Can I test bunker sand with my mobility device?
No penalty. If you use an assistive mobility device, you may touch the sand in a bunker to prepare for your stroke — that's not testing the condition of the sand under Rule 12.2b(1).
What the rule says
Rule 12.2b(1) normally bans touching sand in a bunker to test its condition before a stroke. But the rule makes a clear exception: a player who uses an assistive mobility device may touch the sand with that device to prepare for a stroke. This includes positioning the device, taking a stance, or any other action needed to play the shot. The exception exists because a mobility device isn't a club or a hand — it's how the player gets around the course. Treating routine positioning as "testing" would unfairly penalize players who rely on these devices.
What counts as an assistive mobility device
Any device the player uses to move around the course because of a disability: wheelchairs, mobility scooters, walkers, canes, crutches, or similar aids. The device must be one the player genuinely uses for mobility, not something brought along just to probe the sand. If you're unsure whether your device qualifies, the test is simple: do you use it to get from shot to shot? If yes, the exception applies.
What you still can't do
The exception only covers touching sand with the device itself as part of preparing for the stroke. You still can't use your hand, a club, or any other object to test the sand's firmness, texture, or depth. Digging your feet in excessively, pressing a club into the sand, or dropping a ball to see how it reacts — all of that still draws the general penalty (two strokes in stroke play, loss of hole in match play).
Exceptions that change the answer
- Player uses an assistive mobility device for a disability → Touching sand with that device to prepare for a stroke is allowed — not testing under Rule 12.2b(1)
- Player touches sand with hand, club, or other object to assess condition → General penalty applies (2 strokes / loss of hole) — no exception
Frequently asked questions
Can I wiggle my wheelchair wheels in the bunker to feel how firm the sand is?
Yes. Positioning your mobility device — including moving wheels to find stable footing — is allowed preparation, not testing. The rule explicitly permits touching sand with the device to prepare for the stroke.
What if I use a cane — can I tap the sand with it before I swing?
Only if the tap is part of setting up your stance or positioning the cane for balance. Deliberately probing the sand's condition with the cane (or any object) to learn its firmness is still testing and draws a penalty.
Does this exception apply in a penalty area too?
No. Rule 12.2b(1) only covers bunkers. In a penalty area, Rule 17.1b lets you touch the ground or water anyway — there's no testing restriction there.
My playing partner says I'm testing the sand when I back my mobility scooter into the bunker. Are they right?
They're not. Driving or positioning your mobility device in the bunker to play your shot is explicitly allowed. The rule recognizes the device as your means of access, not a testing tool.
What if I don't have a visible disability but use a mobility cart for a medical reason?
The rule doesn't require a visible disability. If you use the device for mobility due to a medical condition, the exception applies. The Committee may ask for confirmation if there's a dispute, but the starting point is that your stated need is accepted.