Golf Rules Tip: Unplayable Ball in Bunker - Attention! Watch our 2023 Rules Video for Updates!

[@paulakoncki4029]

This was very informative ! and well explained!! Keep up with making great videos!! 🥰⛳️🏌️‍♀️🇿🇦

[@zoktoberfest]

One problem that would benefit from a convenient memory aid is whether the penalty scenario is one stroke or two and the relief option is one club length or two.

[@julia-6195]

I'll have to remember the third option because if I chunk a pitch over a bunker and it drops in the bunker in a bad spot, I could just play it again from the spot where I hit the pitch shot for a 1 stroke penalty. Didn't know that one.

[@MauGandolfi]

Comprehensive and easy to understand. Thank you! 🇮🇹

[@enoeffiong4978]

Very useful. Thanks

[@girgolfllc]

Thanks for the view and comment!

[@katherinesmith6603]

Great explanation

[@girgolfllc]

Thank you!

[@karendracott9616]

Easy to follow explanation

[@davitalee2212]

Great video Bunker shot situation Q1 What do you do if ball roll down after you address to hit the ball? Q2 What happens you accidentally hit sand because ball rolled down during your back swing , it happened so quick and had no time to stop swing and hit the sand?

[@SureshSingh-iz5bg]

Thank you it was very informative. Please could you list the new amended golf rules effective January 2023.🙏👍

[@girgolfllc]

I will be uploading more videos soon in regards to the few rules changes effective January 1, 2023. Have you checked out our first video showing the biggest change and how it affects 6 of our previous videos? Thanks! kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z57amYKnl56amMk

[@bantoniplakantry9138]

Since 2023, it's still the same except for BOTL relief. You now have to drop on the line, instead of within a club length of the line, but the ball may roll up to a club length from the line - Rule 19.2b.

[@ubb4me]

I thought when using the extension drop that you had to drop as close to the extension line as possible and the club lengths were just a boundary of where your ball needed to stay after the drop. Like your video of the unplayable lie behind the tree. Are there differences using the extension relief when taking relief from embedded lies, hazards, obstructions, etc. A side question. Could you do a video on how to tell when there is a 1 stroke or 2 stroke penalty? Is there an easy way to remember this? Thanks.

[@girgolfllc]

Thanks for the view and comment! In 2023 the rules of golf did make a change that you need to drop on the line when using the option of dropping on the “backward extension” now called back on the line relief. We have a video showing this important change and how it affects many of our videos. Be sure to check it out! Thanks for the feedback about wanting a video showing when 1 and 2 stroke penalties will apply. I will consider making one! Basic rule of thumb is that 2-stroke penalties are generally used for actions that could be considered cheating. Other mistakes or actions caused by bad swings are generally a 1-stroke penalty. Hope this helps and have a blessed day!

[@mkwy8782]

So many golf courses take such poor care f the sand traps...it is difficult to know what to do with the messes one encounters.

[@zoktoberfest]

You left out one thing. Can you rake the sand in the established zone before dropping the ball? I would assume not, but I'm curious considering all the footprints that would be made in the process of establishment. They weren't there before the ball entered.

[@girgolfllc]

@@zoktoberfest thanks for the view and comment! You are not allowed to rake the bunker before dropping under normal golf rules so be sure to watch where you step. I know I have many footprints in the bunker on the video and I should have mentioned this.

[@wolfeson1]

I have read and also been told that if you choose to take relief outside the bunker it is 2 strokes , where did you find option 3 rule?

[@girgolfllc]

Thanks for the view and comment! If you look up golf rule 19.3 on the USGA’s website it shows all the options including option #3 I mention for a 1-stroke penalty to take a drop at the site of your last stroke even if the last stroke was outside the bunker. The 2-stroke penalty only applies when electing to take a drop on the back on the line relief outside the bunker. Hope this helps and have a blessed day!

[@islandknight6105]

Hitting over the sand bunker again looks like a set up for a 10 !! 😳😳

[@nickbunn1846]

must go in bunker again!!!!

[@829smith]

just recently found your video's. Very good. How about one on what is considered part of golf course, and what isn't it? If my ball comes to rest along side landscaping stones, or a fence, a bench, or a sprinkler box what are the rules and options?

[@girgolfllc]

Thanks for the view, comment, and question! The items you listed are considered man made objects and as long as those objects are in the general area of the course (not in a penalty area, doesn’t act as an out of bounds marker, or in unplayable part of the course such as an environmental area) you are entitled free relief within 1-Club length not closer to the hole if your golf ball’s lie, your stance, or your swing path are interfered with. Treat these as a cart path. Feel free to watch our cart path relief video. Thanks and have a blessed day!

