Exception 1 to Rule 15.1a makes clear that, before replacingReplace: To place a ball by setting it down by hand and letting it go, with the intent for it to be in play.(...Continued) a ball, the player must not remove a loose impedimentLoose Impediment: Any unattached natural object such as:(...Continued) that, if moved when the ball was at rest, would have been likely to cause the ball to moveMoved: When a ball at rest has left its original spot and come to rest on any other spot, and this can be seen by the naked eye (whether or not anyone actually sees it do so).(...Continued). This is because when the ball is in its initial location, the player risks the ball movingMoved: When a ball at rest has left its original spot and come to rest on any other spot, and this can be seen by the naked eye (whether or not anyone actually sees it do so).(...Continued) when removing the loose impedimentLoose Impediment: Any unattached natural object such as:(...Continued).
However, when a ball is to be droppedDrop: To hold the ball and let go of it so that it falls through the air, with the intent for the ball to be in play.(...Continued) or placed, the ball is not being put back in a specific spot and therefore removing loose impedimentsLoose Impediment: Any unattached natural object such as:(...Continued) before droppingDrop: To hold the ball and let go of it so that it falls through the air, with the intent for the ball to be in play.(...Continued) or placing a ball is allowed.
For example, if a player is applying Rule 14.3b when droppingDrop: To hold the ball and let go of it so that it falls through the air, with the intent for the ball to be in play.(...Continued) a ball in a relief areaRelief Area: The area where a player must drop a ball when taking relief under a Rule. With the exception of back-on-the-line relief (see Rules 16.1c(2), 17.1d(2), 19.2b and 19.3), each relief Rule requires the player to use a specific relief area whose size and location are based on these three factors:(...Continued) or Rule 14.3c(2) when a droppedDrop: To hold the ball and let go of it so that it falls through the air, with the intent for the ball to be in play.(...Continued) ball will not stay in a relief areaRelief Area: The area where a player must drop a ball when taking relief under a Rule. With the exception of back-on-the-line relief (see Rules 16.1c(2), 17.1d(2), 19.2b and 19.3), each relief Rule requires the player to use a specific relief area whose size and location are based on these three factors:(...Continued) and the player now must place a ball, the player is allowed to remove loose impedimentsLoose Impediment: Any unattached natural object such as:(...Continued) from the relief areaRelief Area: The area where a player must drop a ball when taking relief under a Rule. With the exception of back-on-the-line relief (see Rules 16.1c(2), 17.1d(2), 19.2b and 19.3), each relief Rule requires the player to use a specific relief area whose size and location are based on these three factors:(...Continued) into which a ball will be droppedDrop: To hold the ball and let go of it so that it falls through the air, with the intent for the ball to be in play.(...Continued) or from on or around the spot on which the player must place a ball.
When a player is moving their ball or ball-markerBall-Marker: An artificial object when used to mark the spot of a ball to be lifted, such as a tee, a coin, an object made to be a ball-marker or another small piece of equipment.(...Continued) under Rule 15.3, it should be placed to the side by measuring with a club, such as by using the clubhead or the full length of a club. This can be done by measuring directly from the ball or by markingMark: To show the spot where a ball is at rest by either:(...Continued) the spot of the ball and measuring from there.
Some examples of this include:
The player may markMark: To show the spot where a ball is at rest by either:(...Continued) the spot of the ball and then move the ball-markerBall-Marker: An artificial object when used to mark the spot of a ball to be lifted, such as a tee, a coin, an object made to be a ball-marker or another small piece of equipment.(...Continued) one or more clubheads to the side.
The player may lay a club or clubhead down immediately to the side of the ball and move the ball to the other end of the club or clubhead, or place a ball-markerBall-Marker: An artificial object when used to mark the spot of a ball to be lifted, such as a tee, a coin, an object made to be a ball-marker or another small piece of equipment.(...Continued) at that point.
In moving the ball or ball-markerBall-Marker: An artificial object when used to mark the spot of a ball to be lifted, such as a tee, a coin, an object made to be a ball-marker or another small piece of equipment.(...Continued), the player should align the club with a fixed object (such as a blemish on the green or a sprinkler head) to ensure that when replacingReplace: To place a ball by setting it down by hand and letting it go, with the intent for it to be in play.(...Continued) the ball, the steps can be reversed and the ball be replacedReplace: To place a ball by setting it down by hand and letting it go, with the intent for it to be in play.(...Continued) on the spot from which it was lifted. (New)
In stroke play, under Rule 15.3a, if two or more players agree to leave a ball in place on the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued) to help any player, and the strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) is made with the helping ball left in place, each player who made the agreement gets two penalty strokes. A breach of Rule 15.3a does not depend on whether the players know that such an agreement is not allowed.
For example, in stroke playStroke Play: A form of play where a player or side competes against all other players or sides in the competition.(...Continued), before playing from just off the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued), a player asks another player to leave their ball that is near the holeHole: The finishing point on the putting green for the hole being played:(...Continued), in order to use it as a backstop. Without knowing this is not allowed, the other player agrees to leave their ball by the holeHole: The finishing point on the putting green for the hole being played:(...Continued) to help the other player. Once the strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) is made with the ball in place, both players get the penalty under Rule 15.3a.
The same outcome would apply if the player whose ball was near the hole offered to leave the ball in playIn Play: The status of a player’s ball when it lies on the course and is being used in the play of a hole:(...Continued) to help the other player, and the other player accepted the offer and then played.
If the players know that they are not allowed to make such an agreement, but still do it, they are both disqualified under Rule 1.3b(1) for deliberately ignoring Rule 15.3a.
In a match, a player may agree to leave their ball in place to help the opponentOpponent: The person a player competes against in a match. The term opponent applies only in match play. since the outcome of any benefit that may come from the agreement affects only their match.