Rule 15 - Relief from Loose Impediments and Movable Obstructions (Including Ball or Ball-Marker Helping or Interfering with Play)

15.1 Loose Impediments

a. Removal of Loose Impediment

Without penalty, a player may remove a loose impedimentLoose Impediment: Any unattached natural object such as:(...Continued) anywhere on or off the courseCourse: The entire area of play within the edge of any boundaries set by the Committee:(...Continued), and may do so in any way (such as by using a hand or foot, using a club or other equipmentEquipment: Anything used, worn, held or carried by the player or the player’s caddie.(...Continued), 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 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 that was lifted or movedMoved: 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) from anywhere except the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued):

A player must not deliberately remove a loose impedimentLoose Impediment: Any unattached natural object such as:(...Continued) that, if moved before the ball was lifted or moved, would have been likely to have caused 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).
If the player does so, they get one penalty stroke, but the removed loose impedimentLoose Impediment: Any unattached natural object such as:(...Continued) does not need to be replaced.

This exception applies both during a roundRound: 18 or fewer holes played in the order set by the Committee. and while play is stopped under Rule 5.7a. It does not apply to a loose impedimentLoose Impediment: Any unattached natural object such as:(...Continued) that was not there before the ball was lifted or moved or that is removed as a result of markingMark: To show the spot where a ball is at rest by either:(...Continued) the spot of a ball, or lifting, 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) or 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 or causing a 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).

Exception 2 – Restrictions on Deliberately Removing Loose Impediments to Affect Ball in Motion (see Rule 11.3).

b. Ball Moved When Removing Loose Impediment

If a player’s removal of a loose impedimentLoose Impediment: Any unattached natural object such as:(...Continued) causes their 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):

The ball must 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 its original spot (which if not known must be estimated) (see Rule 14.2).
If the movedMoved: 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) ball had been at rest anywhere except on the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued) (see Rule 13.1d) or in the teeing areaTeeing Area: The area the player must play from in starting the hole they are playing.(...Continued) (see Rule 6.2b(6)), the player gets one penalty stroke under Rule 9.4b, except when Rule 7.4 applies (no penalty for ball movedMoved: 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) during search) or when another exception to Rule 9.4b applies.

Penalty for Playing Ball from a Wrong PlaceWrong Place: Any place on the course other than where the player is required or allowed to play their ball under the Rules.(...Continued) in Breach of Rule 15.1: General PenaltyGeneral Penalty: Loss of hole in match play or two penalty strokes in stroke play. Under Rule 14.7a.

15.2 Movable Obstructions

This Rule covers free relief that is allowed from artificial objects that meet the definition of movable obstructionMovable Obstruction: An obstruction that can be moved with reasonable effort and without damaging the obstruction or the course.(...Continued).

It does not give relief from immovable obstructionsImmovable Obstruction: Any obstruction that:(...Continued) (a different type of free relief is allowed under Rule 16.1) or boundary objectsBoundary Object: Artificial objects defining or showing out of bounds, such as walls, fences, stakes and railings, from which free relief is not allowed.(...Continued) or integral objectsIntegral Object: An artificial object defined by the Committee as part of the challenge of playing the course from which free relief is not allowed.(...Continued) (no free relief is allowed).

a. Relief from Movable Obstruction

(1) Removal of Movable Obstruction. Without penalty, a player may remove a movable obstructionMovable Obstruction: An obstruction that can be moved with reasonable effort and without damaging the obstruction or the course.(...Continued) anywhere on or off the courseCourse: The entire area of play within the edge of any boundaries set by the Committee:(...Continued) and may do so in any way.

But there are two exceptions:

Exception 1 – Tee Markers Must Not Be Moved When Ball Will Be Played from Teeing Area (see Rules 6.2b(4) and 8.1a(1)).

Exception 2 – Restrictions on Deliberately Removing Movable Obstruction to Affect a Ball in Motion (see Rule 11.3).

If a player’s ball movesMoved: 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) while they are removing a movable obstructionMovable Obstruction: An obstruction that can be moved with reasonable effort and without damaging the obstruction or the course.(...Continued):

There is no penalty, and
The ball must 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 its original spot (which if not known must be estimated) (see Rule 14.2).

