I am interested in opinions on why the margin of a bunker ‘extends vertically downwards, but not upwards’, yet the margin of a water hazard ‘extends vertically upwards and downwards’.

Any takers?

Water hazards frequently have plants growing. If the margin didn’t extend upwards then the foliage would not be part of the WH.

Bunkers are not supposed to have anything growing in them.

On my course the bunker on one hole has a tree that is about 150ft tall growing in it, the trunk is about 6ft in diameter, I am sure I have seen many other bunkers with trees in them. Larry 2.

June 30 2011 I looked for comment on this subject from a contact in the States..
As you will see from below I did some serious digging on the history.
My contact was unable to throw any light on the subject.

It is possible that in the archives of the R and A and USGA Rules there is written down the nature of discussions and reasoning that lead to the changes for these and other Rules and Definitions.

I hope you find the history interesting.

“I have been doing some research on the history. I found some interesting facts on the evolution of the Rules in this area.
The reasons for the changes are not disclosed where I have been looking.
I wonder if you can help with knowledge or deductions on the specifics of margins directions vertically upwards and downwards.
That is, what prompted the introduction of vertical plane in respect of hazards and can the practical reason(s) for bunker margins being not upwards be succinctly stated?

Here is a summary on the facts I have.

1902
(e) A ‘hazard’ shall be any bunker, water (except casual water), sand, path, road, railway, whin, bush, rushes, rabbit scrape, fence, or ditch. Sand blown on to the grass, or sprinkled on the course for its preservation, bare patches, sheep tracks, snow, and ice are not hazards. Permanent grass within a hazard shall not be considered part of the hazard.

1950
The word margin was introduced in reference to water hazards in 1950.

Bunkers continued to be included in the Definition of Hazard for a long time.

Effective 1 January 1964.
14. Hazards
A ‘hazard’ is any bunker or water hazard. Bare patches, scrapes, roads, tracks and paths are not hazards.
a. A ‘bunker’ is an area of bare ground, often a depression, which is usually covered with sand. Grass-covered ground bordering or within a bunker is not part of the hazard. {b and c omitted here}
d. It is the duty of the Committee in charge of a course to define accurately the extent of the hazards and water hazards when there is any doubt. That part of a hazard to be played as a lateral water hazard should be distinctively marked. Stakes and lines defining the margins of hazards are not in the hazards

This suggested that bunkers as well as water hazards might need accurate definition. As well note Stakes and lines defining the margins of hazards are not in the hazard.

Effective 1 January 1968
“All ground or water within the margin of a water hazard, whether or not it be covered with any growing substance is part of the water hazard. The margin of a water hazard is deemed to extend vertically upwards.”

This is the first time the vertical plane is introduced to the definition of the margin of water hazards. The downwards direction is not stated.
{The Definition of Hazards stayed unchanged until 1984.}

Effective 1 April 1984.
Bunker
A ‘bunker’ is a hazard consisting of a prepared area of ground, often a hollow, from which turf or soil has been removed and replaced with sand or the like. Grass-covered ground bordering or within a bunker is not part of the bunker.
Lateral Water Hazard
A ‘lateral water hazard’ is a water hazard or that part of a water hazard so situated that it is not possible or is deemed by the Committee to be impracticable to drop a ball behind the water hazard and keep the spot at which the ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard between the player and the hole.
That part of a water hazard to be played as a lateral water hazard should be distinctively marked.
Note: Lateral water hazards should be defined by red stakes or lines.
Water Hazard
A ‘water hazard’ is any sea, lake, pond, river, ditch, surface drainage ditch or other open water course (whether or not containing water) and anything of a similar nature.
All ground or water within the margin of a water hazard is part of the water hazard. The margin of a water hazard is deemed to extend vertically upwards. Stakes and lines defining the margins of water hazards are in the hazards.
Note: Water hazards (other than lateral water hazards) should be defined by yellow stakes or lines.

1984 marks the first separation of Bunkers from Water Hazards as a “stand alone” Definition.

More change came in 1988.

Effective 1 January 1988.
SECTION II – DEFINITIONS
Bunker
A ‘bunker’ is a hazard consisting of a prepared area of ground, often a hollow, from which turf or soil has been removed and replaced with sand or the like. Grass-covered ground bordering or within a bunker is not part of the bunker. The margin of a bunker extends vertically downwards, but not upwards.
Water Hazard

A ‘water hazard’ is any sea, lake, pond, river, ditch, surface drainage ditch or other open water course (whether or not containing water) and anything of a similar nature.
All ground or water within the margin of a water hazard is part of the water hazard. The margin of a water hazard extends vertically upwards and downwards. Stakes and lines defining the margins of water hazards are in the hazards.
Note: Water hazards (other than lateral water hazards) should be defined by yellow stakes or lines.
This is the first reference to the direction of the margin direction for Bunker [vertically downwards, but not upwards].
This is the first reference to the direction of the margins of Water Hazards being vertically upwards and downwards.
By 2000 mention of a ball in a bunker is added.
Effective 1 January 2000.
Bunker
A ‘bunker’ is a hazard consisting of a prepared area of ground, often a hollow, from which turf or soil has been removed and replaced with sand or the like. Grass-covered ground bordering or within a bunker is not part of the bunker. The margin of a bunker extends vertically downwards, but not upwards. A ball is in a bunker when it lies in or any part of it touches the bunker.

