Examples of actions that are likely to improveImprove: To alter one or more of the conditions affecting the stroke or other physical conditions affecting play so that a player gains a potential advantage for a stroke. the conditions affecting the strokeConditions Affecting the Stroke: The lie of the player’s ball at rest, the area of intended stance, the area of intended swing, the line of play and the relief area where the player will drop or place a ball. (that is, likely to give a player a potential advantage) include when:
A player repairs a pitch-mark in the general areaGeneral Area: The area of the course that covers all of the courseexcept for the other four defined areas: (1) the teeing area the player must play from in starting the hole they are playing, (2) all penalty areas, (3) all bunkers, and (4) the putting green of the hole the player is playing.(...Continued) or replaces a divot in a divot hole a few yards in front of their ball on the 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) before making a strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) that might be affected by the pitch-mark or divot hole (for example, a putt or a low-running chip).
A player’s ball lies in a greenside bunkerBunker: A specially prepared area of sand, which is often a hollow from which turf or soil was removed.(...Continued), and the player smooths footprints in front of the ball on their 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) before playing a short shot intended to be played over the smoothed area (see Rule 12.2b(2) – When Touching Sand Does Not Result in Penalty).
Examples of actions that are unlikely to improveImprove: To alter one or more of the conditions affecting the stroke or other physical conditions affecting play so that a player gains a potential advantage for a stroke. conditions affecting the strokeConditions Affecting the Stroke: The lie of the player’s ball at rest, the area of intended stance, the area of intended swing, the line of play and the relief area where the player will drop or place a ball. (that is, unlikely to give a player a potential advantage) include when:
Before making a 150-yard approach shot from the general areaGeneral Area: The area of the course that covers all of the courseexcept for the other four defined areas: (1) the teeing area the player must play from in starting the hole they are playing, (2) all penalty areas, (3) all bunkers, and (4) the putting green of the hole the player is playing.(...Continued), a player repairs a small pitch-mark, smooths a footprint in a bunkerBunker: A specially prepared area of sand, which is often a hollow from which turf or soil was removed.(...Continued) or replaces a divot in a divot hole on their 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) several yards in front of the ball.
A player’s ball lies in the middle of a long, shallow-faced fairway bunkerBunker: A specially prepared area of sand, which is often a hollow from which turf or soil was removed.(...Continued), and the player smooths footprints several yards in front of the ball and on their 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) before playing a long shot over the smoothed area (see Rule 12.2b(2) – When Touching Sand Does Not Result in Penalty).
If a player intends to play a ball in a certain way and improvesImprove: To alter one or more of the conditions affecting the stroke or other physical conditions affecting play so that a player gains a potential advantage for a stroke. the conditions affecting the strokeConditions Affecting the Stroke: The lie of the player’s ball at rest, the area of intended stance, the area of intended swing, the line of play and the relief area where the player will drop or place a ball. for that particular strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued), and the penalty cannot be avoided by restoration, the player is in breach of Rule 8.1a whether they go on to play the ball in that way or plays it in a different way that is unaffected by that improvement.
For example, if a player breaks a branch that interferes with their area of stanceStance: The position of a player’s feet and body in preparing for and making a stroke.(...Continued) or swing for an intended strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) when a stanceStance: The position of a player’s feet and body in preparing for and making a stroke.(...Continued) could have been taken without breaking the branch, a penalty cannot be avoided by playing the ball in a different direction or by taking relief to a different location where that branch would have had no effect on the strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued). This also applies if a player broke the branch when starting a holeHole: The finishing point on the putting green for the hole being played:(...Continued) and 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) to a different location within the teeing areaTeeing Area: The area the player must play from in starting the hole they are playing.(...Continued).
See Rule 8.1c for whether a penalty may be avoided by restoring improvedImprove: To alter one or more of the conditions affecting the stroke or other physical conditions affecting play so that a player gains a potential advantage for a stroke. conditionsConditions Affecting the Stroke: The lie of the player’s ball at rest, the area of intended stance, the area of intended swing, the line of play and the relief area where the player will drop or place a ball..
