Hello Linda,
If I'm off the putting surface and
chipping from the fringe, can I move loose impediments on the green, such as
sand, leaves and twigs, etc., that are lying on the green in the line of my
chip shot?
Or is it against the rules and it must
be left on the putting surface?
Look forward to your answer.
Lou from Ivybridge, England
Dear Lou,
You may remove loose impediments on
the green when your ball lies off the green.
The Rule is the same as it was in 2011
when I wrote the following column:
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Hi
Linda,
If
putting from off the green are you able to clear sand that is on the green from
the greenside bunker?
Kind
regards,
Lou
Dear
Lou,
Yes,
Lou. You may remove sand from the putting green when your ball does not lie on
the green. Sand on the putting green (but not elsewhere) is a loose impediment
[Definition of Loose Impediments]. Players are permitted to remove loose
impediments without penalty anywhere, except when both the ball and the loose
impediment are lying in the same hazard [Rule 23-1].
Be
aware that when your ball is not on the green, if your ball moves as a result
of moving a loose impediment you will be penalized one stroke and you must
replace your ball [Rule 18-2a]. There is no penalty if you accidentally move
your ball in the process of removing a loose impediment if your ball is on the
green.
Linda
Copyright
© 2011 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