Effective 1 January 2004
Bunker
A “bunker” is a hazard consisting of a prepared area of ground, often a hollow, from which turf or soil has been removed and replaced with sand or the like. Grass-covered ground bordering or within a bunker, including a stacked turf face (whether grass-covered or earthen), is not part of the bunker. A wall or lip of the bunker not covered with grass is part of the bunker. The margin of a bunker extends vertically downwards, but not upwards. A ball is in a bunker when it lies in or any part of it touches the bunker.
Note there is a new reference to a stacked turf face (whether grass-covered or earthen)

There is no change in 2008

It is possible I have made a mistake or two. I have tried to be careful.

I was fascinated by the evolution of the Rules since 1964 in this area. Despite considerable changes already, change continued in 2000.”

PS I haven’t checked 2012 but I think there is no change.

Larry2, the tree is not part of the bunker.

Languid, thanks for that research.

I’m wondering how one might differentiate between a stacked turf face that’s not covered with grass (not part of the bunker), and a wall of the bunker that’s not covered with grass (part of the bunker)?

I think the tree idea would have some merit. If a ball is lost in a tree the player must find & identify it before he can decide on his options or take it as a lost ball.
If the tree is in a Water Hazard this may not be possible. however as the margin extends vertically upward there is no need to identify the ball as long as there is KVC that the ball is in the Hazard.
If the tree is in a bunker , Again the ball must be identified before a decision is made on what option may be used for the next shot. The ball is not in the bunker if it is stuck up in the tree.
I cannot think of any other situation that would require that the margins of a water hazard would need to extend upwards.
Any other ideas out there?

OB I dont think I actually said the tree was part of the bunker, I was just pointing out that tere are bunkers with trees in them. Larry 2.

Larry2, the tree is not part of the bunker.

Languid, thanks for that research.

I’m wondering how one might differentiate between a stacked turf face that’s not covered with grass (not part of the bunker), and a wall of the bunker that’s not covered with grass (part of the bunker)?

OldBogey

GolfLink

OlindaGolfClub

I find that a stacked turf wall of a bunker is quite easy to differentiate, by its construction, from a non-stacked turf wall of a bunker (both non-grass covered).

perhaps the need to extend the margin vertically is more about determining where a ball last crossed the margin than determining whether a stationary ball is within the bounds. If the margin didnt extend upwards the ball would only be deemed within the hazard when it hit the ground. If perhaps it hit a rock on the ground within the hazard and then bounced back out how would you determine the point it last crossed the boundary

this obviously isnt applicable with a bunker

HCWT,

You may be on the right track here.
A water hazard has a set of Rules on how to drop outside, it may be impossible to find or retrieve the ball, and a water hazard can be bushy and grassy as well as simply covered in water. Most of the time the player can’t play a ball from a water hazard, and to be able to continue play the player must be able to determine a crossing point.

The player is supposed to play the ball from a bunker, there’s no set of Rules on how to get get away from it unless there are special circumstances. Furthermore the edge of the bunker is easily found if the course is well kept; the margin of a water hazard can be anyones best guess.

Yay

I got one right!!

A few more ..
Decision 13/5
“Q.If a ball is lying on either a movable or an immovable obstruction in a bunker, is the ball considered to be in the bunker?
A.Yes. Although the margin of a bunker does not extend upwards, a ball lying on an obstruction in a bunker is in the bunker.”

This covers the possibility of a player doing various things in the bunker that are permitted when a ball is NOT in a bunker preparatory to playing his next stroke.
The Decision is made necessary by the Defintion of margin directions.

I can think of a practical reason why margin down only seems good.
Take a case with ball in bunker and large loose impediment such as a dead branch lies through the green but extends in the air above the bunker. If the margin extended upwards the loose impediment would be IN the bunker (as well as partly outside). The branch would not be able to be removed without penalty.
The other thing of relevance could be the situation where there is overhang of turfed areas. I haven’t seen this but it is possible.
If the margin was vertical some of the turfed areas would be IN the bunker.

On 13/5 if this Decision did not exist it could be possible for the clublength for relief to be outside the bunker for an immovable obstruction.