Stones and leaves in bunkers — you can remove them now
Since the 2019 rules change, you may remove loose impediments like stones, leaves, and twigs from a bunker with no penalty under Rule 15.1 — just don't move the ball or ground your club.
Can you remove a stone or leaf in a bunker?
Yes — since the 2019 rules change, you may remove loose impediments like stones, leaves, and twigs from a bunker with no penalty, under Rule 15.1.
This is one of the rules most golfers still get wrong. Before 2019, touching a loose impediment in a hazard was a two-stroke penalty. That's gone. Most casual players still think you can't touch anything in a bunker — you can, as long as it's a loose impediment and you don't move the ball.
What counts as a loose impediment?
| Object | Loose impediment? | Removable in bunker? |
|---|---|---|
| Leaves, twigs, pine cones | Yes | Yes — no penalty |
| Stones and pebbles | Yes | Yes — no penalty |
| Dead insects | Yes | Yes — no penalty |
| Bottle caps, wrappers, cigarette butts | No — movable obstructions | Yes — also removable, no penalty |
| Grass growing in the bunker | No — it's growing | No — play it as it lies |
The key distinction: a loose impediment is a natural object that's not fixed or growing. If it's rooted or attached, it stays. Manufactured junk is a movable obstruction instead — and those are removable everywhere, including bunkers.
What still costs you two strokes?
Don't cross these lines
- Grounding your club in the sand before your stroke — still a penalty (Rule 12.2b)
- Testing the sand by touching it to learn its condition — still a penalty (Rule 12.2b)
- Moving the ball while removing the impediment — no penalty, but you must replace it; failing to replace it means playing from a wrong place (general penalty)
Removing the impediment itself is fine — even if your club touches the sand incidentally during removal. The penalty only applies when you ground the club to set up for the shot or test the sand deliberately.
The Justin Thomas incident
At the 2025 RBC Heritage, Justin Thomas was penalized for moving a loose impediment in a bunker — but the ruling hinged on a specific local rule in effect that week, not the standard Rule 15.1. It's a reminder: check the local rules before your round. The standard rules let you remove loose impediments freely, but a tournament or course can restrict it.
What if the ball moves while removing the impediment?
If your ball moves while you're removing a loose impediment, there's no penalty — but you must replace it on the original spot. If you play it from the new spot, you've played from a wrong place and get the general penalty (two strokes in stroke play, loss of hole in match play).
Related bunker rules
Loose impediments are one piece of bunker play. See our full guide on bunker rules for what else changed in 2019, and unplayable lies for when a bunker shot goes truly wrong. For the complete penalty reference, grab the Save Strokes quick reference or the free cheat sheet.
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