Ball moved in a bunker

[bobmac]

Even if you haven't addressed your ball you incur a penalty under Rule 18-2a if you "cause" your ball to move.

18 Ball at Rest Moved
18-2 - By Player, Partner, Caddie or Equipment
a. General
When a player’s ball is in play, if:
(i) the player, his partner or either of their caddies lifts or moves it, touches it purposely (except with a club in the act of addressing it) or causes it to move except as permitted by a Rule, or
(ii) equipment of the player or his partner causes the ball to move,
the player incurs a penalty of one stroke. If the ball is moved, it must be replaced, unless the movement of the ball occurs after the player has begun the stroke or the backward movement of the club for the stroke and the stroke is made.

There is an interesting Decision on this subject

"18-2a/30 Ball Moves After Player Takes Several Practice Swings Near Ball and Touches Grass Behind Ball

Q. A player took several practice swings about one foot from his ball which was lying in light rough, and his club came in contact with the ground. He then took his stance, touched grass behind the ball with the clubhead but did not ground the club. At that point the ball moved.
The player claimed that no penalty was incurred because he had not addressed the ball. However, the Committee judged that the practice swings and the touching of the grass behind the ball caused the ball to move, and therefore the player incurred a penalty stroke under Rule 18-2a. Was the Committee correct?

A.It is a question of fact whether the player caused his ball to move and thus incurred a penalty under Rule 18-2a. Because of the practice swings and touching of the grass, the weight of evidence is against the player and therefore the Committee's decision was correct."

http://www.randa.org/en/Rules-and-Amateu...mp;subRuleNum=2

From what you say I think it is highly unlikely that your practice swings caused your ball to move. You were well away from the ball and the ball moved well after you had made the swings.

You were also outside the bunker when the ball moved, so you didn't cause it to move e.g. by disturbing the sand when approaching it (see Decision 18-2b/3 Ball Moves While Player in Process of Taking Stance in Bunker and Decision 18/10 Ball Falls into Bunker When Person Walks Nearby).

However had you taken a few good thumps just by your ball and right after one of those it rolled down the slope, he might have had a case.

I have noticed that if you watch the pros when they have a shot in long grass they will often take their practice swings well away from where the ball is to ensure there's no possibility of the effect of their practice swings moving it (or appearing to improve the area of stance or swing).

Incidentally, as indicated above, if you had proceeded correctly in accordance with rule 18-2a you should have replaced the ball. In that case you wouldn't have the option later to knock off the penalty stroke. Lucky then that you didn't in fact replace it. However if (unlikely though it is) the secretary thinks 18-2a does apply you're in for a 2 stroke penalty (instead of the 1 stroke penalty) for breach of Rule.

This was one of those situations where the second ball rule (Rule 3-3 - Doubt as to Procedure) could have been helpful.

Ball moving after address is covered by Rule 18-2b. In that case if you have addressed the ball and it moves you are "deemed to have moved the ball" and it's a 1 stroke penalty and the ball must be replaced.

And the long answer is....

 

[MashieNiblick]

It's not my fault the Rules are so bloomin' complicated!

If you think that's bad have a look at the latest posts on water hazard thread. A long Rule and 2 decisions and 2 diagrams needed by the R&A to explain it.

It always fascinates me that although golf is basically a simple game; ball, stick, field, hole - hit it, find it, hit again, til it's in the hole - the Rules are very complex. I guess it's because it is played in a natural environment and so many different things can happen.