bunker ruling

Question
QUESTION: Can a player take 2 clubs into a bunker , lie one down on the sand and use the other club without a penalty?

ANSWER: Hello Jan,
Thanks for asking this question.

No.  First of all, your club should not touch the sand at all times.  
So, this is definitely violating the rule.




---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I'll try and re word my question.
Can a player take 2 clubs into the bunker.  Lie one down which will not be used and use the other in the correct way without touching the sand first etc.

ANSWER: Hello Jan.

I think what you are explaining is correct.  
Thanks.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: OK I'll try again.  If the club you lie down in the sand is not used at all in any effort to hit the ball out of the bunker.  If in fact you use an entirely different club and don't ground that club Is it a penaly.  I have been told that if you needed to you could even pull your trundler into the bunker providing the club  you use to hit the ball is not grounded you can infact take anything else you like in and not be penalised.

Answer
Hello Jan,
Thanks for following up this thoroughly.

Rule 13-4 (Ball is Hazard; Prohibited Actions)is the guideline.  

According 13-4-b, Touch the ground in the hazard (bunker is one of hazard) or water in the water hazard with his hand or a club, and this is prohibited.

There is 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 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 retrieving, lifting, placing or replacing a ball under any Rule or
(b) places his clubs in a hazard.

Now, your case will fit in (b) above.  So, no penalty.

BTW, Penalty for breath of this rule:
Match play - Loss of hole; Stroke Play - TWO strokes!!

Just thinking normally, I can see one scenario that a person took two or there clubs and went into the bunker (possible fairway bunker) and chose one club with leaving the other two in the other area of bunker, and hit the ball with one club without grounding that club.

Thanks for letting me to look into your good question, and I hope you will have a great golf season forthcoming.  See my website in my profile if those can be some tips.

Dan