"Casual Water" Question

[pittpanther]

My buddy and I were playing a friendly round over the weekend. It had rained the previous night, and we also got caught in a downpour during our round. We waited it out for about 30 minutes, then continued our round.

Anyway, I hit my second shot into a bunker that is protecting the green. The bunker was completely full of water - I mean no horizontal sand was visible, only the steep sides of the bunker. We used the rake and actually found my ball after a half-dozen tries. I dropped the ball on the fairway behind the bunker and continued.

Later I got to thinking about the rules in that situation. I consulted the rulebook, and it appears I should have taken a penalty stroke. Is my interpretation correct? It doesn't seem "fair," considering it was not my fault that the bunkers were full of water.

I know, I know. No one ever said life was fair...

[klaymon]

You are only entitled to relief within the bunker. For example, if there is no sand visible and if most of the bunker has 3" of water in it and there is an area that only has 1" of water in it, you are to drop your ball in the 1" of water. Since you took relief outside of it, you should have taken a penalty stroke.

http://www.usga.org/questions/faqs/r...dx=102&Rule;=25

[michaeljames92]

Yeah in that situation do what klaymon said or take a line of sight unplayable with a stroke penalty

[blue3715]

If you have dry joys.. take one off and start bailing water...