Golficial.ai

My ball is in a bunker. Before I play, may I touch the sand with my club or move

{"status":"advice","headline":"LIMITED TOUCHING ALLOWED | DO NOT IMPROVE THE STROKE AREA","action":"You may touch sand in a bunker in some ways, but you generally must not deliberately touch the sand with your club right in front of or behind the ball, in making a practice swing, or in your backswing for the stroke.","rule":"Rule 12.2","rule_code":"Rule 12.2","rule_title":"Playing Ball in Bunker","rule_summary":"Under the Rules of Golf by the R&A and USGA, you may generally touch or move sand in a bunker unless doing so improves the conditions affecting the stroke or is one of the specifically prohibited actions before the stroke.","penalty_strokes":2,"situation":"Ball in a bunker before making a stroke.","options":[{"id":"allowed","text":"Allowed examples: place clubs in the bunker, lean on a club to rest or prevent falling, smooth sand for care of the","penalty":0,"procedure":"Be careful not to improve the lie, area of intended stance or swing, line of play, or relief area."},{"id":"not_allowed","text":"Not allowed before the stroke: test the sand, touch sand with a club right in front of or behind the ball, make a","penalty":2,"procedure":"Do not move sand near the ball if it improves the lie or your intended swing/stance area."}],"suggestion":"If sand is near the ball, play it as it lies unless you are clearly removing a loose impediment or movable obstruction without improving the stroke conditions.","procedure":null,"branches":[],"clarifying_question":null,"answer_options":[],"clarifying_questions":[],"disclaimer":"This is golf-rules guidance, not an official ruling — the final decision belongs to the Committee or event authority.","rules_basis":"R_AND_A_USGA"}