Hi Linda,
I would like to clarify a point of which I'm uncertain and
in my previous question you were extremely helpful so hopefully you can help me
with this.
Playing a qualifying Stableford this weekend, one of my fellow
competitors picked a couple of blades of long grass near his ball. It really
wasn't a major issue in the great scheme of things, and I doubt if it made any
difference to his next shot. I said I thought this may be against the Rules as
it could be deemed as improving his lie. His response was he's seen this done
on the TV by the pros, which I find difficult to believe.
Can you advise if his actions broke any rules or if I'm just
overreacting?
Thank you,
Lou from Rainham, Kent
Dear Lou,
Yes, a Rule was broken, and no, you are not overreacting.
It is against the Rules to improve your lie, the area of
your intended stance or swing, or your line of play by pulling out anything
that is fixed or growing near the ball [Rule 13-2]. The penalty is two strokes.
What your fellow competitor may have noticed on the
television was a pro brushing away clumps of cut grass from the area around his
ball. Cut grass is neither growing nor fixed, and is classified as a loose
impediment.
Linda
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