Hi Linda,
My ball lies in a lateral hazard and is playable. As I walk
down the embankment (the embankment is in the confines of the hazard), I step
on a branch (detached) with leaves still on it, and the branch slides down the
embankment and proceeds to cover my ball.
Is there a penalty? Can I remove the branch?
What is the correct procedure?
Thank you!
Lou from San Jose, California
Dear Lou,
There is no penalty, provided you did not move the ball. You
may not remove the branch, as you are not permitted to touch or move a loose
impediment when your ball and the loose impediment lie in the same hazard [Rule
13-4c]. If you remove the branch, you will incur a two-stroke penalty in stroke
play, loss of hole in match play [Decision 13-4/14].
Linda
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