rules question help please

last week I was in a bunker which was chest high, Approx 70 yards to the green and I went for it. Unfortunately the ball hit the lip and nearly took my eye out, luckily I managed to turn my head slightly away and it hit me on top of the eye (very painful)........I got a 1 stroke penalty and had to play it again from the bunker.....So accident or no accident if the club touched the ground I would say penalty but I am sure the rules will state something different?????
 
You are allowed to steady yourself if necessary in a hazard using a club or any other suitable object. You may even put your bag down in a bunker.

Just don't "test" the sand.
 
last week I was in a bunker which was chest high, Approx 70 yards to the green and I went for it. Unfortunately the ball hit the lip and nearly took my eye out, luckily I managed to turn my head slightly away and it hit me on top of the eye (very painful)........I got a 1 stroke penalty and had to play it again from the bunker.....So accident or no accident if the club touched the ground I would say penalty but I am sure the rules will state something different?????


Your penalty was for the ball hitting you not your club touching the sand to steady yourself.


Rule 13-4 Ball in hazard, prohibited actions..

Except as provided in the Rules, before making a stroke at a ball that is in a hazard (whether a bunker or a water hazard) or that, having been lifted from a hazard, may be dropped or placed in the hazard, the player must not:
a. Test the condition of the hazard or any similar hazard;
b. Touch the ground in the hazard or water in the water hazard with his hand or a club; or
c. Touch or move a loose impediment lying in or touching the hazard.
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 or loose impediments 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 marking the position of, retrieving, lifting, placing or replacing a ball under any Rule or (b) places his clubs in a hazard.
 
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