Steps leading into bunkers

[Forbesie]

Some of the bunkers on my course have wooden steps leading into them, one in particular has a step in the bunker at sand level.

If a ball landed and stopped on these steps what is the ruling? I think it would be a free drop, a club length from the nearest point of relief, not nearer the hole for the steps "outside" the bunker but unsure about the one "inside" the bunker.

[M0stly harm13ss]

You will not automatically get a drop unless they have been deemed an 'immovable obstruction' by the Committee and a local rule is in force. These rules should be printed on the back of your card (it may be that paths on the course and these steps are lumped together in one rule). All the steps should be treated in the same way, whether they are inside or outside the bunker.

(You are right about the drop though, 1 club length taking full relief from the steps at the nearest point, no nearer the hole, etc. etc.. You will not drop in the bunker though, nor should the ball come to rest in the bunker after the drop.)

[Foxholer]

You will not automatically get a drop unless they have been deemed an 'immovable obstruction' by the Committee and a local rule is in force. These rules should be printed on the back of your card (it may be that paths on the course and these steps are lumped together in one rule). All the steps should be treated in the same way, whether they are inside or outside the bunker.

(You are right about the drop though, 1 club length taking full relief from the steps at the nearest point, no nearer the hole, etc. etc.. You will not drop in the bunker though, nor should the ball come to rest in the bunker after the drop.)

If the ball initially ended up (on the steps) in the bunker, then the drop must be in the bunker and the ball must finish in the bunker.

Actually means that steps should be in a part of the bunker in the 'nearest the hole' area - as otherwise there would be potential for drops being 'impossible'. Shots from this sort of bunker are hard enough at the best of times!

Ross

[M0stly harm13ss]

If the ball initially ended up (on the steps) in the bunker, then the drop must be in the bunker and the ball must finish in the bunker.

Actually means that steps should be in a part of the bunker in the 'nearest the hole' area - as otherwise there would be potential for drops being 'impossible'. Shots from this sort of bunker are hard enough at the best of times!

Ross

I don't think that's right Ross .The steps are either an immovable obstuction, in which case you get a free drop but not in the bunker (as you were not in the hazard), or defined as part of the hazard, in which case no relief is allowed (but you could take an unplayable lie drop under penalty).

The only part of a bunker that is the hazard is the sand, not the rivetted (sp.) face or any of the lips.

As for impossible drops, not sure what you mean. If you drop on the slope outside the trap and it runs in, or runs nearer the hole, you just drop again. If the same thing happens, the ball is placed where it hit the ground on the second drop.

It's all sort of immaterial anyway as it should be made clear on the course card!

[Foxholer]

I don't think that's right Ross .The steps are either an immovable obstuction, in which case you get a free drop but not in the bunker (as you were not in the hazard), or defined as part of the hazard, in which case no relief is allowed (but you could take an unplayable lie drop under penalty).

The only part of a bunker that is the hazard is the sand, not the rivetted (sp.) face or any of the lips.

As for impossible drops, not sure what you mean. If you drop on the slope outside the trap and it runs in, or runs nearer the hole, you just drop again. If the same thing happens, the ball is placed where it hit the ground on the second drop.

It's all sort of immaterial anyway as it should be made clear on the course card!
Notwithstanding any 'local' definition - on the card:

My point was about (wooden) steps that actually lead down into the bunker - and rest on the sand.

As the border of a bunker is actually defined as the point where the sand encounters grass or revetted face (A wall or lip of the bunker not covered with grass (or stacked turf) is actually part of the bunker!) then it is likely that those steps will be in the bunker (there is actually a few combinations of circumstances possible!).

So wooden steps, touching the sand are in the bunker and are an immoveable obstruction - and (free) relief is allowed, but must be in the bunker.

My point about 'impossible' drops is where those steps are at the point furthest away from the flag. It would be possible to have a 'relief' situation, but nowhere in the bunker that is 'not nearer the hole' where relief can be taken! So steps into such bunkers should be placed at the side (potentially dangerous at the front!). I think that's how the nasty little one at the back of the 11th at Dundonald was when I went into it (both rounds!) though I'm not sure whether the steps actually touched the sand.

One further point. Steps should always be 'manufactured'. If they are merely cut, then they are neither part of the bunker, nor 'immoveable obstructions' so any relief would have to be under penalty - which is not 'fair' imo. And if they are built in such a way that they dont touch the sand, then they are not in the bunker - so that's the 'proper' way to build them!

Hope that helps.

Ross