Pairs Matchplay

[Blofeld]

In this case the player is considered to have all ready 'tested the sand by the sheer nature of having played a shot from it...so the subsequent raking is OK.

Having said that, if the player played from say the front of the bunker, hit the face and saw the ball land behind him, he would not be free to rake the bunker if doing so would improve the 'line of play for his next shot.

[srp973]

Nick - what's your viewpoint then if this happens in a foursomes match.....the team has tested the sand, but the individual hasn't.
Be interested to hear as it appears I may have learned something from this.........

[Blofeld]

Nick - what's your viewpoint then if this happens in a foursomes match.....the team has tested the sand, but the individual hasn't.
Be interested to hear as it appears I may have learned something from this.........

If I remember correctly from looking at the decisions book last night the "team" is considered to be both players....so if one plays a shot from sand then the "team" has effectively tested the sand so its OK to rake the bunker.

[SBL]

Wasn't thr
ere a dubiuos decision on the for Rory in last years Masters.
He hit the sand after taking a shot and leaving the ball in the bunker, he then lashed down at the sand again.
Certainly I wouldn;t rake the sand as I'm not 100% sure but that would have been my take on it.

[Blofeld]

If I remember correctly from looking at the decisions book last night the "team" is considered to be both players....so if one plays a shot from sand then the "team" has effectively tested the sand so its OK to rake the bunker.

Heres the appropriate decision...

9/5.5 Raking Sand in Bunker After Partner Fails to Extricate Ball but Before Stroke; Foursome Match

Q. In a foursome match, A and B are partners. A plays a bunker shot, but fails to get the ball out of the bunker. Before making the next stroke, B rakes the sand. What is the ruling?

A. In a foursome match, the word “player” includes his partner, where the context so admits – see Definition of “Partner.” In these circumstances, Exception 2 to Rule 13-4 applies to both the player and his partner. Therefore, Side A-B does not incur any penalty for B’s raking of the sand. (New)

[srp973]

Cheers Nick - I think the key there is the new in brackets as it looks like the rules have changed recently.

[Blofeld]

Cheers Nick - I think the key there is the new in brackets as it looks like the rules have changed recently.

The decisions book I am referencing is the 2010/2011 version....so this has been in place since Jan 2010.

The fact that it is "new" doesnt mean that there has been any actual change to the rule....just that the decision is new. (Whether the decision was different in previous editions and changed for 2010/11 is of course another matter)