What happens if your ball moves in a bunker?

The situation

Your ball is sitting in a bunker and it moves — either because you touched it while taking your stance, or it simply rolls on its own down a slope in the sand.

The rule

Ball movement in a bunker follows the same rules as anywhere else on the course. Under Rule 9.4b, if you cause the ball to move (digging your feet in, brushing it with your club, taking a practice swing too close), the penalty is 1 stroke and you must replace the ball. If natural forces cause it (wind, slope, the ball settling into soft sand on its own), Rule 9.3 applies: no penalty, play from the new position. The bunker itself doesn't change these general movement rules.

Real example

You're digging your feet into a steep bunker face to stabilize your stance, and in doing so you inadvertently knock the ball six inches down the slope. That's caused by you — 1-stroke penalty, replace the ball in its original position before playing.

What to do on the course

• If the ball moves while you're digging in your feet: 1 stroke, replace it
• If the ball slides down on its own before you address it: no penalty, play from the new spot
• You cannot ground your club in the sand near the ball anyway — but if you accidentally touch the ball while setting up (without grounding the club), that's still a 1-stroke penalty for causing movement
• Replace the ball in its original lie in the sand, not on top of it

Penalty

1-stroke penalty if you caused the movement, replace the ball. No penalty if natural forces caused it.