23/1 When Loose Impediment Transformed into Obstruction 
Loose impediments may be transformed into obstructions through processes of construction or manufacturing. For example, a log (loose impediment) that has been split and had legs attached has been changed by construction into a bench (obstruction); or a piece of wood (loose impediment) becomes an obstruction when manufactured into a charcoal briquette. (Revised)
23/2 Meaning of “Solidly Embedded” in Definition of “Loose Impediments”
Q. The Definition of “Loose Impediments” states that a stone is a loose impediment if it is not “solidly embedded.” When is a stone solidly embedded?
A. If a stone is partially embedded and may be picked up with ease, it is a loose impediment. When there is doubt as to whether a stone is solidly embedded or not, it should not be removed.
23/3 Half-Eaten Pear
Q. A half-eaten pear lies directly in front of a ball in a bunker and there is no pear tree in the vicinity of the bunker. In the circumstances, is the pear an obstruction rather than a loose impediment, in which case the player could remove it without penalty?
A. No. A pear is a natural object. When detached from a tree it is a loose impediment. The fact that a pear has been half-eaten and there is no pear tree in the vicinity does not alter the status of the pear.
23/4 Fruit Skins
Q. Is a banana skin or other fruit skin a loose impediment?
A. Yes.
23/5 Ant Hill
Q. Is an ant hill a loose impediment?
A. Yes. A player is entitled to remove an ant hill under Rule 23-1.
23/5.5 Status of Insect-Like Creatures
The Definition of Loose Impediments provides that worms, insects and the like are loose impediments. The term “the like” includes creatures such as spiders. A web made by a spider is considered to be a cast made by an insect and is also a loose impediment, even if attached to another object. (Revised)
23/6 Dead Land Crab
Q. A ball lodges against a dead land crab in a bunker. May the crab be removed without penalty?
A. No. A dead land crab is a natural object and thus a loose impediment and not an obstruction. Removal of the crab would be a breach of Rule 13-4.
23/6.5 Snake
Q. Is a snake an outside agency or a loose impediment?
A. A live snake is an outside agency. A dead snake is a loose impediment.
23/7 Fallen Tree
Q. Is a fallen tree a loose impediment?
A. If it is still attached to the stump, no; if it is not attached to the stump, yes.
23/8 Worm Partially Underground
Q. Is a worm, when half on top of the surface of the ground and half below, a loose impediment which may be removed? Or is it fixed or solidly embedded and therefore not a loose impediment?
A. A worm which is half underground is not “fixed or growing” or “solidly embedded” within the meaning of those terms in the Definition of “Loose Impediments.” Accordingly, such a worm may be removed under Rule 16-1a(i) or Rule 23.
23/9 Embedded Acorn
Q. Is an embedded acorn a loose impediment?
A. Not if the acorn is solidly embedded — see Definition of “Loose Impediments.”
Club Touches Partially Embedded Pine Needle on Backswing in Bunker — See 13-4/32.
Player Repairs Depression on Line of Putt Created When Partially Embedded Acorn Removed — See 16-1a/7.
23/10 Ball Embedded in Fruit
Q. A ball is embedded in an orange lying under an orange tree. What is the ruling?
A. The player must play the ball as it lies or deem it unplayable. Since the orange was adhering to the ball, it was not a loose impediment.
Grass Adhering to Ball — See 21/2.
23/11 Loose Soil from Cast of Hole Made by Burrowing Animal
Q. A player’s ball lies through the green in the cast of a hole made
by a burrowing animal. In addition to his relief options under
Rule 25-1, may the player remove the loose soil, which forms the
cast, from around his ball?
A. No — see Definition of “Loose Impediments.”
23/12 Aeration Plugs
Q. Are plugs of compacted soil produced through aeration of fairways loose impediments?
A. Yes. Loose soil is not a loose impediment. However, such plugs, since they consist of compacted soil, are loose impediments.
23/13 Clod of Earth
Q. Is a loose clod of earth a loose impediment?
A. Yes. Loose soil is not a loose impediment except on the putting green. However, a clod of earth is not loose soil.
23/14 Loose Impediments Used to Surface Road
Q. A player hits his ball onto a gravel-covered road. Even though he is entitled to relief from this obstruction, he prefers to play the ball from the road. May he remove gravel that might interfere with his stroke?
A. Yes. Gravel is a loose impediment and a player may remove loose impediments under Rule 23-1. This right is not canceled by the fact that, when a road is covered with gravel, it becomes an artificially-surfaced road and thus an immovable obstruction. The same principle applies to roads or paths constructed with stone, crushed shell, wood chips or the like. (Revised)
Other Decisions Relating to Rule 23:
Status of Moss or Creepers in Tree — See 13-2/37.
Status of Saliva — See 25/6.
Grass Cuttings — See 25/11.
