Played a shot recently into a bunker (nothing new there) and it lay ok but close to some unraked footprints.  I played the ball but it went into rough.  I exited the bunker and raked it then - as there was a high chance it would be a lost ball - I decided to play a provisional.  I dropped a ball in the bunker where the original ball was but obviously it was onto a area of freshly raked sand and hence was a good lie(?) albeit it deeper in the sand as a result of the drop as opposed to being on the surface from rolling in.  The first ball was subsequently ruled as lost so I continued with the provisional.

So.  Was this correct or not?  Should the bunker be raked before the drop?  Should the ball be dropped or placed?

Tha's a good one there Andy, my initial thought is you incur a penalty for playing the provisional after raking the bunker.

But bearing in mind you would have done so before going to find your first ball lost I'm a bit stumped on this one

It is a puzzler cos the other side of the coin is that if you don't rake the bunker, you would have to drop (or place) the ball in the mess caused by your first shot. On the basis that the bunker should have been in an 'as raked' condition when your ball first went in then I don't think raking the bunker before you re-place your ball should be disallowed.  By the same token - if you are taking another shot (provisional or otherwise) from any place (be-it fairway, rough or bunker) should you not place your ball rather than drop it?

Glad you got round to asking that one, judging from the puzzled looks from everyone when you'd finished yesterday you aren't the only one curious as to the ruling.

Rules 13 & 27

Ball hit out of bounds/lost ball

"If you have hit your ball from the bunker out of bounds or to a place where you cannot find it, you have to drop a ball on the spot where the last stroke was played from, with 1 penalty stroke - back into the bunker. However, you are allowed to rake the sand before dropping the ball"

Cheers martin - should've just checked the rulebook 'suppose!

Still.  Good to know that unknowingly, I acted entirely in accordance with the rulebook.  Conscious clear.

The fact that it is a 'Provisional Ball' may change the Ruling Martin. I'll have to check.

If the Ball is Out of Bounds or Lost, no problem, you can rake before dropping a Substitute Ball.

TheLyth