Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Ask Linda 517-Moving loose impediments


Dear Linda,
I'm confused about the rule as it applies to loose impediments around a green. I believe it was Rory McIlroy who was recently penalized for brushing sand from the fringe.
What can we move? How about a loose divot or leaves? I recently found my ball a foot from the green and directly behind a clump of grass cuttings that was likely dropped by a full mower. The clump was not on the green. Can I move it?
Thank you,
Lou

Dear Lou,

The answer to your question can be found in the Definition of Loose Impediments in the front of your Rulebook.

Loose impediments are natural objects that are not fixed, embedded, or adhere to the ball. You may move a loose divot (provided it is completely detached), leaves, stones, twigs, branches, pine cones, and a clump of grass cuttings lying near your ball. You may also move worms, insects, and any debris they leave behind. You must be careful, of course, not to move your ball. Unless your ball lies on the green, there is a one-stroke penalty if you move your ball when you remove a loose impediment. You may not remove a loose impediment if both your ball and the loose impediment lie in the same hazard.

Reading further into the Definition, it states that “sand and loose soil are loose impediments on the putting green, but not elsewhere.” You may only brush away sand or loose soil when they are on the green. Rory McIlroy brushed away sand that was on the fringe. The fringe is not the green, hence the penalty.

Here’s something else you should know: If Rory’s ball had a clean lie on the fringe, and a subsequent shot by another player from a bunker dumped sand on his ball, he would be entitled to brush away that sand. A player is always entitled to the lie his shot gave him.

Linda
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