[@arvinddas6803]

Informative for sure. Played a tournament a decade back the bunkers were overfilled with sand . First its difficult to find the ball second the sand was near to ankle level . Question is why would good designers make such errors were sand could fill upto a level notbunkers dont become sand containers

[@danclifford780]

Similar to removing the loose impediments within the drop area in Options 3 & 4, are you allowed to rake the bunker within the drop area after you may have walked through it and before you drop for Options 1 & 2?

[@girgolfllc]

Dan thanks for the view and comment! I should have mentioned in the video to watch your step when marking out your relief area because you are not allowed under normal golf rules to rake the sand before you drop your ball. Have a blessed day!

[@ricklugg4046]

Great video - good, clear explanations. It looks as though in moving around to determine your relief area in the bunker, you have left many footprints in the sand. I can imagine that there may be some advantage in dropping into the trodden area, however, I don't think it is permissible to rake the relief area prior to dropping, is it?

[@girgolfllc]

Rick thanks for the view and comment! Yeah on the video I walked around excessively during my explanations and you are correct to be sure to watch where you step because you cannot rake the dropping area prior to dropping. Thanks and have a blessed day!

[@susan6336]

So, under these rules I’d never have to hit a ball out of a bunker if I was willing to take either a two-stroke penalty for back on the line relief or a one-stroke penalty for stroke and distance relief?

[@girgolfllc]

Thanks for the view and comment! Correct if you wanted to. You have the right to declare the ball unplayable no matter the golf ball’s lie inside the bunker. This is up to the player to decide what is unplayable or not.

[@augustlaruffa89]

Can you legroom the sand after stomping around setting up you drop area before you redrop?

[@girgolfllc]

You aren’t allowed to rake the bunker or use your foot to improve the lie in the bunker before you take a drop. Be sure to watch where you step when picking the ball up. I should have mentioned that in the video. Thanks!

[@superduperawesome6858]

Very well explained. Are you allowed to rake the bunker before you drop the ball after you walked all over the dropping area, do you HAVE to rake the bunker before dropping or should you avoid making foot marks in the first place?

[@girgolfllc]

SuperDuper Awesome thank you for watching the video! Great question and I should have mentioned that you are NOT ALLOWED to rake the bunker per the rules of golf prior to dropping. Be sure the watch your footprints before choosing where to drop inside a bunker!

[@dfitzy4813]

Great Video! Just subscribed. Just wondering, what if you were only 5 or 6 feet outside the bunker and you hit into the lip of the bunker and it's unplayable, would option 3 still work?? Thanks!

[@girgolfllc]

D Fitzy thanks for the view and becoming a subscriber! We appreciate it! A ball is classified as being in a bunker if it touches the sand within the boundary of the bunker. So if your ball has touched the sand you can declare it unplayable per the video options. If the ball is at the lip of the bunker and it is not touching the sand and rested on grass then it is classified as being a ball located in the general area. You can declare that ball unplayable if you desire per the rules of golf in the general area. Be sure to check out our unplayable ball in the general area video on our channel.

[@JAW_73]

So if you take the option on the line back in the bunker, you don't have to drop on the line here and can drop anywhere within the 1 club length as long as you aren't closer to the hole?

[@girgolfllc]

January 2023 Golf Rule Change Video #1 kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z57amYKnl56amMk

[@brianollerton3027]

Is there also an option to deem it unplayable from where you find the ball in the hazard and play it (with a one shot penalty) from within two club lengths of where it lies,

[@girgolfllc]

@@brianollerton3027 you cannot declare a ball unplayable inside a red or yellow penalty area (new terms for hazards). You can only use the options for red or yellow penalty areas.

[@usndon222]

Very good explanation. I know your drawing the drop area in the sand with your driver, but your students may not realize that touching the sand is a penalty.

[@girgolfllc]

Thanks for the view and comment! I will make more videos about bunker rules down the road and go over that.

[@Divedown_25]

One question here, as you have walked around in the sand you have altered the ground from when the ball landed in teh buker, are you not supposed to rake that area back to how it looked before you drop the ball?

[@girgolfllc]

Thanks for the view. Be sure to be careful where you step inside the bunker before taking a drop. You are not allowed under normal rules of golf to rake or otherwise improve the sand before taking a drop. I should have mentioned that in the video.

[@Thehog52]

You cannot take a direct line back from the ball as long as the bunker allows, and ALSO go to either side one club length. You have to drop the ball as near to the line as possible.

[@girgolfllc]

January 2023 Golf Rule Change Video #1 kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z57amYKnl56amMk

[@billygraham5589]

Do you really have to make a semicircular drop area on the line? Or is it okay to just drop one club length either side of the line?

[@girgolfllc]

Thanks for the view and comment. As long as you drop within one club length either side of the reference point not closer to the hole you are good. The semi circle represents how far back you can go.

