Golf Rules for Getting Out of that Dreaded Sand Trap
One of the worst positions to be in when playing golf is to get your ball stuck in a sand trap. The best way to get out of that trap is to never get into it in the first place.
Avoiding sand traps-or other traps such as ponds, or rough patches-is sometimes easier said than done, however. In fact, a ball can sometimes get lost in one of these small patches of golfer’s hell. Golfers need a simple explanation of how to deal with this near golf death experience.
In most cases, a ball must be played where it lies. However, one might wonder how that is possible in the case of it falling into a sand trap. First of all, a person will need to understand what exactly a sand trap is considered in the game of golf before they can make a determination of whether or not to play the ball in that trap.
First of all, in the standard golf rules set by the USGA a sand trap is usually referred to as a bunker. Sand trap is usually the slang term for this usually undesirable spot. Also, according to the rules, a sand trap (bunker) is usually considered a hazard.
If a ball is in a hazardous area such as a sand trap players must not tough the hazardous areas, unless it is to remove an obstruction or to keep from falling. Also, one source explains certain bunker rules, and a summary of this explanation is given in the next paragraph.
In one scenario a player who cannot properly identify that a ball is his that has fallen into a sand trap can touch the ball with the club (in most cases) to find out if it is the right one. However, a person has to be careful, because in certain cases a person could receive a one-stroke penalty for hitting a wrong ball from a sand trap (or water trap).
If a person does not know for sure whether they could be penalized for moving or touching a ball with a club, that person can instead hit the ball that they see, with no penalty if it is the wrong one.
In any area except a hazard area, which includes sand traps, a player can lift a ball to identify it and not receive a penalty. The ball must not be lifted or touched except for that which is necessary for identification. If a player abuses this privilege, that person could lose one stroke. Also, if a person lifts a ball in a hazardous area that person will receive a one-stroke penalty.
A person who does decide to identify a ball, however, and finds that it is a wrong one, or even if it is the right one (and chooses to take a one-stroke penalty in most cases) that person must put the ball back in the sand trap exactly where it was found.
If a ball is unplayable that person has three options to choose from and to receive a one-stroke penalty. These options are to drop a ball at the place where the ball was originally played, drop a ball within two club-lengths of the spot where the unplayable one lies, or drop a ball behind the point where the unplayable ball lies. In the third case the ball must be a set at a point directly between the hole and the spot on which it is dropped, and there is no limit how far behind that point that the ball may be dropped.
Another instance that can cause some confusion on the green (or in the sand rather) is when two balls are touching within a sand bunker. In this case, a ball can be lifted if a player thinks that shooting the ball will assist another player. Another other ball can be lifted too, but cannot be done while the ball played is in motion.
Penalty for breaking the rule mentioned above is loss of hole in Match Play and two strokes in stroke play. Also, when a ball is lifted under the guidelines mentioned in the previous paragraph it may not be cleaned.
In other instance, a ball can be picked up to identify with no penalty, but they must not touch it with the club. This usually applies to most areas except for sand traps. In the sand trap a person is allowed to use a club to help identify that ball.
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