Comments on: Bunker Rakes: In or Out? http://thesandtrap.com/extras/rules/bunker_rakes_in_or_out Golf News, Reviews, and Commentary Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:22:24 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Helmar Prent http://thesandtrap.com/extras/rules/bunker_rakes_in_or_out#comment-18297 Helmar Prent Tue, 08 Sep 2009 20:59:13 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/uncategorized/bunker_rakes_in_or_out/#comment-18297 What does being a Calvinist have to with cruel and unusual punishment, golf or whether to leave rakes in or out of the bunker? Very strange. I do agree that rakes should be left outside the bunker but they should not be placed so that they may possibly interfere with a ball heading towards the green. I do not know what a "work-a-day golfer" is so I do not know if I am one or not but I have seen a lot of shots negatively affected by rakes that are placed in such a position that they deflect or stop balls that are headed towards the green. What does being a Calvinist have to with cruel and unusual punishment, golf or whether to leave rakes in or out of the bunker? Very strange.

I do agree that rakes should be left outside the bunker but they should not be placed so that they may possibly interfere with a ball heading towards the green. I do not know what a "work-a-day golfer" is so I do not know if I am one or not but I have seen a lot of shots negatively affected by rakes that are placed in such a position that they deflect or stop balls that are headed towards the green.

]]> By: Peter Briggeman http://thesandtrap.com/extras/rules/bunker_rakes_in_or_out#comment-18287 Peter Briggeman Tue, 08 Sep 2009 01:25:31 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/uncategorized/bunker_rakes_in_or_out/#comment-18287 Do you guys read the Recomendation section in the USGA Rules Decisions? USGA recommends OUT.I doubt if very many work-a-day golfers can cite any instances of out rakes affecting their round badly...or helping much. A sand bunker is designed to allow the ball to "gather" at its center. Trapping a ball within inches of the edge of a trap is cruel and unusual puishment...unless you are a Calvinist; in that case, you got what you deserve. If hitting into a trap is a mortal sin, why not have a direct drop to China built in? One reason the pros are so good at escaping is that they usually are not glued to the edge of the bunker.Can you imagine one of those guys getting a lie caused by a rake? And, the myth of saving grass cutting labor? Baloney! When the ground crew arrive to deal with the bunkers, they now have to get out and get those rakes out of there so as to be able to prepare that sand. Basically, a trade off. They stand around trying to determine the nicest place to leave that rake. Usually it is the WORST place. But the Greeen Chairman is tickled pink; If he is a Calvinist. Do you guys read the Recomendation section in the USGA Rules Decisions? USGA recommends OUT.I doubt if very many work-a-day golfers can cite any instances of out rakes affecting their round badly...or helping much. A sand bunker is designed to allow the ball to "gather" at its center. Trapping a ball within inches of the edge of a trap is cruel and unusual puishment...unless you are a Calvinist; in that case, you got what you deserve. If hitting into a trap is a mortal sin, why not have a direct drop to China built in? One reason the pros are so good at escaping is that they usually are not glued to the edge of the bunker.Can you imagine one of those guys getting a lie caused by a rake?
And, the myth of saving grass cutting labor? Baloney! When the ground crew arrive to deal with the bunkers, they now have to get out and get those rakes out of there so as to be able to prepare that sand. Basically, a trade off. They stand around trying to determine the nicest place to leave that rake. Usually it is the WORST place. But the Greeen Chairman is tickled pink; If he is a Calvinist.

]]> By: Jon Roberts http://thesandtrap.com/extras/rules/bunker_rakes_in_or_out#comment-17058 Jon Roberts Fri, 19 Jun 2009 18:46:43 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/uncategorized/bunker_rakes_in_or_out/#comment-17058 Furthermore, a rake is a moveable obstruction (Rule 24-1)which is allowed to be moved, play the ball as it lies. If somehow the rake buried the shot, you've got bigger issues to address in your golf game. Furthermore, a rake is a moveable obstruction (Rule 24-1)which is allowed to be moved, play the ball as it lies. If somehow the rake buried the shot, you've got bigger issues to address in your golf game.

]]> By: R. van Liefland http://thesandtrap.com/extras/rules/bunker_rakes_in_or_out#comment-16807 R. van Liefland Thu, 04 Jun 2009 14:34:06 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/uncategorized/bunker_rakes_in_or_out/#comment-16807 In general we keep rakes 'out of the way' of a ball in play. at lateral fareway- and greenbunkers on the roughside / at middlebunkers either side - shaft backward parallel to the general line of play/tines down). In general we keep
rakes 'out of the way' of a ball in play.

at lateral fareway- and greenbunkers on the roughside / at middlebunkers either side - shaft backward parallel to the general line of play/tines down).

