What happens if I declare my ball unplayable in a bunker?

Yes, you can declare your ball unplayable in a bunker. You get four relief options under Rule 19.3: three keep you in the sand for one penalty stroke, and one lets you drop outside the bunker for two penalty strokes.

The three one-stroke options (stay in the bunker)

First, you can go back to where you hit your last shot — stroke and distance — and drop there for one penalty stroke. Second, you can drop in the bunker on a line straight back from the hole through where your ball lay (back-on-the-line relief), also for one stroke. Third, you can drop within two club-lengths of your ball, no closer to the hole, still in the bunker (lateral relief), again for one stroke. All three keep you in the sand.

The two-stroke option (get out of the bunker)

If you'd rather not play from the sand, you can take back-on-the-line relief outside the bunker. Drop on the line from the hole through your ball's spot, but outside the bunker. This costs two penalty strokes. It's the only way to escape the bunker without replaying your previous shot.

You decide — no one can stop you

Only you can declare your ball unplayable. Your playing partners can't overrule you, and you don't need a reason. Once you say it's unplayable, pick one of the four options and proceed. You can't change your mind after you drop.

Frequently asked questions

Can I drop outside the bunker for just one penalty stroke?

No. The only way to drop outside the bunker is the back-on-the-line option, and that costs two penalty strokes. The three one-stroke options all require you to drop inside the bunker.

Do I have to find my ball before declaring it unplayable in a bunker?

Yes. You must know where your ball is to use any of the relief options. If you can't find it, it's lost — you go back to the previous spot under stroke and distance (Rule 18.2), not unplayable ball relief.

Can I clean my ball when taking unplayable ball relief in a bunker?

Yes. Whenever you take relief under Rule 19, you may clean your ball before dropping it — whether you stay in the bunker or go outside it.

What if my ball is buried in the lip and I can't drop in the bunker without it rolling back to the same spot?

You still have to drop in the bunker for the one-stroke options. If the ball rolls back into the bad lie after two drops, you place it where it first struck the ground on the second drop. Or take the two-stroke option and get out entirely.

Can I declare my ball unplayable after I've already hit it out of the bunker?

No. Once you make a stroke at the ball, you've accepted the lie. Unplayable ball relief is only available before you play the ball from that spot.