Ask Linda #23 - cleaning the ball

Dear Linda,
I’m a little confused about cleaning the ball when I am playing preferred lies (“winter rules”). Could you clarify when you are allowed to clean a ball and when you are penalized for doing so? I was surprised when someone told me I could not clean the mud off the ball when I was taking a drop for relief from an interior fence in the rough.
Lulu

Dear Lulu,

When you are playing “preferred lies,” you may mark, lift, and clean your ball wherever your Committee permits doing so. Generally, most Committees allow “preferred lies” in closely mown areas of the golf course only, which would mean the fairways, the apron around the green, and dew paths (if your course has such things—Ramblewood does not).

You are always permitted to clean your ball on the putting green. You may clean a ball that has been lifted at any other time except in the following three circumstances:

1. determining whether the ball is unfit for play;
2. identifying the ball (you may only wipe off the least amount of debris necessary to see your markings);
3. lifting a ball because it is assisting or interfering with play.

The penalty for cleaning the ball under the circumstances listed above is one stroke.

You are permitted to clean the mud off your ball when taking relief from an interior fence in the rough, which is an immovable obstruction [Rule 24-2b, iv].

Linda

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