Knowing the rules is an advantage: A case study of a shot from the green to a bunker

This is a situation where understanding the rules can be applied to achieve the best score.

Scenario: On a par-3 hole, after a tee shot that lands on the green, a player putts with too much force and the ball rolls off the green into a deep bunker. Without strong sand-play skills, the player may take an additional stroke or more to get the ball back onto the green. However, with a solid understanding of the rules, the player can still achieve the best possible score.

Specifically, the player may incur a one-stroke penalty, replace the ball, and putt. This is often a more strategic approach than attempting a bunker shot.

According to Rule 18.1, a player may at any time take relief by adding a penalty stroke and playing a ball from the previous spot.

Rule 14.6c specifies that when the previous stroke was made from a putting green, the ball must be "placed" rather than "dropped."

Rule 18.3b clearly states that if a player fails to announce a provisional ball and plays a ball from the previous spot, that ball becomes the player's in-play ball under penalty of stroke and distance.

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