Can I Take An Unplayable Lie In Bunker?

Yes!

With the new rule changes that came out in 2019 you may now take an unplayable lie in a bunker. Previously if you hit your golf ball into a sand trap there was no way to take an unplayable lie to get out of the bunker. This meant that if you were a horrible bunker player you might end up in the sand trap for 3, 4, 5 or even more strokes before finally, luckily, and miraculously hitting your shot out.

How do you apply the unplayable lie rule?

Here’s what the official rules of golf say:

a. Normal Relief Options (One Penalty Stroke)

When a player’s ball is in a bunker

The player may take unplayable ball relief for one penalty stroke under any of the options in Rule 19.2, except that:
The ball must be dropped in and come to rest in a relief area in the bunker if the player takes either back-on-the-line relief (see Rule 19.2b) or lateral relief (see Rule 19.2c).

b. Extra Relief Option (Two Penalty Strokes)

As an extra relief option when a player’s ball is in a bunker, for a total of two penalty strokes, the player may take back-on-the-line relief outside the bunker under rule 19.2b. Sound confusing? Let’s clear it up. If you want to take an unplayable lie in the bunker you have 4 options:

Drop within two club lengths inside the bunker (1 stroke penalty)
Drop on a line straight back in the bunker (1 Stroke penalty)
Drop on a line straight back outside the bunker (2 stroke penalty)
Hit from previous position (1 stroke penalty)

So if you take an unplayable in the bunker and you don’t want to hit from the bunker, it is either a two stroke penalty back along the line of the ball and the hole outside the bunker or stroke and distance from the previous location. Let’s say a play chunks a ball from directly behind the bunker and wants to play an unplayable. They could take stroke and distance and literally be on the same spot as is they dropped it behind the bunker for two strokes. This is one reason why it’s important to know the rules. I haven’t seen a pro take an unplayable penalty from within the bunker yet, but it is only a matter of time. Hope this helps.