[@David-bb8gw]

Is it OK to rake the bunker before dropping

[@girgolfllc]

David thanks for the view and comment! No you are not allowed to rake the bunker before taking a drop under normal rules of golf. Be careful where you step when declaring the ball unplayable if you want to drop inside the bunker. I should have mentioned that during the video. I know I had several footprints while explaining that I would not normally have while playing. Hope this helps thanks and have a blessed day!

[@yarmouthwolf]

Great video. the things you didn't know you didn't know. anyhow. I have a question. Having seen you remove leaves from the dropping area before dropping the ball. Is it allowable to remove objects after the drop if for instance it rolled under a leaf? thanks

[@girgolfllc]

gornalwolf thanks for watching the video! Yes after you drop your ball you are allowed to remove loose impediments such as leaves and twigs with the normal rules of golf. The advantage to removing the loose impediments prior to dropping is that this will take them out of play in case you need to remove them after the ball lands and you cause the ball to move which will be a penalty. Hope this helps!

[@jamesklapetzky8633]

What about when your 1 club length takes the ball out of the bunker because the ball was burned 1/4 way in the bunker?

[@girgolfllc]

Thanks for the view and comment! To get free relief you must take relief inside the bunker even if the area of relief extends to the general area.

[@reedr7142]

Should you avoid walking around in the bunker? If you have to drop within it, your footprints could ruin an otherwise good lie upon a drop.

[@girgolfllc]

Yes one should pay attention where they step and I should have mentioned that in the video but didn’t. Thanks for the view and comment!

[@neilrickard4485]

Great video. Just wondering with the going back to the tee option on a par 3 I hit my tee shot into a nasty green side bunker, can I play a provisional from the tee and then decide whether I want to play from the bunker or my provisional which I hit on the green?

[@girgolfllc]

Neil thank you for watching our video and thanks for the great question! The rules state that you can only hit a provisional ball if you think your ball is lost or out of bounds only. In the situation you illustrated you have to make that decision on the unplayable after you reach your ball and declare it unplayable. If you choose the option to go back to the tee you would do that at that point. Because you cannot hit a provisional ball unless your ball is lost or out of bounds, if you hit one using the situation you illustrated that ball is the new ball in play with one penalty stroke added. You have hit your 3rd shot off the tee end of story even if your ball is sitting good in the bunker you would not be able to play that ball because you cannot hit a provisional under that circumstance. It is the new ball in play with 1 penalty stroke (3rd off the tee). Hope this helps and I have a provisional ball rule video in the queue awaiting editing!

[@boomergolfsplitvette2171]

What direction is the "backward extension"? Is it towards the tee box?

[@girgolfllc]

Boomergolf thanks for watching our video and thanks for the question! The backwards extension is a straight line from the flag stick to your ball’s location that extends back as far as you like. You can choose a spot on the line back as far as you like when taking relief. Hope this helps and I go into more detail on the backward extension on other videos where this is an option so check those out. Yellow Penalty area, Red Penalty area etc.

[@boomergolfsplitvette2171]

@@girgolfllc thanks very much!

[@michaelannetts5714]

What makes it or allows you to call ‘unplayable lie’ in the bunker.

[@girgolfllc]

Michael thanks for the view and the comment! You as the player can declare your ball unplayable at your decision at anytime as long as your ball is in a part of the course that the rules allow you to do so in the general area. For example you cannot declare a ball unplayable in a penalty area or environmental area for example. Hope this helps and have a blessed day!

[@Unplugged704]

What if the low spots of the bunker is flooded with water and ball is in the water also.. is the only option drop outside for 2 stroke penalty?

[@girgolfllc]

River Runs NC thanks for the view!! You have options for relief for standing water inside a bunker and be sure to check out our Golf Rules Tip: Water in Bunker video on our channel. Detailed look into that rule found there!

[@swisstrader]

After you created all the footprints in the sand, would you be able to rake the sand before dropping?

[@girgolfllc]

NYC Entrepreneur thanks for watching the video and great question! Per the rules of golf you would NOT be able to rake your footprints before dropping the ball so be sure to watch where you step. I know I walked around a lot during the video more than normally would be needed. Be careful where you step when marking out your dripping area.

[@Randsurfer]

In really soft sand, walking around in the bunker could create a "better" drop area. Seems like a facet ripe for exploiting. Also surprised there isn't some provision to address this given the amount of change the player can exert on the playing area. Unique to bunkers.

[@vinkuu]

What if I declare the ball unplayable but my game partners don't think it is? Is it objective or subjective?

[@girgolfllc]

Vinkuu thanks for the view and comment! You do not need permission to declare a ball unplayable from anyone and it is your right to do so as you seem fit. This is of course assuming your ball is not out of bounds, in a penalty area, or in an unplayable area of the course such as an environmental protected area. Hope this helps and have a blessed day!

