Playing my home course's #8 in Orlando, which is reachable par 5 for me, I hit a nice drive and have 220 to go for my second shot. I hit a decent shot and splash in to the front greenside bunker. The splash was clearly visible and my opponent/friend agrees that it splashed. I know this hole very well and have a very good idea exactly where it is. It must have hit the sharply sloped face of the trap. No other portion of the trap could have produced such a splash.

We reach the green and my ball we cannot find my ball in the bunker. We both agree that the splash was visble.

The bunker is severely overfilled with sand. With no pitch mark to be seen, I start digging with a rake at my friend's suggestion. This bunker is always overfilled and never seems to be well maintained. The trap's face is like a snow covered steep mountain side. You touch the sand and an avalanch occurrs. I dig for a minute or two and cannot find the ball.

Not sure of what to do, I rehit from the fairway and make double.

I am not sure if I made the right decision. What specific rule applies and what should have I done?

This question has received a variety of answers from resppected golfers and golf pros.

What do you think?

Lost ball, stroke penalty and then you should have re-dropped in the buker, but not in the water. I THINK SO ANYWAY!

The ball is lost and Rule 27-1 is applied. The player must play a ball, under penalty of one stroke, as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played.

Lakewood nailed this answer

end of story. If the ball is lost it does not matter where unless its in a water hazard or lateral water hazard and different rules apply

Isn't the bunker a hazard?

yes that you can not ground your club and you do not have to identify your ball before you hit it. But the lost ball rule does not help you here .

Actually in 2008 you will now be penalized for playing a wrong ball from a hazard....so you should indentify your ball to insure you are playing the correct one.

http://www.usga.org/news/2007/october/2007_79.html


Link to the new rule changes for 2008

Wouldn't there be extra penalties since he had used a rake as well?

I emailed the USGA and got a response today:

Dear xxx,

In reply to your email, please refer to Rule 12-1. In a bunker, if a

ball is believed to be covered by loose impediments or sand, the player

may remove by probing or raking with a club or otherwise, as many loose

impediments or as much sand as will enable him to see a part of the

ball. If an excess is removed, there is no penalty and the ball must be

re-covered so that only a part of the ball is visible. If the ball is

moved during the removal, there is no penalty; the ball must be replaced

and, if necessary, re-covered.

If the player did not find his ball, the ball is lost and he must

proceed under Rule 27-1, under penalty of one stroke. ...

Sincerely,

xxx xxx

Rules of Golf Associate

USGA

Unfortunately too many people play this way, including with balls hit OB. That is a quick way to shave strokes off your score! It is stroke and distance for both. When I teach people rules like this their scores always seem to go from being a 88 to a 95, LOL.