Matt has been running a Rules Quiz for his club during the lock down and he tells me that 60% of respondents didn’t know how to deal with stone in bunkers – possibly a hangover from the 2019 rewrite.
- Stones and other unattached natural objects are Loose Impediments”
- Loose Impediments can be removed without penalty anywhere on the course
- If the ball moves due to the removal of a Loose Impediment:
- Replace the ball where it was
- 1 stroke penalty has been incurred
- NB General Penalty (2 strokes/loss of hole) if ball not moved back
What if your ball ends up against a rake in the bunker?
- Rakes and other artificial objects are Movable Obstructions
- Movable Obstructions can be removed without penalty anywhere on the course
- If the ball moves due to the removal of a Movable Obstruction
- Replace the ball where it was
- NO PENALTY!
- NB General Penalty (2 strokes/loss of hole) if ball not moved back
- NB There are a few items which are both artificial and movable which you are not allowed to move, notably:
- Boundary Objects (e.g. Out of Bounds posts)
- Tee Markers – when ball will be played from Teeing Area
Golf Rules Guru 