A player's ball lands in a bunker with temporary water, and the only dry area is closer to the hole. What is the ruling if the player drops outside the bunker?

When a player's ball lands in a bunker with temporary water, the player is entitled to relief under the Rules of Golf. According to the rules, if a player encounters temporary water in a bunker, they are allowed to take relief by dropping the ball outside the bunker. However, the drop must be done in accordance with specific regulations regarding the nearest point of relief.

In this scenario, since the only dry area is closer to the hole, the player must drop the ball in the nearest relief area that is both in accordance with the rules and outside the bunker. If the player takes such relief correctly, they incur a one-stroke penalty for dropping the ball outside the bunker instead of playing it from the bunker. This penalty reflects the seriousness of the situation as the player is benefitting from the location of the drop compared to hitting from a difficult lie in a bunker filled with water.

It's essential to follow the prescribed procedures for relief to avoid further penalties or violations of the rules. Understanding the rules related to water in bunkers can provide players with significant strategic advantages in their game.