Hi Linda,
I played a match today and was penalised for removing loose
impediments that lay in front of my ball (the impediments were leaves from a
nearby tree).
My ball was a foot off the green on the apron. My opponent
said that the reason I was penalised was because I brushed the impediments with
my hand (back of the hand) and didn't pick them up individually. The loss of
hole went on to be pivotal in the match and I can’t find anything in the
rulebook stating that the manner in which the impediments are removed should
make me incur a penalty.
Many Thanks,
Lou from the UK
Dear Lou,
Loose impediments may be removed by any means, Lou [Decision
23-1/1]. You got hoodwinked. You should not have accepted his “ruling” that you
lost the hole. Next time, stick to your guns and let your opponent file a
claim. The Committee will rule that you are entitled to brush away loose
impediments with your hand and you do not lose the hole.
Linda
Copyright © 2013 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
