The rainy season is upon us here in Northern California.
So, what should you do if your ball lands in a bunker filled with water? What are a player's options?
When the bunker is filled with temporary water, you may play your ball as it lies or take free relief in the bunker.
When taking free relief, you must find the nearest point of complete relief in the bunker and drop within the one club-length relief area (see Rule 16.1c(1)). If complete relief is not available, you may take free maximum available relief in the bunker and drop within the one club-length relief area from the point of maximum available relief (see Rule 16.1c(1)).
Additionally, for one penalty stroke you may drop a ball outside the bunker by going back-on-the-line as far as you’d like keeping the point where your ball lies in the temporary water between you and the hole (see Rule 16.1c(2)).
Check out the video for a visual lesson on how to handle this situation.