Rules Question: Club hitting the sand

[Richie3Jack]

This is something I've debated with friends for quite some time.

I have one friend that doesn't ground his club in the sand trap. However, when he takes the club back it glides against the sand. I always throught that was a penalty, but none of my friends feel the same way. I like to point out that I've never seen a pro ever do this, sort of making it at least seem illegal.

Anybody have a definitive answer?


Thanks,


3JACK

[beisenhauer]

The situation you describe is prohibited. Rule 13-4 prohibits touching the ground "before making a stroke" in a bunker. If you look at the definition of a stroke, it specifically identifies "the forward movement of the club." [italics mine] The backswing is not part of the stroke; it is before the stroke. Therefore touching the sand during the backswing falls under the prohibited actions in rule 13-4.