A lot of players don’t understand how the special Covid-19 rule for bunkers really works. It is sometimes quite different from one golf course to the other.
Let’s start by saying this is not a provincial law. Every club can do what they want.
The only decision made was to take out the rakes from the bunkers. From there we have many different scenarios.
For now, the only good system is the one used by Golf Quebec, East Coast Pro Tour and Canada Cup Championship, IT IS THE PREFERRED LIES RULE APPLIED TO BUNKERS.
PREFERRED LIES
When a ball is in a bunker, the player may lift the ball, clean, and place the ball inside one club length from the original position, not nearer the hole and the ball must stay in the bunker. It is the player’s decision and only him.
Some golf courses have put into effect that rule but with the condition that the ball must be in a footprint or in a very bad lie.
This is wrong and very hard to put into effect. When is it a good lie and when it is not?
This is a door opening for discussions on the golf courses between players.
HANDICAP
Even with that special Covid-19 rule in effect, Golf Canada has decided that all the games played are valid for handicap.