Pinehurst - what is a bunker?

[cary lichtenstein]

Maybe these guys need a sippy cup holder

[Josh Stevens]

HAve been watching some old vid of the 91 ryder cup at Kiawah.  I noted one shot with Payne Stewart in some vast area of sand happily flailing away with practice swings and sand going in all directions.  Clearly the players there had no issues knowing what was or wasn't a bunker.

But I confess that photo with the little sandy ridge has me wondering - it could come down a matter of inches  - where is the line?

[mike_beene]

Well at Kiawah none of the sand was a bunker. That made it easy but it doesn't feel right to me.

[Paul Gray]

The more I think about it the more I think TD was on to something when he wrote a while ago about allowing a player to ground his or her club in any sandy area, thus leading to the informalisation of what does or doesn't constitute a hazard.

[Mike Hendren]

Matthew, while I didn't sleep in a Holiday Inn last night I have been leading a study on Proverbs so hopefully I'm a bit wiser these days.   Thanks for asking. So, you wouldn't hesitate grounding your club on that ridge with a million bucks and permanent place in golf history on the line? 

Hutto's an actuarial - he can be excused for seeing everything in black and white. 

In jest,

Bogey

[John Kavanaugh]

Matthew, while I didn't sleep in a Holiday Inn last night I have been leading a study on Proverbs so hopefully I'm a bit wiser these days.   Thanks for asking. So, you wouldn't hesitate grounding your club on that ridge with a million bucks and permanent place in golf history on the line? 

Hutto's an actuarial - he can be excused for seeing everything in black and white. 

In jest,

Bogey

So when you are doing a Bible study is there a book of decisions you can reference?  I had never realized until today how much the Bible and the rules of golf have in common.  I guess that is why I have so much trouble with people who claim to be experts on either.  Do you ever compare the two in your teachings?

On topic:  Can you move loose impediments outside a bunker while you are in a bunker?  Obviously you can but it will be interesting to watch guys this week do exactly that time after time.  Come on people, your ball is in a bunker but the rock one inch behind it isn't.  I can't wait for the meltdown.

[Mike Hendren]

John, I don't see the Bible as a rule book.   As for analogies, I'm far more likely to go with an  Animal House reference.

Mike

[John Kavanaugh]

John, I don't see the Bible as a rule book.   As for analogies, I'm far more likely to go with an  Animal House reference.

Mike

Thanks for the reply.

[Mark_Fine]

No question there will be some questions that come up regarding what is a bunker and what is not?  That said, it won't be that bad and the pros will deal with it just fine.  I would be willing to bet that they would prefer these natural areas vs the typical U.S. Open rough.  Most of the time the natural areas will yield a decent lie and a chance to play a recovery shot (even to the green).  With the U.S. Open rough, the most common recovery shot was just hacking it back out in play.  I just played Bethpage Black and they still have the rough thick and lush and the fairways narrow.  Miss a fairway and it is almost a full shot lost every time.  Recovery shots (which are some of the most exciting shots in the game) are all but non-existent!  That will not be the case at #2!

[Matthew Essig]

It took 6 days of competition for a complaint to be presented on TV. Karrie Webb was in a "transition zone" on 18 (even though it was fairly clear she was in the bunker). She called over the official then a roaming official and the issue was resolved in just a couple minutes. It was solved quicker than a 5 minute search for a lost ball.

As I predicted, players, announcers, media, and even some of you made it a bigger deal than it really is. Sure it was an issue that would come up eventually, but I think 1/500 is not a big deal.

[Kevin Lynch]

It took 6 days of competition for a complaint to be presented on TV. Karrie Webb was in a "transition zone" on 18 (even though it was fairly clear she was in the bunker). She called over the official then a roaming official and the issue was resolved in just a couple minutes. It was solved quicker than a 5 minute search for a lost ball.

As I predicted, players, announcers, media, and even some of you made it a bigger deal than it really is. Sure it was an issue that would come up eventually, but I think 1/500 is not a big deal.

It really wasn't that difficult of an issue, and the USGA provided plenty of resources for the players.  That debate on 18 was more Webb being cranky and argumentative than an issue of delineation. 

She was clearly in the bunker, but was trying to make some protest with her nonsense of "can I make a practice swing here" or "what about here?"  I loved how the official cut it short with, "I know what you're getting at - but the ball is in the bunker."  It was as if her world was in disarray because there wasn't a high definition line on the ground.

It surprised that an Aussie would be the one complaining about the lack of a clear line.  But given various accounts I've heard about Webb's demeanor, I shouldn't be too surprised.