New Golf Rules Explained: Unplayable Golf Ball in Bunker

In 2019, the USGA, R&A, along with the input of the PGA tour and others, implemented thirty changes to the Rules of Golf. All with the goal of making the game more player friendly, easier to understand, and improve pace of play. Not all of the changes will apply at prestigious amateur competitions or the pro tours, which means you the recreational golfer will benefit the most of the rules changes.

To ensure you are informed Mr Topes Golf broke down the most important rules of golf changes, what they are and what they mean for you.

Golf Rule Explained: Unplayable Golf Ball in a Bunker

Old Rule: No relief outside of the bunker other than playing from where the golfer’s last stroke was made under the stroke and distance provision.

New Rule: If you don’t want to or decide you can’t play your ball as it lies when your ball is in a bunker, you may decide it is unplayable. If you do this, you have four total options, and two will always require that you take relief inside the bunker. You have three one penalty stroke relief options. 

(1) You may play a ball from the spot of your previous stroke (if this spot was out of the bunker, this option gets you out of the bunker; but if your last stroke was from in the bunker, you must stay in the bunker) (see Rule 19.2a). 

(2) You may take back-on-the-line relief in the bunker (see Rule 19.2b). 

(3) You may drop in the bunker within two club-lengths of where your ball lies but not nearer to the hole (see Rule 19.2c). 

(4) Your fourth relief option comes with two penalty strokes – you may get out of the bunker using the back-on-the-line relief option (see Rule 19.3b).

How Does this Help You: Some bunkers, especially those deep with steep walls, can be absolute nightmares. This rule gives you the option to drop out of the bunker which improves your chances of finishing the hole and speeding up pace of play. Hopefully, you'll employ this rule and leave the hole with a double bogey instead of the dreaded quadruple bogey.