Part of a fence that is situated out of boundsOut of Bounds: All areas outside the boundary edge of the course as defined by the Committee. All areas inside that edge are in bounds.(...Continued) (and so is not a boundary objectBoundary Object: Artificial objects defining or showing out of bounds, such as walls, fences, stakes and railings, from which free relief is not allowed.(...Continued)) leans onto the courseCourse: The entire area of play within the edge of any boundaries set by the Committee:(...Continued) and the player pushes it back into an upright position. This action breaches Rule 8.1a, which prohibits a player from improvingImprove: To alter one or more of the conditions affecting the stroke or other physical conditions affecting play so that a player gains a potential advantage for a stroke. the conditions affecting the strokeConditions Affecting the Stroke: The lie of the player’s ball at rest, the area of intended stance, the area of intended swing, the line of play and the relief area where the player will drop or place a ball. by moving immovable obstructionsImmovable Obstruction: Any obstruction that:(...Continued). The player gets the general penaltyGeneral Penalty: Loss of hole in match play or two penalty strokes in stroke play. unless the player restores the conditionsConditions Affecting the Stroke: The lie of the player’s ball at rest, the area of intended stance, the area of intended swing, the line of play and the relief area where the player will drop or place a ball. by returning the fence to its original position before their next strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) as permitted by Rule 8.1c (Avoiding Penalty by Restoring Improved Conditions).
In such a situation, although Rule 8.1a prohibits moving, bending or breaking the immovable obstructionImmovable Obstruction: Any obstruction that:(...Continued), the player has the option to take free relief from interference by the part of the immovable obstructionImmovable Obstruction: Any obstruction that:(...Continued) that is leaning onto the courseCourse: The entire area of play within the edge of any boundaries set by the Committee:(...Continued) under Rule 16.1b (Relief from Abnormal Course Conditions).
The definition of “stanceStance: The position of a player’s feet and body in preparing for and making a stroke.(...Continued) ” includes not only where a player places their feet to stand, but also where the player’s entire body is positioned in preparing for or making a strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued).
For example, a player is in breach of Rule 8.1a for improvingImprove: To alter one or more of the conditions affecting the stroke or other physical conditions affecting play so that a player gains a potential advantage for a stroke. the area of intended stanceStance: The position of a player’s feet and body in preparing for and making a stroke.(...Continued) if they place a towel or other object on a bush to protect their body while making a strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued).
If a player needs to play from their knees because the ball is under a tree, and the player places a towel on the ground to avoid getting wet or dirty, the player is building their stanceStance: The position of a player’s feet and body in preparing for and making a stroke.(...Continued). But a player is allowed to wrap a towel around their waist or put on rain gear before kneeling to play the shot (see Rule 10.2b(5) – Physical Help and Protection From Elements).
If a player has positioned an object in a way that is not allowed but realizes the mistake before playing the ball, the penalty may be avoided by removing the object before making the strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued), so long as there has been no other improvement to the conditions affecting the strokeConditions Affecting the Stroke: The lie of the player’s ball at rest, the area of intended stance, the area of intended swing, the line of play and the relief area where the player will drop or place a ball..
A player is allowed to place their feet firmly in taking a stanceStance: The position of a player’s feet and body in preparing for and making a stroke.(...Continued), but is in breach of Rule 8.1a if they alter the ground where the stanceStance: The position of a player’s feet and body in preparing for and making a stroke.(...Continued) will be taken if altering the ground improvesImprove: To alter one or more of the conditions affecting the stroke or other physical conditions affecting play so that a player gains a potential advantage for a stroke. the area of intended stanceStance: The position of a player’s feet and body in preparing for and making a stroke.(...Continued).
Examples of altering the ground that are likely to improveImprove: To alter one or more of the conditions affecting the stroke or other physical conditions affecting play so that a player gains a potential advantage for a stroke. the conditions affecting the strokeConditions Affecting the Stroke: The lie of the player’s ball at rest, the area of intended stance, the area of intended swing, the line of play and the relief area where the player will drop or place a ball. include:
Knocking down sand on the side of a bunkerBunker: A specially prepared area of sand, which is often a hollow from which turf or soil was removed.(...Continued) with a foot to create a level area to stand on.
Excessively digging feet into soft ground to gain a firmer foundation for the stanceStance: The position of a player’s feet and body in preparing for and making a stroke.(...Continued).