[@jeff4044]

How do you determine that the ball is unplayable? Can any ball be deemed uplayable in bunker?

[@girgolfllc]

Jeff thanks for watching the video and great question! The rules say that you can declare a ball in the general area unplayable at anytime with a 1-stroke penalty and bunkers are considered inside the general area. It is up to the player to determine if the ball is unplayable. Hope this helps and have a blessed day!

[@tonyfrost9006]

What happens if i drop my ball and it keeps running out of a relief area due to the slope

[@girgolfllc]

Tony thanks for the view and question! When dropping your ball and it rolls out of the relief area the procedure is the drop again then place the ball on spot where the second drop landed if the second drop rolls out of the relief area. Check out our cart path relief video for a visual. Thanks and have a blessed day!

[@tonyfrost9006]

Thank you

[@tonyfrost9006]

@@girgolfllc thanks 😃

[@davidd1395]

Is it ok that the ball lands with your drop, on sand that your feet packed down?

[@girgolfllc]

David thanks for watching the video! Yes that should conform to the rules. I know in the video I walked around a lot during it and normally I would watch where I step more if I was not giving instruction so it’s a good idea to watch where you walk :-). Per the rules you cannot improve your ball’s lie so you cannot rake your footprints prior to dropping but seeing footprints are not considered improving your lie you should be okay to drop in your footprint if you like. Hope this helps!

[@brianfong3954]

What if the bucker is half full of standing water (more than a inch deep) ?

[@girgolfllc]

Brian thanks for watching our video! I have filmed a rules video on water in the bunker and it is in the queue for editing. Will be out soon so be on the lookout for it!!

[@WolfZappe]

I don't think you can mark out the dropping areas, because that would be touching the sand with your club, which you are not allowed to do.

[@girgolfllc]

Wolf thanks for the view! That is correct we cannot touch the sand with the club per rule 12. I only did that for the benefit of the viewers to show what it looks like. Thanks and have a blessed day!

[@popscyclep8084]

What happens next if you’re drop doesn’t stay put ?

[@girgolfllc]

Popscycle P thank you for watching our video! If your dropped ball lands in the relief area and then rolls outside of the relief area, you must re-drop the ball inside the relief area. If after the second attempt to drop and the ball rolls outside of the relief area again, then you are to place the ball at the location the ball landed inside the relief area on the second drop. I illustrate this situation on the Golf Rules Tip - Taking Cart Path Relief on our channel. Take a look at that video. Hope this helps!

[@paulsimons721]

The dropping zone you show when dropping outside the bunker is not correct I think as the reference point for the dropzone is where the ball touches the ground when you drop the ball. Dropzone is 2 clublength in any direction.

[@girgolfllc]

Thanks for the view and comment. I’m sorry but you are incorrect in regards to being allowed 2-Club lengths on the options listed outside the bunker because as the video shows only 1-Club length is allowed. See our updated 2023 rules video when taking back on the line relief. Also you can research golf rule 19.3 for more information to see that the video is correct other than the updated 2023 rule for back on the line relief options. Hope this helps and have a blessed day!

[@paulsimons721]

@@girgolfllc yes. Sorry. You are right. I meant 1 clublength

[@paulsimons721]

In any direction.

[@timclute9507]

Can't see video

[@m.lymann2185]

Wordy.

[@jeffpotter9599]

Easy out…square the face swing down hard and that ball is out.

[@dingleberryridesagain3606]

Rule 43 C applies here: The player must stand on the windside of their partner ,the option then is to take out the Pulled pork and lettuce with a dash of dill and don't forget the freshly cut bread,now and this is important,a tin of Victoria bitter,and relax,wave everyone else through,and the lay down and go asleep,,zzzzzz. Zzzzzz,,Zzz

[@ericfermin8347]

I just don't get guys that play strictly by the rules. We're not professionals, this is for leisure not a job. Play out as it lies if you want, give yourself a good lie if you want, who cares? Screw these rules. But thanks for the official explanation.

[@tarquin8270]

It depends if you care about your actual handicap in golf , you have to play by the rules for a proper handicap

[@davidmccarter9479]

Perhaps you should try mini golf.

[@brexit9279]

Before you drop your ball in the bunker, YOU CANNOT FLATTEN THE SAND WITH YOUR FOOTPRINTS! ADD ANOTHER PENALTY FOR IMPROVING YOUR LIE! 😮

[@40pike96]

dont be walking and compressing the sand where you gonna drop man

[@rsm1958]

Too much work. Just pick it up and toss it when no one is watching! lol!

[@alcw625]

ahh the old hand grenade...effective but totally against USGA and R & A rules