(2) Relief When Ball Is in or on Movable Obstruction Anywhere on Course Except on Putting Green. The player may take free relief by lifting the ball, removing the movable obstructionMovable Obstruction: An obstruction that can be moved with reasonable effort and without damaging the obstruction or the course.(...Continued) and 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) the original ball or another ball in this 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) (see Rule 14.3):

Reference Point: The estimated point right under where the ball was at rest in or on the movable obstructionMovable Obstruction: An obstruction that can be moved with reasonable effort and without damaging the obstruction or the course.(...Continued).
Size of Relief Area Measured from Reference Point: One club-lengthClub-Length: The length of the longest club of the 14 (or fewer) clubs the player has during the round (as allowed by Rule 4.1b(1)), other than a putter.(...Continued), but with these limits:
Limits on Location of Relief Area:
- Must be in the same area of the courseAreas of the Course: The five defined areas that make up the course: as the reference point, and
- Must not be nearer the holeHole: The finishing point on the putting green for the hole being played:(...Continued) than the reference point.

(3) Relief When Ball Is in or on Movable Obstruction on Putting Green. The player may take free relief by:

Lifting the ball and removing the movable obstructionMovable Obstruction: An obstruction that can be moved with reasonable effort and without damaging the obstruction or the course.(...Continued), and
Placing the original ball or another ball on the estimated spot right under where the ball was at rest in or on the movable obstructionMovable Obstruction: An obstruction that can be moved with reasonable effort and without damaging the obstruction or the course.(...Continued), using the procedures for 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 under Rule 14.2b(2) and 14.2e.

b. Relief for Ball Not Found but in or on Movable Obstruction

If a player’s ball has not been found and it is known or virtually certainKnown or Virtually Certain: The standard for deciding what happened to a player’s ball – for example, whether the ball came to rest in a penalty area, whether it moved or what caused it to move.(...Continued) that it came to rest in or on a movable obstructionMovable Obstruction: An obstruction that can be moved with reasonable effort and without damaging the obstruction or the course.(...Continued) on the courseCourse: The entire area of play within the edge of any boundaries set by the Committee:(...Continued), the player may use this relief option instead of taking stroke-and-distanceStroke and Distance: The procedure and penalty when a player takes relief under Rules 17, 18 or 19 by playing a ball from where the previous stroke was made (see Rule 14.6).(...Continued) relief:

The player may take free relief under Rule 15.2a(2) or 15.2a(3), using the estimated point right under where the ball last crossed the edge of the movable obstructionMovable Obstruction: An obstruction that can be moved with reasonable effort and without damaging the obstruction or the course.(...Continued) on the courseCourse: The entire area of play within the edge of any boundaries set by the Committee:(...Continued) as the reference point.
Once the player puts another 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 take relief in this way:
- The original ball is no longer 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) and must not be played.
- This is true even if it is then found on the courseCourse: The entire area of play within the edge of any boundaries set by the Committee:(...Continued) before the end of the three-minute search time (see Rule 6.3b)

But if it is not known or virtually certainKnown or Virtually Certain: The standard for deciding what happened to a player’s ball – for example, whether the ball came to rest in a penalty area, whether it moved or what caused it to move.(...Continued) that the ball came to rest in or on a movable obstructionMovable Obstruction: An obstruction that can be moved with reasonable effort and without damaging the obstruction or the course.(...Continued) and the ball is lostLost: The status of a ball that is not found in three minutes after the player or their caddie (or the player’s partner or partner’scaddie) begins to search for it. A ball does not become lost as a result of the player declaring it to be lost.(...Continued), the player must take stroke-and-distanceStroke and Distance: The procedure and penalty when a player takes relief under Rules 17, 18 or 19 by playing a ball from where the previous stroke was made (see Rule 14.6).(...Continued) relief under Rule 18.2.

Penalty for Playing Ball from a Wrong PlaceWrong Place: Any place on the course other than where the player is required or allowed to play their ball under the Rules.(...Continued) in Breach of Rule 15.2: General PenaltyGeneral Penalty: Loss of hole in match play or two penalty strokes in stroke play. Under Rule 14.7a.

15.3 Ball or Ball-Marker Helping or Interfering with Play

a. Ball on Putting Green Helping Play

Rule 15.3a applies only to a ball at rest on the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued), not anywhere else on the courseCourse: The entire area of play within the edge of any boundaries set by the Committee:(...Continued).

