My son was recently penalised 2 strokes under rule 13-4 for testing the surface of a bunker by pressing the sand in a remote corner with the toe of his shoe, not effecting in any way the lie of his ball. The rules specify hand or club. Was he correctly penalised?

Have a look at Decision 13-4/0.5 Meaning of “Test the Condition of the Hazard” in Rule 13-4a (I have bolded the relevant bits)

Q. What is meant by “test the condition of the hazard” in Rule 13-4a?

A. The term covers all actions by which the player could gain more information about the hazard than could be gained from taking his stance for the stroke to be made, bearing in mind that a certain amount of digging in with the feet in the sand or soil is permitted when taking the stance for a stroke.

Examples of actions that would not constitute testing the condition of the hazard include the following:

• digging in with the feet for a stance, including for a practice swing, anywhere in the hazard or in a similar hazard;

• placing an object, such as clubs or a rake, in the hazard;

• leaning on an object (other than a club) such as a rake while it is touching the ground in the hazard or water in a water hazard;

• touching the hazard with an object (other than a club) such as a towel (touching with a club would be a breach of Rule 13-4b); or

• marking the position of the ball with a tee or otherwise when proceeding under a Rule.

Examples of actions that would constitute testing the condition of the hazard in breach of Rule 13-4a include the following:

• digging in with the feet in excess of what would be done for a stance for a stroke or a practice swing;

• filling in footprints from a previous stance (e.g., when changing stance to make a different type of stroke);

• intentionally sticking an object, such as a rake, into sand or soil in the hazard or water in a water hazard (but see Rule 12-1);

• smoothing a bunker with a rake, a club or otherwise (but see Exception 2 to Rule 13-4);

• kicking the ground in the hazard or water in a water hazard; or

• touching the sand with a club when making a practice swing
  in the hazard or in a similar hazard (but see Exception 3 to
  Rule 13-4). (New)

I posted this in another thread but it probably belongs here . Had a look yesterday at a scorecard from a club in W.A. On the back in the local rules was this gem.
If your ball is in the Bunker you may lift it, smooth out the spot with the palm of your hand & then replace the ball.
I would like a copy of the rule book that this ruling comes from:-)

pom – public golf course, no rakes speeds up play as you’re not waiting for people to rake the bunkers when they’ve had their shots. They put rakes back in if they have pro-ams or similar.

Brett

Rather thought that must be the case. Just struck me as amusing when a mate showed me the card.