Posts by stangmark

Technically no, as long as the rake is not used to improve your lie or stance, test the bunker sand, or assist in the swing line (i.e. leaving it parallel to your stance and aligning your body perpendicular to the hole).  In a...

The golf ball is always played as it lies, regardless of line of travel; and apply rules based on this alone.  If it is OB, re-hit from original lie with a one-stroke penalty (keeping in mind that it is not really a penalty...

In some cases the outermost edge of the water and the nearest stake, if the stakes do not continue, if that was not clear.  

In the case of a water hazard, whether regular (yellow) or lateral (red) the margin of the water-line and or/any boundary stakes/lines are considered to be in the hazard, and play a ball touching this area per applicable USGA and local...

If you wish to declare your first shot unplayable, take a stroke and hit three from the tee (technically you should retrieve the first ball and play it)---that's the lowest score you could card, and even then...  If your carding...

Your first shot is abandoned once you look for it and play the second provisional.  The first provisional is in play until you abandon it and strike the second provisional in play.  

An honest effort to find the original ball must be made, and anyone can look, and if found the provisional must be abandoned and the original played as it lies---for no more than five minutes.  

You get free relief from standing water interfering with your stance or swing, even in a bunker.  The relief, as you said, must be in the bunker and not be nearer to the hole.  

If you feel definitively assured, and no one contests such, that your actions did not cause the ball to move, and you had not placed your club at address or were taking a swing with the intention of striking the ball, recreate the...

You never get relief, without penalty, due to the line of sight being affected---unless there's a local rule regarding free relief from the safety nets.