Rule of the Month – Embedded Ball in a Bunker Face What happens if your ball plugs into the face of a bunker? Under Rule 16.3b, you are entitled to free relief if your ball is embedded in its own pitch-mark in the ground in the general area. The important point is that the face of a bunker is generally part of the general area, and not actually the bunker, whereas the sand area inside the bunker is part of the bunker. Therefore, if your ball becomes embedded in the face of the bunker i.e. the 16th greenside bunker, you can take free relief. How to take relief: Find the spot immediately behind where the ball is embedded and drop a ball within one club-length, no nearer the hole, in the general area (i.e. not within the bunker) But remember: If the ball is embedded in the sand of the bunker, Rule 16.3 does not provide free relief. But you do have the 5 standard bunker options: 1. Play it as it lies 2. For one penalty stroke, the player may take stroke-and-distance relief i.e. retake the shot from where you last hit it before you landed in the bunker 3. For one penalty stroke, the player may take back-on-the-line relief in the bunker. 4. For one penalty stroke, the player may take lateral relief in the bunker. Two club lengths. 5. For a total of two penalty strokes, the player may take back-on-the-line relief outside the bunker. Drop your ball from knee height, for options 2 – 5.