the fairway?

If the lift, clean, and place rule is in effect, you are allowed to clean your ball on the fairway. However, if you are just playing a standard round of golf where this is not the case, then you are not allowed to clean your ball on the fairway.

Can you touch the sand on your backswing?

Touching the sand with your club immediately in front of or behind your ball, during a practice swing or during your backswing is a penalty (see Rule 12.2b(1)). If you do this, you get a loss of hole penalty in match play or two penalty strokes in stroke play.

Can you take stroke and distance from a bunker?

A player decides that their ball in a bunker is unplayable. The player has four options: For one penalty stroke, the player may take stroke-and-distance relief. For one penalty stroke, the player may take back-on-the-line relief in the bunker.

Is there a penalty for touching sand in bunker on backswing?

After a ball in a bunker is played and it is outside the bunker, or a player has taken or intends to take relief outside the bunker, the player may: Touch sand in the bunker without penalty under Rule 12.2b(1), and. Smooth sand in the bunker to care for the course without penalty under Rule 8.1a.

What is Rule 6.3 C in golf?

Penalty for Playing Wrong Ball in Breach of Rule 6.3c(1) In match play, the player get the general penalty (loss of hole): If the player and opponent play each other's ball during the play of a hole, the first to make a stroke at a wrong ball gets the general penalty (loss of hole).

What happens if a bunker is full of water?

A. When the bunker is filled with temporary water, you may play your ball as it lies or take free relief in the bunker. When taking free relief, you must find the nearest point of complete relief in the bunker and drop within the one club-length relief area (see Rule 16.1c(1)).

How many club lengths do you get for an unplayable lie in golf?

How many club lengths for unplayable lie. A golfer can only take two club lengths distance for an unplayable ball. However, these two club lengths can go in any direction as long as they do not allow you to be closer to the hole. This is not the only option you have for getting out of a difficult spot.

What is Rule 17 in golf?

Purpose of Rule: Rule 17 is a specific Rule for penalty areas, which are bodies of water or other areas defined by the Committee where a ball is often lost or unable to be played. For one penalty stroke, players may use specific relief options to play a ball from outside the penalty area.

Do you get a free drop from tree roots?

Where a tree root interferes with the lie of the player's ball or the area of the player's intended swing, relief without penalty may be taken under Rule 25-1(i). That is, the ball may be lifted and dropped within one club-length of, and not nearer to the hole than, the nearest point of relief.

Should rakes be in or out of bunkers?

The USGA recommends placing rakes outside of bunkers and away from where they are likely to interfere with play. Ideally, you don't want to place rakes across the line of play or in a location where they could trap balls in a difficult spot – e.g., within a bunker on a steep slope near the lip.

What is Rule 16 in golf?

Purpose of Rule: Rule 16 covers when and how the player may take free relief by playing a ball from a different place, such as when there is interference by an abnormal course condition or a dangerous animal condition.

Can you pick up your golf ball to identify it?

7.3 Lifting Ball to Identify It

The player may lift the ball to identify it (including by rotating it), but: The spot of the ball must first be marked. Continued), and the ball must not be cleaned more than needed to identify it (except on the putting green. Continued)) (see Rule 14.1).

What can you not do in a bunker?

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. These include testing the condition of the bunker, touching the sand right around your ball, and making a practice swing that touches the sand.

Can I ground my club in a hazard?

Grounding Your Club in a Hazard Practice swings may be taken inside a hazard as long as you don't touch the ground, sand or water with your club. The top of the grass may be touched during a practice swing. The penalty for grounding your club is loss of the hole in Match Play or a 2 shot penalty in Stroke Play.

Can you remove a rock from a bunker?

May I remove stones in bunkers? A. Yes. Stones are loose impediments and you may remove any loose impediments that are in a bunker, even when your ball came to rest there (see Rule 12.2a).

Can you dig your feet in the bunker?

Except as covered in the two bullets above, the following actions are allowed: Digging in with your feet to take a stance. for a practice swing or the strokeStroke: The forward movement of your club made to strike the ball., Smoothing the bunker.

What is Rule 197 in golf?

Lateral relief in the bunker

The player may take lateral relief in the bunker within one club length of their ball for a one-stroke penalty. In other words, for a one-stroke penalty, you can move your ball a few feet to either side.

How many club lengths do you need for an unplayable lie?

How Many Club Lengths For Unplayable Lie. A golfer can only take two club lengths distance for an unplayable ball. However, these two club lengths can go in any direction as long as they do not allow you to be closer to the hole. This is not the only option you have for getting out of a difficult spot.

Can you take an unplayable out of a sand trap?

Just as you would should you declare a ball unplayable in the rough or behind a tree, you can do so in a bunker. For a one stroke penalty, you are permitted to drop within two club lengths of your unplayable ball providing it is no nearer the hole and remains within the bunker.

What is Rule 19.3 B?

Under Rule 19.3b, The player will have an extra option allowing relief outside the bunker using the back on the line procedure, but for a total of two penalty strokes. It is not uncommon for a player to need to take unplayable ball relief in a bunker, such as when the ball is very close to the bunker wall or lip.

How many relief options are available for an unplayable ball?

When you decide that your ball is unplayable, you have three relief options, all for one penalty stroke.