At a recent men's elite competition I was amazed to come across a golfer who routinely grounded his club behind the ball and then swept the sand away on his backswing. While the 2019 rule did make a few changes about is allowable in a bunker this didn't change.
Rule 12 is all about bunkers. 12.2b describes the "Restrictions on Touching Sand in Bunker" and includes the following:
"Before making a stroke at a ball in a bunker, a player must not:
- Deliberately touch sand in the bunker with a hand, club, rake or other object to test the condition of the sand to learn information for the next stroke, or
- Touch sand in the bunker with a club:
- In the area right in front of or right behind the ball (except as allowed under Rule 7.1a in fairly searching for a ball or under Rule 12.2a in removing a loose impediment or movable obstruction),
- In making a practice swing, or
- In making the backswing for a stroke."
This rule also describes some actions that are allowed, as follows:
"Except as covered by (1), this Rule does not prohibit the player from touching sand in the bunker in any other way, including:
- Digging in with the feet to take a stance for a practice swing or the stroke,
- Smoothing the bunker to care for the course,
- Placing clubs, equipment or other objects in the bunker (whether by throwing or setting them down),
- Measuring, marking, lifting, replacing or taking other actions under a Rule,
- Leaning on a club to rest, stay balanced or prevent a fall, or
- Striking the sand in frustration or anger.
But the player gets the general penalty if his or her actions in touching the sand improve the conditions affecting the stroke in breach of Rule 8.1a. (See also Rules 8.2 and 8.3 for limitations on improving or worsening other physical conditions to affect play.)"
Just one quick word of warning - if you choose to smooth the bunker to care for the course make sure that you aren't inadvertently improving your stance or area of intended swing, anything on your line of play, where the ball may end up if you fail to escape the bunker. If you do so you will get eth general penalty under Rule 8.1a.
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