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your ball is lying next to a rake in the slope of a bunker. i know you can move the rake. but what happens if the ball moves its position? do you place it where it was sitting or drop it? and if you do place it what happens if it won't stay there because of the slope? this happen to me once and i decided to drop it which of course it then plugged. it kinda seemed unfair to me because the ball would have most likely rolled out of or to the bottom of the bunker if the rake wasnt there. any answers as to the correct procedure?

If the ball moves when you remove the rake, you must replace it (meaning place, not drop). If it will not stay in that position, then it must be placed at the nearest point not nearer the hole where the ball will remain at rest. This does not give one an option... it must be the nearest place to where the ball originally lay against the rake.

I've heard you mark the ball. Pick the ball up. Move the Rake. Drop the Ball. Play from where it settles after drop.

I forgot to add, it also must still be placed in the bunker.

When the ball comes to rest on or against a rake in the bunker and the player must proceed under Rule 24-1>>> from: Untitled Document

Rule 24. Obstructions

Definitions
All defined terms are in italics and are listed alphabetically in the Definitions section.

24-1. Movable ObstructionA player may take relief, without penalty, from a movable obstruction as follows:

a. If the ball does not lie in or on the obstruction, the obstruction may be removed. If the ball moves, it must be replaced, and there is no penalty, provided that the movement of the ball is directly attributable to the removal of the obstruction. Otherwise, Rule 18-2a applies.

b. If the ball lies in or on the obstruction, the ball may be lifted and the obstruction removed. The ball must through the green or in a hazard be dropped, or on the putting green be placed, as near as possible to the spot directly under the place where the ball lay in or on the obstruction, but not nearer the hole.

The ball may be cleaned when lifted under this Rule.
When a ball is in motion, an obstruction that might influence the movement of the ball, other than equipment of any player or the flagstick when attended, removed or held up, must not be moved.

(Exerting influence on ball - see Rule 1-2.)

Note: If a ball to be dropped or placed under this Rule is not immediately recoverable, another ball may be substituted.

from>>The Rules of Golf