If a player reasonably believes that a ball on the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued) might help anyone’s play (such as by serving as a possible backstop near the holeHole: The finishing point on the putting green for the hole being played:(...Continued)), the player may:

MarkMark: To show the spot where a ball is at rest by either:(...Continued) the spot of the ball and lift it under Rule 13.1b if it is their own ball, or if the ball belongs to another player, require the other player to markMark: To show the spot where a ball is at rest by either:(...Continued) the spot and lift the ball (see Rule 14.1).
The lifted ball must 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 its original spot (see Rule 14.2).

In stroke playStroke Play: A form of play where a player or side competes against all other players or sides in the competition.(...Continued) only:

A player who is required to lift a ball may play first instead, and
If two or more players agree to leave a ball in place to help any player, and that player then makes a strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) with the helping ball left in place, each player who made the agreement gets the general penaltyGeneral Penalty: Loss of hole in match play or two penalty strokes in stroke play. (two penalty strokes).

See Committee Procedures, Section 5J (guidance on best practice to help prevent “backstopping”).

b. Ball Anywhere on Course Interfering with Play

(1) Meaning of Interference by Another Player’s Ball. Interference under this Rule exists when another player’s ball at rest:

Might interfere with the player’s area of intended stanceStance: The position of a player’s feet and body in preparing for and making a stroke.(...Continued) or area of intended swing,
Is on or close to the player’s line of playLine of Play: The line where the player intends their ball to go after a stroke, including the area on that line that is a reasonable distance up above the ground and on either side of that line.(...Continued) such that, given the intended strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued), there is a reasonable chance the player’s ball in motion could hit that ball, or
Is close enough to distract the player in making the strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued).

(2) When Relief Is Allowed from Interfering Ball. If a player reasonably believes that another player’s ball anywhere on the courseCourse: The entire area of play within the edge of any boundaries set by the Committee:(...Continued) might interfere with the player’s own play:

The player may require the other player to markMark: To show the spot where a ball is at rest by either:(...Continued) the spot and lift the ball (see Rule 14.1), and the ball must not be cleaned (except when lifted from the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued) under Rule 13.1b) and must 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 its original spot (see Rule 14.2).
If the other player does not markMark: To show the spot where a ball is at rest by either:(...Continued) the spot before lifting the ball or cleans the lifted ball when not allowed, they get one penalty stroke.
In stroke playStroke Play: A form of play where a player or side competes against all other players or sides in the competition.(...Continued) only, a player required to lift their ball under this Rule may play first instead.

A player is not allowed to lift their ball under this Rule based only on the player’s own belief that the ball might interfere with another player’s play.

If the player lifts their ball when not required to do so by the other player (except when lifting the ball on the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued) under Rule 13.1b), the player gets one penalty stroke.

c. Ball-Marker Helping or Interfering with Play

If 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) might help or interfere with play, a player may:

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) out of the way if it is their own, or
If 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) belongs to another player, require that player to 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) out of the way, for the same reasons as they may require a ball to be lifted under Rules 15.3a and 15.3b.

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) must be moved out of the way to a new spot measured from its original spot, such as by using one or more clubhead-lengths.

When moving 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) back, the player should do so by measuring from the new spot and reversing the steps used to 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) out of the way.

The same process should be applied if a player movedMoved: 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) an interfering ball out of the way by measuring from the ball.

Penalty for Breach of Rule 15.3: General PenaltyGeneral Penalty: Loss of hole in match play or two penalty strokes in stroke play..

This penalty also applies if the player:

Makes a strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) without waiting for a helping 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) to be lifted or moved after becoming aware that another player (1) intended to lift or move it under this Rule or (2) had required someone else to do so, or
Refuses to lift their ball or move their 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) when required to do so and a strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) is then made by the other player whose play might have been helped or interfered with.

Penalty for Playing Ball from a Wrong PlaceWrong Place: Any place on the course other than where the player is required or allowed to play their ball under the Rules.(...Continued) in Breach of Rule 15.3: General PenaltyGeneral Penalty: Loss of hole in match play or two penalty strokes in stroke play. Under Rule 14.7a.