Written by: Darin Green, Senior Director of Rules & Competitions
It is nearly impossible to play an 18-hole round of golf and not encounter your ball coming to rest in a bunker. Playing out of the sand is a difficult test of golf and something that we all should practice. Bunkers are also a unique area of the course; it is one of the five defined areas of the course, and there are several restrictions when in a bunker.
Rule 12 covers bunkers and has three parts to the Rule: 12.1 When Ball is in Bunker, 12.2 Playing Ball in Bunker, and Specific Rules for Relief for Ball in Bunker.
When Ball is in Bunker
The first part of this Rule is simple; it tells us when a ball is in a bunker. A ball is in the bunker when any part of the ball touches sand in the bunker. A ball is also in the bunker when it lies on top of something that is in the bunker, like a leaf (loose impediment), a rake (movable obstruction), or some abnormal course condition (hole made by an animal). Finally, a ball is in the bunker if the ball lies in an area that normally contains sand, but presently does not.
Playing Ball in Bunker
The second part of this Rule explains what we can move in a bunker and when we can and cannot touch the sand in the bunker.
Since 2019 you may remove loose impediments from bunkers, provided your ball does not move in the process of removing them. Loose impediments are natural items that are not fixed or growing, including leaves, twigs, detached moss, grass clippings, etc. Additionally, you may remove any movable obstructions in the bunker. Movable obstructions are man-made items and include rakes, towels, candy wrappers, etc.
There is a common misconception about bunkers that a player is never allowed to touch the sand in the bunker. Below is a list of actions when touching the sand results in a penalty and when touching does not result in a penalty
When touching sand before making a stroke at a ball in a bunker results in the general penalty (loss of hole in match play or two-strokes in stroke play):
- Deliberately touching sand in the bunker with a hand, club, rake or other object to test the condition of the sand (intent on testing is required)
- Touching sand in the bunker with a club in front of or right behind the ball
- Touching sand in the bunker with a club while making a practice swing
- Touching sand in the bunker with a club during the backswing for a stroke
When touching sand in a bunker does not result in penalty:
- Digging in with the feet to take a stance
- Smoothing (raking) the bunker to care for the course, provided it does not improve your line of play
- Measuring, marking, lifting, replacing or taking other actions under a Rule
- Leaning on a club to rest or prevent falling
- Striking the sand in frustration or anger
But, the allowed actions above must not improve the player’s conditions affecting the stroke (lie of ball, area of stance, area of intended swing, and line of play).
Once your ball is played outside of the bunker, there are no restrictions on the player in regards to touching the sand in the bunker.
Specific Rules for Relief for Ball in Bunker
The third and final part of Rule 12 is short. It basically says that if you have interference in a bunker from an abnormal course condition, a dangerous animal condition, or an unplayable ball, to see Rules 16 or 19.
