Everyone: In my last Rules e mail that I sent to you I covered “embedded ball Rule” and how under Rule 16.3 a. relief for an embedded ball is only allowed in the General area. A bunker is not defined as being in the General area so the options in a bunker are to play the ball as it lies or use Rule 19, Unplayable ball. See page 169 in your Rules book, Rule 19.3a.
However, some of you may have watched the U.S Open tournament on June 18th and saw that Rory was allowed relief from an embedded ball and he was in a bunker and wondered, “What, did Hilary mislead us all???”
Let me explain and dispel any confusion you may have.
In Rory’s case although he was standing in the sand in the bunker his ball was embedded in the earth/dirt shelf above the bunker and so he was allowed relief. If his ball had been a few feet lower it would have been in the bunker sand, and he would not have been allowed relief. He was very lucky!
Our bunkers at Discovery Bay, and at most courses, are completely constructed with sand and if a ball embeds in the upslope of a bunker embedded ball relief is not allowed, because it’s sand!
I hope this clarifies this unusual embedded ball ruling. Hilary
Discovery Bay Women's Golf Club 
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