Except as provided in the Rules, before hitting a shot after a ball which is in a hazard (whether a bunker or a water hazard) or which has been picked up in a hazard and may be dropped or placed therein, the player shall not
a) check the nature of the obstacle or a similar obstacle,
b) touch the ground in the obstacle or water in the water-obstacle with his hand or a club, or
c) touch or move any loose obstructive natural material lying in or touching the obstacle.
Exceptions:
1. provided that nothing is done which constitutes testing the nature of the hazard or improving the position of the ball, it is not punishable if the player
(a) touches the ground or loose obstructing natural matter in any hazard or water in a water hazard as a result of or to avoid a fall, in moving an obstruction, in measuring or marking the lie, or in retrieving, picking up, putting down or putting back a ball under a rule, or if he
(b) puts his golf clubs down in an obstacle.
2. if, after playing the stroke, the ball is still in the hazard or has been picked up from the hazard and may be dropped or laid down in the hazard, the player may level sand or soil in the hazard provided that nothing is done that would constitute a breach of Rule 13-2 in relation to his next stroke. If the ball is outside the hazard after the stroke, the player may level sand or soil in the hazard without restriction.
3. if the player makes a stroke from one hazard and the ball comes to rest in another hazard, Rule 13-4a does not apply to any subsequent action in the hazard from which the stroke was made.
Note: At any time, including at address and on the backswing to the shot, the player may touch with a club or otherwise any obstruction, any plant declared by the course management to be part of the course, any grass, bush, tree or other growing thing.
PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULES:
Hole play - Hole loss; Counting play - Two strokes.
(Search for ball - see Rule 12-1.)
(Relief procedure for a ball in a water hazard - see Rule 26.)
Status: 2018