Is there a penalty for an air shot in a bunker?

Steve Carroll

Whiffed one in the sand? Our rules experts Steve Carroll explains whether additional sanctions are coming your way

The pros make them look easy. But for the rest of us? There is little in the game that sends us more into a tailspin than our ball finding is way into a bunker.

But Gary Nott’s email explains that things can always get a little worse. “What is the penalty, if any, for taking an air shot in a bunker, when you miss the ball and disturb the sand instead? Your help would be much appreciated.”

I’m here for you Gary, and the answer is coming right up…

Touching sand in a bunker

There are a whole host of things you’ve got to watch out for when in a bunker. As Rule 12 explains, you can’t deliberately touch the sand with a hand, rake, club, or another object to test its condition and learn information for the next stroke.

You can’t touch it with a club right in front, or behind, your ball, in making a practice swing, or in making a backswing for a stroke.

But none of these restrictions apply to the situation Gary has outlined. The player here has tried to make a stroke and missed.

It still counts as a stroke – defined as the forward movement of the club made to strike the ball – so if they went in for two, they’ve now taken three, but the general penalty (two strokes or loss of hole in match play) that applies to a breach of Rule 12.2b won’t be tacked on as well.

Now you might ask, can you rake that area where you’ve been tramping around?

Rule 12.2b (2) does allow you to smooth the bunker to care for the course, but if touching the sand improves the conditions affecting the stroke – so that’s the lie of your ball at rest, the area of intended stance, area of intended swing, line of play and relief area if you’re taking a drop – then you will get the general penalty for a breach of Rule 8.1a.

Got a question for our expert?

Despite the changes to the Rules of Golf in 2019 and 2023, there are still some that leave us scratching our heads. I’ll try to help by featuring the best of your queries in this column.

Have you had this experience or come a cropper touching sand in a bunker? Let me know by leaving a comment on X.

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About the author

Steve Carroll

A journalist for more than 25 years, Steve has been immersed in club golf for almost as long.

A former club captain, he has passed the Level 3 Rules of Golf exam with distinction having attended the R&A’s prestigious Tournament Administrators and Referees Seminar.

Steve has officiated at a host of high-profile tournaments, including Open Regional Qualifying, PGA Fourball Championship, English Men’s Senior Amateur, and the North of England Amateur Championship. In 2023, he made his international debut as part of the team that refereed England vs Switzerland U16 girls.

A part of NCG’s Top 100s panel, Steve has a particular love of links golf and is frantically trying to restore his single-figure handicap. He’d like to tell you he floats around 10. The reality is more like 13.

Steve plays at Sandburn Hall, in York, and is a country member at Close House in Newcastle. He has served on various club committees during his time in the game, and is the current Rules Secretary at Sandburn.

Having studied history at Newcastle University, he became a journalist having passed his NCTJ exams at Darlington College of Technology. He began his career working on weekly papers in Newcastle, before joining the York Press in 2001. After five years as a news reporter, he joined the sports desk – specialising in horse racing and snooker – and was Digital Sports Editor when he joined National Club Golfer in 2016.

What’s in Steve’s bag: TaylorMade Stealth 2 driver, 3-wood, and hybrids; Caley 01T irons 4-PW; TaylorMade Hi-Toe wedges, Odyssey 2Ball Microhinge putter.

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