(1) When Touching Sand Results in Penalty. 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.

See Rule 25.2f (modification of Rule 12.2b(1) for players who are blind); Rules 25.4l (application of Rule 12.2b(1) for players who use assistive mobility device).

(2) When Touching Sand Does Not Result in Penalty. 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 their 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.)

(3) No Restrictions After Ball Is Played Out of Bunker. After a ball in a bunker is played and it is outside the bunker, the player may:

• Touch sand in the bunker without penalty under Rule 12.2b(1), and
• Smooth sand in the bunker to care for the course without penalty under Rule 8.1a.

This is true even if the ball comes to rest outside the bunker and:

• The player is required or allowed by the Rules to take stroke-and-distance relief by dropping a ball in the bunker, or
• The sand in the bunker is on the player's line of play for the next stroke from outside the bunker.

But if the ball played from the bunker comes back into the bunker, or the player takes relief by dropping a ball in the bunker, the restrictions in Rules 12.2b(1) and 8.1a again apply to that ball in play in the bunker.

Penalty for Breach of Rule 12.2: General Penalty.

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