When searching for the ball anywhere on the course, the player may touch or bend long grass, rushes, bushes, gorse, heather or the like, but only to the extent necessary to find and identify his ball and provided that this does not affect the position of the ball, the space of his intended stance or swing or improve his line of play.
A player is not necessarily entitled to see his ball when he takes a stroke.
If a ball in the hazard is presumed to be covered by loose obstructing natural matter or sand, the player may, by feeling or raking with a club or otherwise, move as much loose obstructing natural matter or sand as is necessary to enable him to see part of the ball. If more is moved, there is no penalty and the ball must be covered again so that only part of it is visible. If the ball is moved during such a movement, this is not penalized; the ball must be put back and covered again if necessary. Moving loose obstructive natural materials outside an obstacle - see Rule 23-1.
If a ball lying in or on an obstruction or in unusual ground is inadvertently moved during a search, it is not penalized; the ball must be put back unless the player chooses to proceed in accordance with Rule 24-1b, 24-2b or 25-1b. If the player puts the ball back, he may still proceed under Rule 24-1b, 24-2b or 25-1b if they are applicable.
If it is suspected that a ball is lying in the water of a water hazard, the player may feel for it with a club or otherwise. If the ball is moved while feeling for it, it must be put back unless the player chooses to proceed in accordance with Rule 26-1. There is no penalty if the ball is moved in the process, provided that the movement of the ball is directly attributable to the actual act of touching. Otherwise, the player incurs a penalty stroke under Rule 18-2a.
PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE 12-1:
Hole play - Hole loss; Counting play - Two strokes.
Status: 2018