Rescue Possible Outside the Bunker... 'Of Course'

Possible to play after drop with 2 penalty strokes
With 1 penalty stroke, must drop within bunker
No penalty if no intention to test day after tomorrow

Bunkers are a source of worry for amateur golfers. Sometimes, with a bit of luck, they can save par, but other times they lose several strokes and collapse. It’s especially frustrating when the ball is in a fried egg lie. This refers to when the ball is buried in the bunker sand, resembling an egg yolk. It is also called a buried lie or a plugged lie.

If you are not confident in escaping from the bunker, you can take a two-stroke penalty and come out of the bunker.

Weekend golfers often find it difficult to get the ball out of the bunker. If they hit the ball too hard, it flies well past the green; if they hit it too softly, the ball barely moves. Controlling the distance is also challenging. Even professional players struggle with the fried egg lie.

The fried egg lie is a nightmare. When the ball is buried in the sand, normal bunker techniques cannot be used. A different setup is required. First, both feet should be deeply buried in the sand to secure a firm stance. The ball is positioned in the center of the stance. In a fried egg lie, the clubface is closed when striking. Aim slightly to the right. In a typical bunker shot, the stance and clubface are open. However, in a fried egg lie, it is the exact opposite. The clubface must never be opened.

The swing path is the same as a regular bunker shot: an out-to-in path. Early cocking is done at the start of the backswing. The shot should explode the sand beneath the ball with the clubhead. This naturally creates a follow-through. There is no need to focus on the follow-through after impact.

In a fried egg lie, grip the club firmly. Since you need to strike the sand forcefully, a loose grip will cause mistakes. The backswing should be steeply lifted. The key point to remember is to maintain speed throughout the entire swing. Keeping this in mind will help the ball come out of the bunker. In a fried egg lie, pay attention to the area around the ball. Mark the spot where the sand is disturbed. Striking 2 to 3 cm behind the ball will help you easily escape the bunker.

Fried egg lies are challenging even for tour players.
[Photo by Golf Digest]

What if it’s impossible to escape? Is it possible to get out of the bunker? According to the 2019 revised rules, yes. You can declare the ball unplayable in the bunker and take a two-stroke penalty. Then, drop outside the bunker and continue play. Rule 19.2b applies. Relief is taken behind a reference line directly behind the original ball’s position, outside the bunker. If you take a one-stroke penalty, you must drop within the bunker.

There are many rules related to bunkers that need to be checked. The Royal & Ancient Golf Club (R&A) and the United States Golf Association (USGA) have relaxed the prohibitions on actions in bunkers. Accidentally touching the sand with the club is not penalized if there is no intention to improve the lie or test the sand. You can lean on the sand with your club while another player is making a shot. No penalty is given for hitting the sand in frustration after a poor shot result. Before making a bunker shot, you may remove loose impediments such as stones or twigs.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.