I understand you are not permitted to move any twigs / sticks from a bunker, but I was wondering what the rule is if the ball has gone into a bunker and rolled under a branch that has fallen from a tree. It would appear to be unfair to call it as an unplayable lie, but I suspect that would be the call? any idea? thanks.

Why would it be unfair to deem the ball unplayable? This is only a 1 stroke penalty, and completely ok under the Rules.

It would be stupid the move the branch instead – that would be a 2 stroke penalty.

Do the smart thing ;-)

Angler,

Also I might point out in addition to RulesDoc’s post – that if the ball was wedged beneath the branch, or to retrieve the ball you needed to move the branch in any way, under Rule 28 regarding a ball that is unplayable, you may use another ball to drop and complete the hole with, rather than incur a further 2 stroke penalty under Rule 13-4 for moving a loose impediment inside a hazard.

Additionally, the relief under Rule 28, you will have to drop the ball inside the bunker if you invoke option b or c. Only returning to the place you played your previous stroke from will enable you to play from outside the bunker (option a).

Cheers
Trysil

Why would it be unfair to deem the ball unplayable?

thanks for your quick responses. By ‘unfair’ I meant that a properly prepared course should not have branches lying in bunkers – I guess the best answer might be that you shouldn’t be in there in the first place :)

thanks for your quick responses. By ‘unfair’ I meant that a properly prepared course should not have branches lying in bunkers – I guess the best answer might be that you shouldn’t be in there in the first place :)

As we’ve all seen many times, the strangest things can happen – even on a well prepared golf course. Last year, for about 3 days, we had tiny 1cm frogs decide that our 15th green was an appropriate place to hold their AGM…

Bunkers are hazards – don’t go there ;-)