If a player's ball goes into a penalty area (red stake), is found but fully covered by leaves (autumn/fall season), can he remove all the leaves (uncovering the ball), AND also leaves behind the ball in his swing path?
From our Director of Rules and Education, "Leaves typically meet the definition of loose impediments (natural objects, not adhering to the ball, not fixed or growing) and loose impediments may be removed without penalty anywhere on or off the course, and may be removed in any way. There are very few restrictions, including removing a loose impediment where a ball must be replaced, or removing a loose impediment to affect a ball in motion. Players must take caution to ensure they do not cause their ball to move when removing loose impediments, as this is will result in a penalty. "
@@azgolfassociation Thanks for the response. The ball was almost completely covered. I removed leaves in his swing path and also leaves covering the ball. I did not remove leaves in front of the ball (towards the hole). Could these be remove also? I mean, how much is a player allowed to remove? Can he make a clean surface area lets say 1 ft around the ball? My understanding was that "loose impediments" meant like leaves and twigs/branches not in their natural area; say leaves, twigs in a bunker or on the fairway. But in this instance, the ball came to rest under a tree (in a penalty area) and was covered by leaves from the tree.
Good simple, informative and entertaining video.
God job Ed!
If a player's ball goes into a penalty area (red stake), is found but fully covered by leaves (autumn/fall season), can he remove all the leaves (uncovering the ball), AND also leaves behind the ball in his swing path?
From our Director of Rules and Education, "Leaves typically meet the definition of loose impediments (natural objects, not adhering to the ball, not fixed or growing) and loose impediments may be removed without penalty anywhere on or off the course, and may be removed in any way. There are very few restrictions, including removing a loose impediment where a ball must be replaced, or removing a loose impediment to affect a ball in motion. Players must take caution to ensure they do not cause their ball to move when removing loose impediments, as this is will result in a penalty. "
@@azgolfassociation Thanks for the response.
The ball was almost completely covered. I removed leaves in his swing path and also leaves covering the ball.
I did not remove leaves in front of the ball (towards the hole). Could these be remove also? I mean, how much is a player allowed to remove? Can he make a clean surface area lets say 1 ft around the ball?
My understanding was that "loose impediments" meant like leaves and twigs/branches not in their natural area; say leaves, twigs in a bunker or on the fairway. But in this instance, the ball came to rest under a tree (in a penalty area) and was covered by leaves from the tree.