Hello Linda,
I read your recent explanation about a penalty a player took
because he moved a twig with his backswing while in a hazard.
You said the backswing is not part of your swing.
If a player is outside
a hazard, I believe he is penalized if he breaks a branch or knocks
down leaves while taking a practice swing, but there is no penalty if this
happens during his real swing.
If you break a branch during the backswing, leading to your
real swing, are you penalized?
Thanks for all your help
Lou
Dear Lou,
A detached twig is a loose impediment. A player is penalized
two strokes for touching a loose impediment in a hazard at address or during
his backswing [Rule 13-4].
Trees are not loose impediments. If a player breaks a branch
on his backswing but continues his swing and hits the ball, there is no
penalty. However, if he breaks a branch and discontinues his swing, he is
penalized two strokes for improving the area of his intended swing [Rule 13-2;
Decision 13-2/14.5]. This Rule is in effect everywhere on the golf course,
including hazards.
Players are permitted to touch anything that is growing in a
hazard, including trees, shrubs, or grass [Rule 13-4, Note]. This permission
does not extend to leaves and twigs that have fallen off the tree. Such objects
are not growing and are loose impediments.
Linda
Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
