Falling in sand trap

Here's a good one. Recently, my ball landed in a bunker that was very steep. When entering I realized that I was going to fall into the trap and  I used my wedge to break my fall.  The club head touched the sand and my playing partners screamed at me that this was a penalty because my club head came in contact with the sand and thereffore I was "testing the condition" of the sand.  Where the club head touched the sand was no where near my ball and therefore did not have anything to do with the lie of the ball.  Can't find anything in the rules about this.  To shut these guys up I took the penalty.  Anyone know anything about this?

You're right, they're wrong.

13-4 . Ball in Hazard; Prohibited Actions

Except as provided in the Rules , before making a stroke at a ball that is in a hazard (whether a bunker or a water hazard ) or that, having been lifted from a hazard , may be dropped or placed in the hazard , the player must not:

a. Test the condition of the hazard or any similar hazard ;

b. Touch the ground in the hazard or water in the water hazard with his hand or a club; or

c. Touch or move a loose impediment lying in or touching the hazard .

Exceptions:

1. Provided nothing is done that constitutes testing the condition of the hazard or improves the lie of the ball, there is no penalty if the player (a) touches the ground or loose impediments in any hazard or water in a water hazard as a result of or to prevent falling , in removing an obstruction , in measuring or in marking the position of, retrieving, lifting, placing or replacing a ball under any Rule or (b) places his clubs in a hazard .

Wow..Thanks Dave!!. For some reason could not find this rule.  Just e mailed my buddies whom I was playing with this rule and also demanded my money back!  Thanks again.

The OP doesn't make it clear whether this was match or stroke play.  In match play, if you tee off on the next hole before making a claim, it's too late.  If you're not sure, you've got to make a claim.

Actually, there are very few instances in the Rules where intent matters. The definition of a stroke is one of the few.....

Well, yeah, that's kind of what I was getting at. The falling in bunker or hazard is one that wouldn't necessarily apply to "taking a stroke"... Maybe "Having a stroke" when you fall in that ice cold lake would matter.