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Rules and Decisions

Prestented by ROLEX

The USGA, in conjunction with The R&A in St. Andrews, Scotland, writes, interprets and maintains the Rules of Golf to guard the tradition and integrity of the game. The two organizations are joint authors and owners of The Rules of Golf and Decisions on the Rules of Golf. Through an agreement with The R&A, the Rules jurisdiction of the USGA includes only the United States, its possessions and Mexico. The latest version went into effect Jan. 1, 2008, with the next revision taking effect Jan. 1, 2012.

Additional Rules Notifications

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Browse the Rules

Section I

Etiquette

Section II

Definitions

Section III

The Game

Rule 1

The Game

Rule 2

Match Play

Rule 3

Stroke Play

Clubs and the Ball

Rule 4

Clubs

Rule 5

The Ball

Player's Responsibilities

Rule 6

The Player

Rule 7

Practice

Rule 8

Advice; Indicating Line of Play

Rule 9

Information as to Strokes Taken

Order of Play

Rule 10

Order of Play

Teeing Ground

Rule 11

Teeing Ground

Playing the Ball

Rule 12

Searching for and Identifying Ball

Rule 13

Ball Played as It Lies

Rule 14

Striking the Ball

Rule 15

Substituted Ball; Wrong Ball

The Putting Green

Rule 16

The Putting Green

Rule 17

The Flagstick

Ball Moved, Deflected or Stopped

Rule 18

Ball at Rest Moved

Rule 19

Ball in Motion Deflected or Stopped

Relief Situations and Procedure

Rule 20

Lifting, Dropping and Placing; Playing from Wrong Place

Rule 21

Cleaning Ball

Rule 22

Ball Assisting or Interfering with Play

Rule 23

Loose Impediments

Rule 24

Obstructions

Rule 25

Abnormal Ground Conditions, Embedded Ball and Wrong Putting Green

Rule 26

Water Hazards (Including Lateral Water Hazards)

Rule 27

Ball Lost or Out of Bounds; Provisional Ball

Rule 28

Ball Unplayable

Other Forms of Play

Rule 29

Threesomes and Foursomes

Rule 30

Three-Ball, Best-Ball and Four-Ball Match Play

Rule 31

Four-Ball Stroke Play

Rule 32

Bogey, Par and Stableford Competitions

Administration

Rule 33

The Committee

Rule 34

Disputes and Decisions

Appendices

Appendix I

Local Rules; Conditions of the Competition

Appendix II

Design of Clubs

Appendix III

The Ball

Rules of Amateur Status

Policy on Gambling

Miscellaneous Decisions

Decisions Applicable Only In The USGA's Rules Jurisdiction

Rule 23. Loose Impediments
Definitions

All defined terms are in italics and are listed alphabetically in the Definitions section.

23-1. Relief

Except when both the loose impediment and the ball lie in or touch the same hazard, any loose impediment may be removed without penalty.

If the ball lies anywhere other than on the putting green and the removal of a loose impediment by the player causes the ball to move, Rule 18-2a applies.

On the putting green, if the ball or ball-marker is accidentally moved in the process of removing a loose impediment, the ball or ball-marker must be replaced. There is no penalty, provided the movement of the ball or ball-marker is directly attributable to the removal of the loose impediment. Otherwise, if the player causes the ball to move,he incurs a penalty of one stroke under Rule 18-2a.

When a ball is in motion, a loose impediment that might influence the movement of the ball must not be removed.

Note: If the ball lies in a hazard, the player must not touch or move any loose impediment lying in or touching the same hazard - see Rule 13-4c.

Penalty for Breach of Rule:
Match play - Loss of hole; Stroke play - Two strokes.

(Searching for ball in hazard - see Rule 12-1.)
(Touching line of putt - see Rule 16-1a.)

Rules

23-1 Relief

Decisions

23/1When Loose Impediment Transformed into Obstruction
23/2Meaning of Solidly Embedded in Definition of Loose Impediments
23/3Half-Eaten Pear
23/4Fruit Skins
23/5Ant Hill
23/5.5Status of Insect-Like Creatures
23/6Dead Land Crab
23/6.5Status of Snake
23/7Fallen Tree
23/8Worm Partially Underground
23/9Embedded Acorn
23/10Ball Embedded in Fruit
23/11Loose Soil from Cast of Hole Made by Burrowing Animal
23/12Aeration Plugs
23/13Clod of Earth
23/14Loose Impediments Used to Surface Road
23-1/1Means by Which Loose Impediments May Be Removed
23-1/2Large Stone Removable Only with Much Effort
23-1/3Assistance in Removing Large Loose Impediment
23-1/4Breaking Off Part of Large Loose Impediment
23-1/5Removal of Insect on Ball
23-1/5.5Status of Insect on Ball in Bunker
23-1/6Removal of Loose Impediments from Area in Which Ball to Be Dropped
23-1/6.5Removal of Loose Impediments from Spot on Which Ball to Be Placed
23-1/7Loose Impediment Affecting Lie Moved When Ball Lifted
23-1/8Loose Impediments Affecting Lie Removed While Ball Lifted
23-1/9Removal of Loose Impediment Lying Out of Bounds
23-1/10Removal of Loose Impediments Affecting Player's Play
23-1/11Ball Moved Accidentally by Foot During Removal of Loose Impediment on Putting Green
23-1/12After Ball Addressed on Putting Green Ball Moved in Removal of Loose Impediment