I recently played Charleston National.
The course has a local rule wherein if you hit into a bunker you lift your ball, rake the area, replace your ball, hit, and exit the bunker.
I'd never heard of such a policy. Has anyone else?
Am I wrong in thinking MB courses should adopt this philosophy?
The "purists" here need not answer.
when my group goes to any course that has a lot of public play & bunkers don't always get groomed, we use that policy as long as its in an area that hasn't been raked, has footprints or hard packed from rain.
Our annual group trip to MB has this rule. So many golfers do not even attempt to rake a bunker after playing out. I also play in a daily game at our municipal course that has this rule.
We use that rule at all golf courses we play, whether it is in MB or back home, ball is lifted if in a footprint, the lie raked and then placed back down, many golfers just seem to not rake the traps after hitting their shot, could be a local muni or a private course. No sense in others laziness to ruin a good day on the course and cost you a few bucks.
Yeah, my groups allow rake and place in the bunkers when needed. Of course someone will inevitably take advantage of the rule. Most of the courses I've played in the MB area lately have had bunkers in decent condition. I live in Long Bay, and while the bunkers have improved, there are so many of them (many quite large) that there are always footprints somewhere.I recently played Charleston National.
The course has a local rule wherein if you hit into a bunker you lift your ball, rake the area, replace your ball, hit, and exit the bunker.
I'd never heard of such a policy. Has anyone else?
Am I wrong in thinking MB courses should adopt this philosophy?
The "purists" here need not answer.
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I am fine with that rule. A course doesn't have to tell golfers that,
but it might save some arguments. That might be their excuse to
rake less often. It's a policy that some groups use, but I have
not seen a course post it.
Years ago we had a men's club at a public course, with about 100
members, with 50-70 playing in a tournament. We tried to
implement that rake/replace rule for our tournaments.
A outspoken well known guy got over 50% to vote against it.
Later on a couple tournaments later, he was in my group and was
in a nasty foot dug in bunker lie. He actually asked to move it.
I reminded him about what he voted against. It took him 2 or 3
to get out. I can't remember if we ever implemented that rule.
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I don't think it would make much, if any, difference.
The "purists" you mention would still play the ball as it lies in the bunker without raking, and plenty of groups use their own rules and already do this or something similar anyways.
I don't think it would make much, if any, difference.
I disagree.
The more I think about it, it's genius.
Pros:
-No bitching about your lie in a bunker from a previous, careless golfer.
-PoP improves. You rake a smaller area and move on.
-Maintenance savings. Tend to bunkers two/three times per week.
Cons:
-"Play it as it lies."
@say8pet My point was that people would generally ignore that local rule and play how they already play -- most casual golfers don't follow the rules anyways.
@2manyputters I see that you live at Long Bay. I have been seeing a few posts about the condition of the course. What is your honest take on course conditions? Thanks!
@metric Very good overall. The bunkers are improved with the new superintent, but there are still places with too much and too little sand, but they are working on them. Fairways are good, no problem playing the ball down. The new greens are having issues around the edges in some places. This is probably due to the expansion of the greens to their original size. Overall the putting surface is good, but slower than most of us would prefer. We expect them to be amped up when the perimeters fill in.
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My club has replaced all bunkers and for this season, players may lift, rake and replace in bunkers.
today I watched someone use the rake to build one raised line of sand (like a tee) and then place their ball on top of ridge.
I always thought it meant to take a nice little area, keep it flat and place without further improvement.
is this “tee” building technique a violation?
I would say he is taking an extreme advantage of your 'local rule', perhaps the local rule needs clarified.My club has replaced all bunkers and for this season, players may lift, rake and replace in bunkers.
today I watched someone use the rake to build one raised line of sand (like a tee) and then place their ball on top of ridge.
I always thought it meant to take a nice little area, keep it flat and place without further improvement.
is this “tee” building technique a violation?
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@birdie
Putting the ball on a clump/hill would not be legal.
Was it a green side bunker? That would only help if he was chipping it out.
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