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With fall golf in Wisconsin comes lots of loose impediments in the form of fallen leaves. Rule 15.1a of the rules of golf tells us how and when we can remove these loos impediments from around our ball.
Without penalty, a player may remove a loose impediment anywhere on or off the course, and may do so in any way (such as by using a hand or foot, using a club or other equipment, getting help from others or breaking off part of a loose impediment).
But there are two exceptions:
Exception 1 – Removing Loose Impediment Where Ball Must Be Replaced: Before replacing a ball that was lifted or moved from anywhere except the putting green:
A player must not deliberately remove a loose impediment that, if moved before the ball was lifted or moved, would have been likely to have caused the ball to move.
If the player does so, they get one penalty stroke, but the removed loose impediment does not need to be replaced.
This exception applies both during a round and while play is stopped under Rule 5.7a. It does not apply to a loose impediment that was not there before the ball was lifted or moved or that is removed as a result of marking the spot of a ball, or lifting, moving or replacing a ball or causing a ball to move.
Exception 2 – Restrictions on Deliberately Removing Loose Impediments to Affect Ball in Motion (see Rule 11.3).
For a full explanation of this rule, as well as what to do if your ball moves when you remove a loose impediment, go to the USGA website!
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