Can you rake the bunker?

[Pardner]

So, you're in a bunker and you hit your ball into a water yellow water hazard (doh) on the other side of the putting green.  You decide to proceed with rule 26-1a and play the ball as closely as possible to the original lie.  Well, now the bunker is all messed up and not at all like the "original" ... do you get to rake it and try and recreate the "original" landscape?  My gut feel is no.

[6Aces]

You may rake the bunker.  Rule 13-4 Exception 2

2. At any time, the player may smooth sand or soil in a hazard provided this is for the sole purpose of caring for the course and nothing is done to breach Rule 13-2 with respect to his next stroke . If a ball played from a hazard is outside the hazard after the stroke , the player may smooth sand or soil in the hazard without restriction.

Also, Decision 13-4/37.

[Dormie1360]

You may rake the bunker.  Rule 13-4 Exception 2

2. At any time, the player may smooth sand or soil in a hazard provided this is for the sole purpose of caring for the course and nothing is done to breach Rule 13-2 with respect to his next stroke. If a ball played from a hazard is outside the hazard after the stroke, the player may smooth sand or soil in the hazard without restriction.

Also, Decision 13-4/37.

I highlighted the last sentence.  When these changes came out in 2012 I initially had a hard time getting my head wrapped around the exception and cases like 26-1a, 27-1, playing out of turn, etc.   The last sentence finely sunk in which makes this pretty simple.

Up to 2 aces by the way.

[Pardner]

Thanks for the reply 6Aces and the highlighting Dormie.  Have to admit ... the highlighted part didn't sink in until you pointed it out Dormie.

[DaveP043]

I think its important to note that you may replay the shot by dropping the ball as close to the original location as possible (you can tee the ball if your original was from the tee, you place the ball on the putting green, but must drop anywhere else).  You don't get to place the ball in the bunker to try to recreate the original lie.  Dropping a ball in a bunker often leaves it partially embedded in its own mark.

[DrvFrShow]

I would say that you get to rake the bunker, then go over to the water hazard to be virtually certain that your ball went in, then return to the bunker and drop your ball as close as possible to where you hit it.

[Asheville]

I would say that you get to rake the bunker, then go over to the water hazard to be virtually certain that your ball went in, then return to the bunker and drop your ball as close as possible to where you hit it.

You certainly may do it that way, however so long as your golf ball is not in that bunker you may smooth it.