When your ball lies in a BUNKER, the following are allowed:

  • Not new – You may move movable obstructions. If the ball moves, replace the ball with no penalty.
  • New – You may carefully move loose impediments. If the ball moves, replace the ball and take a one-stroke penalty.
  • Not new – You may take free relief in the bunker from immovable obstructions, animal holes, ground under repair or temporary water in a bunker. Not new – You may take one-stroke penalty relief back-on-the-line behind the bunker.
  • Not new – You may take one-stroke penalty relief in the bunker for an unplayable ball in a bunker. New – You now may take two-stroke penalty relief back-on-the-line behind the bunker.

When your ball lies in a BUNKER, the following are not allowed:

  • Not new – You may not, apart from the permitted actions above, do anything which improves your lie, stance, swing or line of play.
  • Not new – You may not take free relief for an embedded ball in a bunker. However, you could take penalty relief for an unplayable ball.
  • Not new – You may not do anything to test the condition of the sand in the bunker.
  • Not new – You may not touch the sand with your club right in front of or right behind your ball.

When your ball lies in a PENALTY AREA, the following are allowed:

  • Not new – You may move movable obstructions. If the ball moves, replace the ball with no penalty.
  • New – You may carefully move loose impediments. If the ball moves, replace the ball and take a one-stroke penalty.
  • New – You now may make practice swings which touch the ground or water in a penalty area.
  • New – You now may lightly ground your club right in front of or right behind your ball.

When your ball lies in a PENALTY AREA, the following are not allowed:

  • Not new – You may not, apart from the permitted actions above, do anything which improves your lie, stance, swing or line of play.
  • Not new – You may not take free relief from immovable obstructions, animal holes, ground under repair or temporary water in a penalty area. You may only use the Penalty Area relief options.
  • Not new – You may not take free relief for an embedded ball in a penalty area. You may only use the Penalty Area relief options.
  • Not new – You may not take penalty relief for an unplayable ball in a penalty area. You may only use the Penalty Area relief options.