Written by: Darin Green, Senior Director of Rules & Competitions
Most golf courses place their bunker rakes on the ground either next to or in the bunkers. While having bunker rakes out on the course allows for quick raking after playing from a bunker, the rakes can stop or deflect a ball. It is common for a ball to come to rest against a rake on a slope either near or in a bunker. The question is, how does a player proceed when their ball comes to rest against a rake?
In the picture to the right, you can clearly see that the ball is resting on the ground and has a spot on the course, but also resting against the handle of the rake. The rake is defined as a movable obstruction (man-made object) and Rule 15.2 applies. The player may lift and remove the rake; if the ball moves, there is no penalty and the player must replace the ball. If the replaced ball will not stay on the spot, the player must try a second time. If after two attempts at replacing the ball the ball will not come to rest on that spot, the player must hunt for a spot no nearer the hole, and in the same area of the course, that the ball will come to rest. “Hunting” for a spot it will come to rest usually is attempting to place the ball an inch or two to the side of or behind the ball until you find a spot the ball will come to rest.
Before lifting the rake, you may mark the position of the ball, but are not required to do so. Beware, do not lift the ball before moving the rake because you would incur a one-stroke penalty by doing so.
A good rule of thumb is: whenever a ball at rest had a spot on the course and is moved by something other than natural forces or a stroke by the player, the ball must be replaced, not dropped.
The Committee Procedures section of The Official Guide to the Rules of Golf provides guidance on where rakes should be placed. Section 2D Bunkers basically says the placement of rakes is at the Committee’s discretion, but it is recommended that rakes should be left outside of bunkers in areas where they are least likely to affect the movement of a ball.
Find the fairways and putting greens and you won’t have to deal with your ball against a rake!