]]> By: John http://thesandtrap.com/extras/rules/bunker_rakes_in_or_out#comment-13688 John Sun, 12 Oct 2008 15:24:54 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/uncategorized/bunker_rakes_in_or_out/#comment-13688 Rakes should be left inside of bunkers in order to eliminate their impact on the path of a ball outside of a bunker. A bad lie or bounch because of a rake within a bunker is unfortunate but, by USGA definition, a bunker is intended to be a hazard; albeit not much of one for the pros. A golfer must be prepared to accept the good or bad consquences of an errant shot into a hazard. A poor lie in a bunker resulting from an improperly replaced rake is a far better outcome than a ball buried in a divot in the middle of a fairway. Rakes should be left inside of bunkers in order to eliminate their impact on the path of a ball outside of a bunker.

A bad lie or bounch because of a rake within a bunker is unfortunate but, by USGA definition, a bunker is intended to be a hazard; albeit not much of one for the pros. A golfer must be prepared to accept the good or bad consquences of an errant shot into a hazard.

A poor lie in a bunker resulting from an improperly replaced rake is a far better outcome than a ball buried in a divot in the middle of a fairway.

]]> By: C.S. http://thesandtrap.com/extras/rules/bunker_rakes_in_or_out#comment-11270 C.S. Sat, 14 Jun 2008 00:48:47 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/uncategorized/bunker_rakes_in_or_out/#comment-11270 It is dangerous to leave a rake with the tines up; a person could easily lose their balance climbing into or out of a bunker and fall on the rake. You should never, under any circumstances, leave a rake "tines up" the GCSAA is completely wrong to promote this idea. It is dangerous to leave a rake with the tines up; a person could easily lose their balance climbing into or out of a bunker and fall on the rake.

You should never, under any circumstances, leave a rake "tines up" the GCSAA is completely wrong to promote this idea.

]]> By: Helmar Prent http://thesandtrap.com/extras/rules/bunker_rakes_in_or_out#comment-10966 Helmar Prent Tue, 20 May 2008 01:32:35 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/uncategorized/bunker_rakes_in_or_out/#comment-10966 IMHO rakes should be left in the bunker so that the only shot that can possibly be negatively affected by the rake is a shot that was hit into the bunker. Rules should be such that poor shots are potentially subject to negative outcomes, not better shots. In addition, placing the rake parallel to play may further increase the chance the rake may negatively affect a good shot. For example a ball landing on or bounding through the front apron next to a front left or a front right bunker may possibly finish on the green but such a shot also has a chance to strike a rake that is placed parallel to play. If rakes are to be left outside the bunker then IMHO they should be placed so that the bunker is between the rake and the green. That way the only shots that can possibly be affected by a rake are poor shots that are headed toward a bunker. The problem with that is if bunkers are large then restricting such placement of rakes may result in a lot of raking and require longer routes and as a result slow down play. In such cases it would be acceptable to place rakes between the bunker and the green. IMHO rakes should be left in the bunker so that the only shot that can possibly be negatively affected by the rake is a shot that was hit into the bunker. Rules should be such that poor shots are potentially subject to negative outcomes, not better shots.

In addition, placing the rake parallel to play may further increase the chance the rake may negatively affect a good shot. For example a ball landing on or bounding through the front apron next to a front left or a front right bunker may possibly finish on the green but such a shot also has a chance to strike a rake that is placed parallel to play. If rakes are to be left outside the bunker then IMHO they should be placed so that the bunker is between the rake and the green. That way the only shots that can possibly be affected by a rake are poor shots that are headed toward a bunker. The problem with that is if bunkers are large then restricting such placement of rakes may result in a lot of raking and require longer routes and as a result slow down play. In such cases it would be acceptable to place rakes between the bunker and the green.

]]> By: How to Rake Sand Bunkers | The Sand Trap http://thesandtrap.com/extras/rules/bunker_rakes_in_or_out#comment-163 How to Rake Sand Bunkers | The Sand Trap Tue, 14 Dec 2004 00:13:46 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/uncategorized/bunker_rakes_in_or_out/#comment-163 Raking bunkers properly is a nice way of "paying it backwards," and here's how you do it. Raking bunkers properly is a nice way of "paying it backwards," and here's how you do it.

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