23-1/1 Means by Which Loose Impediments May Be Removed
Q. Worm casts are loose impediments. By what means may such casts be removed?
A. Loose impediments may be moved by any means, except that, in removing loose impediments on the line of putt, the player must not press anything down (Rule 16-1a).
23-1/2 Large Stone Removable Only with Much Effort
Q. A player’s ball lies in the rough directly behind a loose stone the size of a watermelon. The stone can be removed only with much effort. Is it a loose impediment which may be removed?
A. Yes. Stones of any size (not solidly embedded) are loose impediments and may be removed, provided removal does not unduly delay play
(Rule 6-7).
23-1/3 Assistance in Removing Large Loose Impediment
Q. May spectators, caddies, fellow-competitors, etc., assist a player in removing a large loose impediment?
A. Yes.
23-1/4 Breaking Off Part of Large Loose Impediment
Q. If part of a large branch which has fallen from a tree (and thus is a loose impediment) interferes with a player’s swing, may the player break off the interfering part rather than move the whole branch?
A. Yes.
Bending Grass in Removal of Loose Impediment — See 13-2/13.
Determining Whether Natural Object Interfering with Area of Intended Swing Is Loose Impediment — See 13-2/26.
23-1/5 Removal of Insect on Ball
Q. A live insect is stationary or crawling on a player’s ball which is lying through the green. May the player remove the insect with his fingers or blow the insect off the ball?
A. Yes, in both cases, under Rule 23-1. A live insect is not considered to be adhering to the ball and therefore is a loose impediment — see Definition of “Loose Impediments.”
23-1/5.5 Status of Insect on Ball in Bunker
Q. With regard to Decision 23-1/5, what is the ruling if the ball was in a bunker?
A. The insect is considered to be in the bunker and because it is, by definition, a loose impediment, the player may not touch or physically remove the insect from the ball (Rule 13-4c). However, as the insect is animate and capable of moving on its own, the player may take action, such as waving his hand or a club or towel, to encourage the insect to move. If the insect moves, there is no penalty provided the player has not touched the insect or the ground in the bunker, or moved another loose impediment in the bunker.
Flying Insect in Water Hazard — See 13-4/16.5.
23-1/6 Removal of Loose Impediments from Area in Which Ball to Be Dropped
Q. Through the green, is it permissible for a player to remove loose impediments from the area in which he is preparing to drop his ball?
A. Yes.
23-1/6.5 Removal of Loose Impediments from Spot on Which Ball to Be Placed
Q. A player taking relief under a Rule drops his ball and it rolls more than two club-lengths. He re-drops under Rule 20-2c, with the same result. He must now place the ball as near as possible to the spot where it first struck the ground when re-dropped — Rule 20-2c. Before he places the ball, may he remove loose impediments on or around the spot on which the ball is to be placed?
A. Yes.
23-1/7 Loose Impediment Affecting Lie Moved When Ball Lifted
Q. A loose impediment affecting a player’s lie is moved when the player lifts his ball under a Rule that requires him to replace the ball. In equity (Rule 1-4), should the player be required to replace the loose impediment?
A. Yes. If he fails to do so when his ball lies through the green, in equity (Rule 1-4), the player incurs a penalty of one stroke in both match play and stroke play. If he fails to do so when the ball lies in a hazard and the loose impediment was originally lying in or touching the same hazard, in equity (Rule 1-4), the player loses the hole in match play or incurs a penalty of two strokes in stroke play. (Revised)
23-1/8 Loose Impediments Affecting Lie Removed While Ball Lifted
Q. A player’s ball lies in an area through the green where there are a number of loose impediments, including a tree branch against which the ball has come to rest. It appears likely that the ball will move if the player moves the tree branch. The player wishes to lift the ball under Rule 5-3 (Ball Unfit for Play) or Rule 12-2 (Identifying Ball), or he is requested to lift it under Rule 22 (Ball Assisting or Interfering with Play). He lifts the ball but, before replacing it, he removes the loose impediments in the area, including the tree branch against which the ball was resting. Is this permissible?
A. No. Under Rule 18-2a, through the green a player incurs a penalty if he causes his ball to move as a result of moving a loose impediment. It would circumvent this Rule if, before a ball is replaced, it was permissible to remove loose impediments which affected the player’s lie before the ball was lifted. In equity (Rule 1-4), the player should be penalized one stroke.
In such circumstances, if a player wishes to remove loose impediments affecting his lie, he should do so either before lifting the ball or after replacing it. If his ball then moves as a result of moving the loose impediments, the player incurs a penalty stroke under Rule 18-2a and must replace the ball.
Removing Sand or Loose Soil from Dropping Area — See 13-2/11.
Ball Deemed Unplayable in Bunker; Player Removes Loose Impediment from Bunker While Ball Lifted — See 13-4/35.7.
