Question about knocking the ball off the tee

[superduper]

When a golfer standing on the tee and address the ball, the golfer knocked the ball off the tee by accident.  That golfer never swung the club.  Does it count as one stroke???

 

Another rules question, when a golfer is in a bunker, the golfer addressed the ball and the head touched the sand, does it count as one penalty stroke?

[MattF]

I'm not a ruleman, but AFAIK, if the golfer is not attempting to strike the ball and accidently knocks it off the tee, they can re-tee with no penalty.

 

In the bunker, yes, it's a penalty. Again, AKAIK, you cannot touch the sand with your club until you actually swing because it's deemed as testing the sand.

 

I may be completely wrong though...

[Blade]

Matt's right.

[BK in TEXAS]

On the tee box, the ball is not in play yet. So any accidental contact doesn't matter. You can step on it, kick it, hit it with a practice stroke, none of it counts.  Once you intentionally SWING at the ball (whether you hit it or whiff) the ball is now in play. Any contact with the ball once it's in play is a 1-stroke penalty and the ball must be returned to it's original position.

 

My daughter was incorrectly penalized for this in a match play tournament end ended up losing 2&1 instead of heading to the last hole all-square.

[mizuno_lover]

Rule 11 - 3 Ball falling off Tee

 

If a ball, not in play, falls off a tee or is knocked off by the player whilst addressing it, it may be reteed without penalty.  However if a stroke is made at the ball in these circumstances, whether the ball is moving or not, the stroke counts but there is no penalty.

 

Rule 13 - 4 b  Ball in Hazard, prohibited actions

 

b. Touch the ground in a hazard or water in a water hazard with his hand or club.

 

Just in case you weren't sure Matt was right.

[Kenny B]

There is an exception to Rule 13-4 that permits touching the hazard with hand or club to prevent a fall, as long as you are not doing so to test the conditions.