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August 2024 - Taking Relief in a Bunker

 August 2024 - Taking Relief in a Bunker

The options available, and the processes, for taking relief in a bunker (either penalty or free), are the same as for anywhere in the general area , with two major exceptions:
a)       The primary relief area is in the bunker.
b)       An additional option, is for the player (with a one shot penalty), to take relief outside the bunker.
The process for free relief from an abnormal course condition in a bunker, allows free relief that may only be the maximum available but still in the bunker, rather than complete relief. For instance, a bunker nearly full of temporary water, may not allow complete relief. The player is not therefore in breach if then playing from incomplete relief if that spot gives the maximum available relief in the circumstances. 

The process for taking an unplayable lie in the bunker (with penalty) is the same as taking it anywhere in the general area, so long as both the lateral or back-on-the-line relief options are taken inside the bunker.
In both the free and penalty relief options, the player also has a further option (with an additional one shot penalty, making it two shots in a penalty relief situation).
NB :
      1)       The reference line for this additional drop outside the bunker goes from the hole through the original spot of the ball.
      2)       However:
               (a) if the player has taken the maximum available relief from the condition (and completed the drop) but is still not happy, the reference line for the next (penalty) drop is taken from the spot where the ball came to rest after taking that earlier relief
               (b) if the player has lifted their ball with the intention of taking relief, but, before taking any drop, decides that option is not acceptable, they are not then precluded from taking up one of the original options.
      3)      The player always retains the stroke and distance option, with penalty, as well.

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