23-1/9 Removal of Loose Impediment Lying Out of Bounds
Q. A loose impediment lying out of bounds interferes with a player’s stance. May the player remove the impediment?
A. Yes.
Ball in Hazard Moves After Loose Impediment Outside Hazard Moved — See 18-2a/5.
Other Decisions Relating to Rule 23-1:
Player Removes Loose Impediments Affecting Lie of Opponent or Fellow-Competitor In Hazard — See 1-2/6.
Removal of Obstruction in Hazard Would Move Loose Impediment — See 1-4/5.
Replacing or Removing Undetached Divot — See 13-2/5.
Ball Outside Bunker; Stone in Bunker on Line of Play Pressed Down or Removed — See 13-2/31.
Accidentally Moving Loose Impediment in Hazard — See 13-4/13.
Player Accidentally Kicks Pine Cone into Bunker and Picks It Up — See 13-4/14.
Ball in Hazard Moves When Loose Impediment Removed — See 13-4/15.
Removal of Loose Impediment in Water Hazard Covering Wrong Ball — See 13-4/16.
Loose Impediment Removed from Water Hazard; Player Then Decides Not to Play from Hazard — See 13-4/17.
Ball Touched Accidentally in Removing Loose Impediments — See 18-2a/31.
Ball Touched with Fir Cone or Stick to Prevent Movement When Loose Impediments Removed — See 18-2a/32.
Pine Needles Piled for Removal Interfere with Line of Play After Ball Dropped Away — See 25-1b/17.
Player Lifts Loose Impediment in Bunker When His Ball and Partner’s Ball in Bunker — See 30-3f/1.
Competitor Lifts Loose Impediment in Bunker When His Ball and Partner’s Ball in Bunker — See 31-8/1.
Removal of Loose Impediments by Committee — See 33/1.
23-1/10 Removal of Loose Impediments Affecting Player’s Play
Q. A player with a downhill putt picks up loose impediments between his ball and the hole but leaves some behind the hole. An opponent or fellow-competitor wants to remove the impediments behind the hole as they may serve as a backstop, but the player objects. May the opponent or fellow-competitor remove the loose impediments behind the hole?
A. No. When it is the player’s turn to play, his opponent or a fellow-competitor has no right to remove loose impediments affecting the player’s play if the player requests the opponent or fellow-competitor not to do so. If the opponent or fellow-competitor ignores the request, he is in breach of Rule 1-2. In match play, the opponent loses the hole. In stroke play, the fellow-competitor incurs a penalty of two strokes and, in equity (Rule 1-4), the player is entitled to replace the loose impediments.
In the absence of a request not to remove loose impediments affecting the player’s play, an opponent or fellow-competitor who does so incurs no penalty. In equity (Rule 1-4), the player is entitled to replace the loose impediments. (Revised)
Removal of Dew or Frost from Line of Putt — See 16-1a/3.
Loose Impediments Removed from Line of Putt with Cap or Towel — See 16-1a/8.
Brushing Loose Impediments Off Line of Putt with Palm of Hand — See 16-1a/9.
Loose Impediments Brushed Along Line of Putt Rather Than to Side — See 16-1a/10.
Determining Whether Natural Object on Line of Putt Is Loose Impediment — See 16-1a/11.
Opponent or Fellow-Competitor Removes Obstruction Affecting Player’s Play — See 24/16.
23-1/11 Ball Moved Accidentally by Foot During Removal of Loose Impediment on Putting Green
Q. A player in the process of removing a loose impediment on the putting green accidentally moved his ball with his foot. What is the ruling?
A. The player incurs a penalty stroke under Rule 18-2a, and the ball must be replaced.
Rule 23-1 provides that the player incurs no penalty if, on the putting green, his ball is accidentally moved in the process of removing a loose impediment. However, this Rule applies only where the moving of a ball is directly attributable to removal of a loose impediment. In this case, removal of the loose impediment did not cause the ball to move. (Revised)
23-1/12 After Ball Addressed on Putting Green Ball Moved in Removal of Loose Impediment
Q. After a player addresses his ball on the putting green, an insect alights on the ball. The player bends over without moving his feet and, in attempting to brush the insect off the ball, moves the ball several inches. Is the player subject to a penalty stroke under Rule 18-2b?
A. No. An insect is a loose impediment — See Definition of “Loose Impediments” and Decision 23-1/5.
Under Rule 23-1, a player incurs no penalty if a ball on the putting green moves while he is in the process of removing a loose impediment. Rule 23-1 overrides Rule 18-2b in this case.
Other Decisions Relating to Rule 23-1:
Ball-Marker Moved Accidentally by Player After Having Moved Loose Impediments — See 20-1/12.
Competitor Seeks Help in Removal of Loose Impediment to Avoid Penalty — See 33-7/7.