Rule 12: Bunkers

A ball is in a bunker when any part of it touches sand on the ground inside the edge of the bunker.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 12.1 · recall

A lip, wall or face of soil or grass is not part of the bunker, so the ball is in the general area.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 12.1; Definition of Bunker · applied

Sand blown or washed away does not change the area: the ground where it normally lies still counts.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 12.1 · applied

A ball in or on a movable obstruction that touches sand in the bunker is in the bunker.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 12.1 · applied

A ball on grass or soil inside the edge of a bunker without touching sand is not in the bunker.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 12.1 · applied

Sand that has spilled over or lies outside the edge of the prepared area is not part of the bunker.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Definition of Bunker · recall

Rule 12.2 applies both during a round and while play is stopped.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 12.2 · recall

Two checks decide it: is the ball within the edge, and is any part of it on sand.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 12.1 · applied

The face is outside the bunker; the bunker starts at the edge of the prepared sand.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Definition of Bunker · recall

B rests on the grassy face, outside the bunker. A touches sand, C lies on a rake in the sand and D is on bare ground where sand normally is.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 12.1 · applied

Deliberately touching the sand to test its condition before a stroke from the bunker is a breach.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 12.2b(1) · applied

Touching the sand with a club right behind or in front of the ball is not allowed before the stroke.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 12.2b(1) · applied

Touching the sand with the club in the backswing is listed among the breaches.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 12.2b(1) · applied

Touching sand with a club in a practice swing in the bunker is a breach.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 12.2b(1) · applied

Loose impediments may be removed in a bunker, including reasonable touching or moving of sand while doing so.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 12.2a · applied

Touching sand near the ball while fairly searching is an exception to the club rule.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 12.2b(1); Rule 7.1a · applied

A breach of Rule 12.2 is the general penalty, two strokes in stroke play.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 12.2, Penalty · recall

The test itself is the breach; the penalty goes on the score for the hole.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 12.2b(1) · applied

The club may touch the sand only in the stroke itself.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 12.2b · applied

A presses a hand into the sand to test it. Digging in the feet (B), laying a rake down (C) and setting clubs on the sand (D) are allowed.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 12.2b · applied

Digging in with the feet to take a stance is one of the allowed ways of touching sand.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 12.2b(2) · applied

Leaning on a club to rest, stay balanced or avoid a fall is allowed.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 12.2b(2) · applied

Striking the sand in anger is allowed, but improving the conditions for the next stroke would breach Rule 8.1a.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 12.2b(2) · applied

Placing clubs, equipment or other objects in the bunker, by throwing or setting them down, is allowed.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 12.2b(2) · applied

Smoothing the bunker to care for the course is allowed as long as it does not improve the conditions for the stroke.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 12.2b(2) · applied

Measuring, marking, lifting and replacing under a Rule are allowed ways of touching sand.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 12.2b(2) · applied

Course care stops being allowed when it improves the conditions affecting the stroke.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 12.2b(2); Rule 8.1a · applied

Setting clubs down and leaning on a club are allowed; grounding behind the ball is not.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 12.2b(2) · applied

Actions under a Rule may touch the sand without penalty.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 12.2b(2); Rule 7.3 · applied

A's practice swing brushes the sand. Leaning on a club (B), marking the ball (C) and setting a club down (D) are allowed.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 12.2b · applied

Once the ball is played and outside the bunker, the player may touch and smooth the sand.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 12.2b(3) · applied

If the ball comes back into the bunker, the restrictions in Rules 12.2b(1) and 8.1a apply again.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 12.2b(3) · applied

Smoothing is allowed even when the sand is on the line of play for the next stroke from outside the bunker.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 12.2b(3) · applied

The freedom applies even when stroke-and-distance relief means dropping a ball back in the bunker.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 12.2b(3) · applied

Once a player has taken or intends to take relief outside the bunker, the restrictions lift.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 12.2b(3) · applied

If the player decides not to take relief outside after all, the restrictions return for that ball.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 12.2b(3) · applied

After the ball is out, smoothing the sand is allowed without penalty under Rule 8.1a too.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 12.2b(3) · recall

With the ball out, the bunker may be raked freely.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 12.2b(3) · applied

A ball back in the bunker brings the restrictions back.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 12.2b(3) · applied

Only B has a ball back in the sand, which brings the limits back. The other three balls are out, so raking is free.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 12.2b(3) · applied

Rule 12.3 points to abnormal course conditions, dangerous animal conditions and the unplayable ball Rule.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 12.3 · recall

Back-on-the-line relief outside the bunker is an extra option that costs two penalty strokes in all.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 19.3b · applied

Lateral relief and back-on-the-line relief inside the bunker cost one penalty stroke.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 19.3a · applied

Free relief from an abnormal course condition in a bunker is taken in the bunker.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 12.3; Rule 16.1c(1) · applied

As an extra option, relief may be taken outside the bunker on the line from the hole, for one penalty stroke.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 16.1c(2) · applied

Embedded ball relief is for the general area, not for a ball in the sand of a bunker.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 12.3; Rule 16.3a · applied

Stroke-and-distance relief means playing again from the spot of the previous stroke, for one penalty stroke.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 19.3a; Rule 19.2a · applied

This extra option for a ball in a bunker adds a second penalty stroke to the usual one.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 19.3b · applied

Free relief from the condition stays inside the bunker.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 16.1c(1) · applied

Lateral relief must stay in the bunker, so C outside it is not allowed. A is lateral in the bunker, D back on the line in the bunker, B back on the line outside for two strokes.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 19.3 · applied