Playing Ball in Bunker - Rule 12.2

There have been a few queries recently about certain restrictions when playing a ball in a Bunker.    In order to try and answer those queries, the following guidance is offered:

You Cannot:

• 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
• Touch the sand with your Club in front or behind the ball, when making a practice swing or whilst taking the back swing
• Take relief from Animal prints (see below ref "Animal Holes") 

You Can:

• Remove Loose Impediments - this includes any reasonable touching or movement of the sand in the bunker that happens while doing so.
• Take relief from an "Animal Hole" including any mounds of sand and/or worn down tracks leading to the hole (aka Abnormal Course Condition)
• Take relief from Abnormal Course Condition within the Bunker Rule 16.1c - Relief (Abnormal Course Condition in Bunker)
• Declare a ball Unplayable and take relief under penalty Rule 19 - Unplayable Ball
• Probe the Sand, without penalty, if the player suspects tree roots, rocks or obstructions that may interfere with Stroke (probing must not be undertaken to test conditions of sand!)

For a full understanding of Bunkers and what you may or may not do, please follow the link below.