# Rule 12: Bunkers (The R&A and USGA Rules of Golf)

Golf · Rule 12: Bunkers · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/golf/laws/rule-12-bunkers/)

When a ball is in a bunker, touching the sand that is penalised and that is allowed, what changes once the ball has left the bunker, and relief for a ball in a bunker.

## 12.121 Bunkers

When a ball is in a bunker, touching the sand, after the ball has left, and relief in a bunker.

### Test 1: When a ball is in a bunker

- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- Rule 12.2 applies both during a round and while play is stopped. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 12.2)
- 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)
- The face is outside the bunker; the bunker starts at the edge of the prepared sand. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Definition of Bunker)
- 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)

### Test 2: Touching the sand: what is penalised

- 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))
- 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))
- Touching the sand with the club in the backswing is listed among the breaches. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 12.2b(1))
- Touching sand with a club in a practice swing in the bunker is a breach. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 12.2b(1))
- 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)
- 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)
- A breach of Rule 12.2 is the general penalty, two strokes in stroke play. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 12.2, Penalty)
- The test itself is the breach; the penalty goes on the score for the hole. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 12.2b(1))
- The club may touch the sand only in the stroke itself. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 12.2b)
- 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)

### Test 3: Touching the sand: what is allowed

- 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))
- Leaning on a club to rest, stay balanced or avoid a fall is allowed. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 12.2b(2))
- 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))
- 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))
- 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))
- Measuring, marking, lifting and replacing under a Rule are allowed ways of touching sand. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 12.2b(2))
- 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)
- 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))
- Actions under a Rule may touch the sand without penalty. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 12.2b(2); Rule 7.3)
- 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)

### Test 4: After the ball has left the bunker

- 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))
- 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))
- 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))
- 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))
- 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))
- 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))
- 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))
- With the ball out, the bunker may be raked freely. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 12.2b(3))
- A ball back in the bunker brings the restrictions back. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 12.2b(3))
- 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))

### Test 5: Relief for a ball in a bunker

- Rule 12.3 points to abnormal course conditions, dangerous animal conditions and the unplayable ball Rule. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 12.3)
- 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)
- Lateral relief and back-on-the-line relief inside the bunker cost one penalty stroke. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 19.3a)
- 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))
- 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))
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- Free relief from the condition stays inside the bunker. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 16.1c(1))
- 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)

Sources: Rules of Golf, effective January 2023 (The R&A and USGA), Rule 12, with Rules 16.1c and 19.3 for relief and the Definitions (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the Rules, not reproduced)

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