The Rules
The Rules
Moving Pieces
by Kendall Dunovant , USGA Rules Department
ONE OF THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES of the Rules of Golf is that you play the course as you find it , but sometimes , you find things on the course near your golf ball that simply are not meant to be part of the challenge of the game . Loose impediments and movable obstructions both fall into that category of items . Because of this , you may remove them in most cases .
What is the difference between Loose Impediments and Movable Obstructions ? Loose impediments are unattached natural objects like stones , loose grass , leaves , branches , pine needles , clumps of compacted soil ( including aeration plugs ), etc . Other things that fall into this category are dead animals and animal waste , plus worms , insects , and other similar animals as well as the mounds and webs they build ( for example , worm casts and spider webs ).
It is important to note that there are a few things that may seem to meet the definition of a loose impediment but are not actually considered loose impediments under the Rules . Sand , loose soil , dew , frost and water are not loose impediments . Snow and natural ice ( other than frost ) are treated either as loose impediments or as temporary water ( when on the ground ), at your option . This means that you may
either remove snow and natural ice , or take free relief , depending on the situation and what you prefer .
A natural object is also not a loose impediment if it is attached or growing , if it cannot be easily picked out of the ground , or if it is sticking to your ball . The Rules allow you to move a natural object to see if it is loose before you remove it . If you do choose to do this and find that the natural object is growing or attached ( meaning it is not a loose impediment ), it must stay attached and be returned as nearly as possible to its original position .
Movable obstructions are artificial objects that can be moved with reasonable effort and without causing damage to the obstruction or to the course . A few examples of movable obstructions are bunker rakes , a soda can , most penalty area stakes , and another player ’ s towel that has been dropped on the course .
The easiest way to distinguish a loose impediment from a movable obstruction when you find an object on the course is to ask yourself how the object was made . If it is a natural object , it is likely going to be a loose impediment , and if it is human made , it is likely going to be a movable obstruction .
Removing Loose Impediments and Movable Obstructions One of the major changes in the 2019 Rules of Golf was the ability to remove loose impediments anywhere on the golf course , even in bunkers and penalty areas ! Similarly , movable obstructions can be removed anywhere on or off the course without penalty .
There is no required way to remove a loose impediment or a movable obstruction . The Rules give examples of ways to move them : using a hand , foot , a club , or other equipment , but you may do so in any way that is convenient to you . A common misconception is that you are required to mark the spot of the ball before moving a movable obstruction . While it is a common practice to do so , it is not a requirement . There is no penalty if you cause your ball to move in the process of removing a movable obstruction , but you must replace it on its original spot .
It is important to take care when removing a loose impediment ; if moving a loose impediment causes your ball to move , you get one penalty stroke and must replace the ball on its original spot . However , there is no penalty if you accidentally cause your ball to move while removing a loose impediment when your ball is on the putting green .
Conclusion : The Rules give players a lot of freedom to remove loose impediments and movable obstructions . When you see an object on the ground that may interfere with your stroke , knowing what that object is and what you are and aren ’ t allowed to do with it under the Rules might help you better navigate your next shot !
For more information on loose impediments and movable obstructions , look to Rule 15 .
CHRIS LANG
16 V IRGINIA G OLFER | J ULY / A UGUST 2021
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