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
Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
