Bunkers and the 1/1/2019 drop it out ruling

[Thomas Dai]

Is the rule change that comes into effect next year that allows players to drop out of a bunker under penalty likely to ultimately lead to changes in bunker design, construction, renovation, maintenance, etc etc. Maybe even the disappearance of rakes?
Thoughts?
Atb

[Mitch Hantman]

No! And I don't think it will be a rule used very often.

[Jerry Kluger]

I can see two circumstances where it will be used:  1. a player's ball is embedded under the lip of a bunker and his only option is to try and get to it and the best he can do is to dislodge it and then play it from wherever it happens to roll to in the bunker - he might instead take a stroke and drop outside the bunker. 2. a player who is not good at playing out of bunkers chooses this option. 

[Rich Goodale]

I can see a third set of situations:


3.  Player lies 2 in the bunker and needs only a 7......
a.   ......to qualify for match play
b.   ......to win a bet
c.   ......to break 100 for the first time
d.   ......etc., etc., etc.

[BCrosby]

Rich - More generally, the rule offers a playing option that will be invoked most often in match play when you are up a couple of strokes on a hole.

For that reason the rule will accentuate different strategies in match v. medal play. Most all rule changes over the last 100 years or so have gone in the opposite direction, aligning match and medal play more closely. So this is a small, but refreshing change in direction. Which is great.   

In that vein, a possible scenario most likely to occur in match play:

Player up big on a hole is in a bunker facing a pin up against a water hazard. If he can drop outside the bunker with grass under his ball, he can spin it more reliably and minimize the possibility of his less predictable sand shot rolling out into the water. Even if his bunker recovery stays on the green, a shot off grass will increase his chances of leaving a shorter putt.

Bob

[Peter Pallotta]

Interesting: didn't know anything about this.


Just intuitively/speculatively, it does seem to open the door -- once the rule has become firmly entrenched & familiar, and has been  'utilized' in a high profile match play event -- for someone, somewhere, to design or set-up or maintain a more penal-style of bunker.


The return of the deep, riveted-face pot!!

[Jon Wiggett]

It could lead to bunkers becoming more penal. I do wonder how many will take the penalty drop outside the bunker and then chunk it back in

[Mark Pearce]

It could lead to bunkers becoming more penal. I do wonder how many will take the penalty drop outside the bunker and then chunk it back in

And then drop it out again.....

[Jim_Coleman]

   A player makes one attempt to extricate himself from the devil's asshole before realizing he can't do it.  This year, I believe his round is over (and he misses out on 8 pretty nice holes).  Next year, he can take a drop.

[Peter Flory]

I always thought it was a very strange asymmetry that you could take an unplayable from anywhere on the course (and go back as far as you want with the point between you and the hole, or go up to 2 club lengths to the side) except from within a sand trap. 


So, even though water hazards were generally more penal in nature because you can rarely play out of them, they could sometimes offer more relief than sand. 

[Kyle Harris]

Rich - More generally, the rule offers a playing option that will be invoked most often in match play when you are up a couple of strokes on a hole.

For that reason the rule will accentuate different strategies in match v. medal play. Most all rule changes over the last 100 years or so have gone in the opposite direction, aligning match and medal play more closely. So this is a small, but refreshing change in direction. Which is great.   

In that vein, a possible scenario most likely to occur in match play:

Player up big on a hole is in a bunker facing a pin up against a water hazard. If he can drop outside the bunker with grass under his ball, he can spin it more reliably and minimize the possibility of his less predictable sand shot rolling out into the water. Even if his bunker recovery stays on the green, a shot off grass will increase his chances of leaving a shorter putt.

Bob

Boy, that sounds like compelling golf. *eye roll*