is it legal to putt out of a wet/crusty bunker?

[ryan.mzzz]

Here in Miami-Dade we get lots of rain, and often I’ll encounter bunkers that have not been raked since the previous storm. While I’ve been doing ok in those situations by closing the face a little, taking less sand and swinging harder so I can get the club head through the sand while maintaining speed, I got paired with a couple Miami lifers the other day who just putt out of the bunkers on those occasions. So:

a) is this legal?

b) should I add this technique to my game? 

I’ve done it a few times now, and it works so well in the situation I’ve described that it feels like cheating. Thoughts?

[cnosil]

57 minutes ago, ryan.mzzz said:

a) is this legal?

b) should I add this technique to my game? 

 

Yes,  there are not rules regarding what club you can play from a location.  You can play the putter for every shot on the hole.

If the situation is right then why not have it as an option.

[DaveP043]

16 minutes ago, JonahGeorge said:

The legality of putting out of a wet or crusty bunker can depend on the specific rules and regulations of the golf course or tournament in question. Golf rules and regulations are typically established by the governing bodies such as the United States Golf Association (USGA) or the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews (R&A), and they may vary slightly from course to course.

There is no Rule or Model Local Rule which could prohibit putting from a Bunker.  To the OP, the answer is YES, you're absolutely allowed to putt from a bunker.  Whether you should add it to your arsenal of shots, why not develop another tool?  In certain conditions, and with certain bunker configurations, it can definitely be useful.

[cnosil]

15 minutes ago, DaveP043 said:

There is no Rule or Model Local Rule which could prohibit putting from a Bunker.  To the OP, the answer is YES, you're absolutely allowed to putt from a bunker.  Whether you should add it to your arsenal of shots, why not develop another tool?  In certain conditions, and with certain bunker configurations, it can definitely be useful.

Quoting an AI spambot won’t get you very far

[DaveP043]

2 minutes ago, cnosil said:

Quoting an AI spambot won’t get you very far

It is perhaps an even worse decision than using Google to search for Rules of Golf information.

But for @JonahGeorge, welcome to My Golf Spy, we're really only poking a little fun at you.  This is generally the most welcoming golf forum to be found.

[cnosil]

1 minute ago, DaveP043 said:

But for @JonahGeorge, welcome to My Golf Spy, we're really only poking a little fun at you.  This is generally the most welcoming golf forum to be found.

I was being serious.  That is a spam account; they have gotten good; they use AI to generate text related to the posts. 

[DaveP043]

2 hours ago, mkamryn said:

Rule 12.2b states that you're allowed to use any club to strike the ball in a bunker, including your putter.

I've read that rule, and I can't find anything that addresses the permission to use any club.  However, if something is not prohibited in the rules, its allowed, and the use of a putter in a bunker is allowed on that basis. And while its good to read local rules, its not acceptable to write a local rule that disallows something that the rules do allow. 12.2b discusses restrictions on touching the sand in a bunker while your ball is in that bunker.

Edited August 11, 2023 by DaveP043

[DaveP043]

On 11/2/2023 at 9:55 PM, alishakihn said:

Traditionally, golfers are expected to play bunker shots using a sand wedge or other appropriate club, and putting out of a bunker is not typically allowed. However, local rules can sometimes permit putting from a bunker under certain circumstances, such as when the bunker is severely flooded or unplayable due to excessive water or damage.

More mis-informed AI?

[russtopherb]

1 hour ago, DaveP043 said:

More mis-informed AI?

Yep. Those spam bots are getting slick.

[Bulldog]

It never occurred to me to putt out of a bunker until I saw one of my buddies do it on a par three and make a birdie. Ever since then, when my ball is in a bunker, I check to see if putting will work. Other golfers do double takes when they see you do it. I probably putt out of bunkers 1 out of every 6 times.