If I hate like bunker shots can I declare the ball unplayable and take the penalty and hit from original spot?

Question

The answer to this question may save you lots of strokes

Answer 1

Yes, you can declare the ball unplayable at any time, even if it's on the green.

Answer 2

you can....if you enjoy playing a game that's not really golf.  seriously, though, if you learn to hit out of bunkers well you'll really improve your game and your confidence.

Answer 3

just watch these videos. They will actually save you strokes.

http://www.golflink.com/tipsvideos/categ...

Answer 4

yes

Answer 5

To hate bunker shots is one of the dumbest things one can do. The pros who have long shots to par 5s will purposely aim for the greenside bunkers and try to avoid the rough. Why? Because the bunker shot is one of the easiest shots in the game. Just take an open stance. Right hander aim left of the flagstick. Open the face of the sand wedge take a full swing and slip the face under the ball with a full follow thru.If you need a fair amount of carry swing hard taking a little less sand. If all you need is to get out to a short pin,open stance, softer swing slip club under ball with full follow thru. The secret is full follow thru.

Answer 6

Why would you declare the shot unplayable unless you're extremely bad at bunker shots.  Declaring it unplayable means you lose the chance of making a good sand shot and perhaps holing it.  I can understand it if by a freak of nature, the original position of the ball was 1 foot from the hole which guarantees holing it out with two strokes (one penalty and one stroke to hole out) vs sand shot which may leave you a long putt.

In the case of fairway bunker, that means you lose the distance that the sand shot may give you as well as the additional penalty.  So that to me is a two strokes disadvantage.  Let's say you hit the sand 100 yards out.  You declare unplayable lie, take stroke, go back to tee box, by the time you hit your tee shot again, it'd be counted as the third shot, and you may end up in the bunker again.  Compare that to hitting it out of the sand with a 7 for example, you will gain distance and that's only your second shot.

Players who are not very good with sand shots need only to think hit the sand to get the ball out.  No need to get it close, just hit the sand with a 3/4 swing, guarantee to get the ball out.

I don't think it's a stupid rule to be able to declare unplayable lie whenever the player wants to.  It comes with a penalty shot.  Even if it's unplayable, the worst you can do is hit it bad but still get distance advantage.  With penalty shot you get zip.

Answer 7

Yes you can. The player is the sole determinant of whether or not a ball is unplayable (unless it's a cut ball in which case he is required to show it to his opponent).

But seriuosly once you learn to hit out of sand (it's easy) you will AIM for bunkers to avoid rough

Answer 8

Rule 13 states "you must play the ball as it lies" - there are some exceptions to this rule where you're entitled to relief (see Rule 24 for example), but as a general rule you are not allowed pick up the ball (from any lie) and drop it for a stroke penalty.  If you violate Rule 13 in stroke play, that's a two stroke penalty.  In match play, you lose the match!  Might I suggest a review of all the rules of golf?

Answer 9

seriously, learn to hit from a bunker.  You will save more strokes in the long run than taking the penalty and rehitting.  What happens if you role into the beach again?  more penalty strokes?

Answer 10

yes you are able to declare the ball as unplayable and take the penalty stroke and hit it from the original spot. i learned off this rule while i was on the nike tour...

Answer 11

we all hate bunker shots but get used to hitting them, you will likely end up in the bunkers most of the time,