The CSGA Links Volume 2 Issue 2 April, 2014 | Page 40

What’s the Ruling?
A player’s ball lands in the middle of a large fairway
bunker. In an effort to speed up play, the player
rakes his footprints as he walks toward his ball in
the bunker. The raking occurred before he played
his shot. What’s the ruling?
Answer: To address this question, let’s first take a look at what
the player isn’t allowed to do. Before a player makes a stroke
at a ball that is in a bunker, he must not (1) test the condition
of that bunker or any similar hazard. An example of testing the
condition of a bunker is the player who splashes sand when
taking practice swings. (2) He must not touch the ground in the
bunker with his hand or a club. And (3) he must not touch or
move a loose impediment lying in or touching the bunker. Loose
impediments are natural things like stones, leaves, twigs and
branches.

These prohibitions are straightforward, but don’t get
too comfortable – there are some exceptions to keep in mind.
Provided the player does not test the condition of the hazard or
improve the lie of the ball, without penalty, he may touch the
ground or loose impediments in the bunker without penalty if he
falls in the bunker. He may touch the ground in the bunker to
remove a movable obstruction such as a rake. He may touch the
ground in the bunker in measuring, or marking the position of,
retrieving, lifting, placing or replacing a ball under any Rule. And,
the player may place his clubs in the bunker without penalty.

Now for the answer: The player may also smooth sand
in the bunker with a rake or otherwise provided it is done solely
for the purpose of caring for the course and nothing is done
to improve the lie of the ball or the area of intended stance
or line of play for the next stroke. Once the ball is outside the
bunker after the stroke, the player may smooth sand in the
bunker without restriction. After making a stroke from within the
bunker, if the ball comes to rest in another hazard (bunker or
water hazard), the prohibitions listed above do not apply to any
actions taken in the bunker from which the stroke was made.

So in this case, provided the player did not smooth his
line of play or area of his intended swing, there is no penalty for
his actions prior to his shot. Rake away!
Article and Video Courtesy of the Golf Association der Borght
40
Connecticut State USGA / John Van