Linda,
If a ball is lying just under a tree and you hit the ball
where it lies, is there a penalty if your club hits the branches either in the
back swing or the follow through?
Lulu from Victoria, British Columbia
Dear Lulu,
There is no penalty for hitting branches during your swing,
even if you break a branch or knock down leaves.
A problem arises if you take your backswing, knock something
down, and stop. If you improve the area of your intended swing by breaking a
branch or knocking down leaves you are subject to penalty (two strokes/loss of
hole) under Rule 13-2. Whether you incur a penalty depends on the
circumstances. For example, if you knock down a few leaves but your club will
hit 20 more when you take your swing, there would be no penalty. However, if
there is only one leaf and you knock it down, you would be penalized. The
bottom line is whether you have removed an obstacle from the path of your
swing.
Linda
Copyright © 2016 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
