Is it a penalty to ground your club in a bunker?
By The Fairway Labs TeamReviewed
Bunkers
Penalty: Two strokes
Is it a penalty to ground your club in a bunker?
PenaltyTwo strokes· under Rule 12
What to do
- 1Do not touch the sand with your club right in front of or behind the ball at address.
- 2Avoid letting your clubhead brush the sand on the backswing.
- 3You may still rest your club on the sand elsewhere in the bunker, such as while walking.
- 4If you ground it at the ball, expect a two-stroke penalty in stroke play.
Based on the modern Rules of Golf (Rule 12), as published by the USGA and The R&A and effective from the 2019 revision. Local rules can modify some situations — check the scorecard or with the committee when in doubt.
Related rulings
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