Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2013 - 12

(rules primer
)
Bunker Burnishing
The Rules book is always a good guide for the game-
and the most recently revised version is the best.
By Joseph Oberle
T
he Rules of Golf, though basically the same since their
origin in 1744, are somewhat fluid. They have been
changed, modified and improved over time. The 20122015
revision of the Rules of Golf book includes a new rule on
proper procedure in bunkers, and Dave Hoehl from White Bear
Lake had a question pertaining to bunker play.
Hoehl's ball was in a bunker, and before hitting his shot he
grabbed a rake and smoothed the area of the bunker where the
rake had been. Hoehl then carried the rake over to
near his ball to make his shot. His playing partner
said that Hoehl should be penalized two strokes
for testing the sand with the rake. Hoehl consulted
a Rules book and thought that he was
in the clear.
He is, but prior to 2012, Hoehl would
have been in trouble. Touching the sand of a
bunker in any manner (except with your feet
when walking in it) before hitting out of it has
always been considered " testing the condition of
the hazard " and was strictly forbidden. But in 2012, a
new amendment was added to the Rules:
13-4 Exception 2: At any time, the player may smooth
sand or soil in a hazard, provided it is for the sole purpose
of caring for the course and nothing is done to breach
Rule 13-2.
Therefore, Hoehl cannot touch the sand of the bunker if his
So, Hoehl had to consider Rule 13-2 before smoothing the
sand. He had to make sure that anything he did to the sand did
not improve the bunker in the area of his ball.
Rule 13-2 Improving Lie, Area of Intended Stance or
Swing or Line of Play. A player must not improve or allow
to be improved:
s THE POSITION OR LINE OF HIS BALL
s THE AREA OF HIS INTENDED STANCE OR SWING
s THE LINE OF PLAY OR REASONABLE EXTENSION OF THAT LINE
beyond the hole, or
s THE AREA IN WHICH HE IS TO DROP OR PLACE A BALL
intention is to improve the area where his ball is located. According
to the information Hoehl sent in, he did not. Presumably, the
rake had to be carried over to the spot where he would make his
next shot and not in the area where he picked up the rake and
smoothed the ground underneath it.
Hoehl's actions were done to smooth irregularities in the sand
caused by the rake laying in the bunker. He was caring for the
course, and for the next golfer who might hit into that area. Prior
to the amendment to the Rules in 2012, Hoehl's partner would
have been correct. The penalty for the breach would have been
loss of hole in match play and two strokes in stroke play.
In essence, both Hoehl and his partner knew something about
the particular rule in question. The best move they both made
was to consult the Rules of Golf-particularly the most up-todate
version.
10
MINNESOTAGOLFER Fall 2013
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Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2013

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Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2013 - Cover2
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2013 - 3
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2013 - 4
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