A player is in breach of Rule 8.1a as soon as they have improvedImprove: To alter one or more of the conditions affecting the stroke or other physical conditions affecting play so that a player gains a potential advantage for a stroke. conditionsConditions Affecting the Stroke: The lie of the player’s ball at rest, the area of intended stance, the area of intended swing, the line of play and the relief area where the player will drop or place a ball. by altering ground conditions to build a stanceStance: The position of a player’s feet and body in preparing for and making a stroke.(...Continued) and cannot avoid a penalty by attempting to restore the ground conditions to their original state.
The restriction on altering the ground (Rule 8.1a(3)) does not include removing loose impedimentsLoose Impediment: Any unattached natural object such as:(...Continued) or movable obstructionsMovable Obstruction: An obstruction that can be moved with reasonable effort and without damaging the obstruction or the course.(...Continued) from the area of intended stanceStance: The position of a player’s feet and body in preparing for and making a stroke.(...Continued), such as removing large amounts of pine needles or leaves from where a player will stand to play the ball.
Rule 8.1a does not prohibit a player from touching the ground within an area covered by the conditions affecting the strokeConditions Affecting the Stroke: The lie of the player’s ball at rest, the area of intended stance, the area of intended swing, the line of play and the relief area where the player will drop or place a ball., so long as those conditionsConditions Affecting the Stroke: The lie of the player’s ball at rest, the area of intended stance, the area of intended swing, the line of play and the relief area where the player will drop or place a ball. are not improvedImprove: To alter one or more of the conditions affecting the stroke or other physical conditions affecting play so that a player gains a potential advantage for a stroke..
For example, without improvingImprove: To alter one or more of the conditions affecting the stroke or other physical conditions affecting play so that a player gains a potential advantage for a stroke. any of the conditions affecting the strokeConditions Affecting the Stroke: The lie of the player’s ball at rest, the area of intended stance, the area of intended swing, the line of play and the relief area where the player will drop or place a ball., when the ball lies anywhere on the courseCourse: The entire area of play within the edge of any boundaries set by the Committee:(...Continued), a player may probe the area around the ball with a tee or other object to see whether their club might strike a root, rock or obstructionObstruction: Any artificial object except for integral objects and boundary objects.(...Continued) below the surface of the ground when the strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) is made.
However, see 12.2b/2 if the player probes sand in a bunkerBunker: A specially prepared area of sand, which is often a hollow from which turf or soil was removed.(...Continued) to test the condition of the sand.
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) a ball to take relief, a player must not replace a divot in a divot hole in 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) or take other actions to alter the ground surface in a way that improvesImprove: To alter one or more of the conditions affecting the stroke or other physical conditions affecting play so that a player gains a potential advantage for a stroke. the conditions affecting the strokeConditions Affecting the Stroke: The lie of the player’s ball at rest, the area of intended stance, the area of intended swing, the line of play and the relief area where the player will drop or place a ball..
However, this prohibition applies only after the player becomes aware that they are required or allowed to dropDrop: 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 that 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).
For example, if a player plays a ball, replaces the divot and only then realizes that they must or may play again from there under penalty of 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) because the ball is out of boundsOut of Bounds: All areas outside the boundary edge of the course as defined by the Committee. All areas inside that edge are in bounds.(...Continued), is in a penalty areaPenalty Area: An area from which relief with a one-stroke penalty is allowed if the player’s ball comes to rest there.(...Continued), is unplayable or that a provisional ballProvisional Ball: Another ball played in case the ball just played by the player may be:(...Continued) should be played, the player is not in breach of Rule 8.1a if that replaced divot is in 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).
Rule 8.1a(3) prohibits improvingImprove: To alter one or more of the conditions affecting the stroke or other physical conditions affecting play so that a player gains a potential advantage for a stroke. the conditions affecting the strokeConditions Affecting the Stroke: The lie of the player’s ball at rest, the area of intended stance, the area of intended swing, the line of play and the relief area where the player will drop or place a ball. by pressing down, removing or repositioning a divot in a divot hole, which is treated as part of the ground (and not as a loose impedimentLoose Impediment: Any unattached natural object such as:(...Continued)), even if it is not yet attached or growing.
A divot has been replaced when most of it, with the roots down, is in a divot hole (whether or not the divot is in the same divot hole that it came from).
Rule 8.1b allows a player to place their feet firmly in taking a stanceStance: The position of a player’s feet and body in preparing for and making a stroke.(...Continued), and this may be done more than once in preparing to make a strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued).
For example, a player may enter a bunkerBunker: A specially prepared area of sand, which is often a hollow from which turf or soil was removed.(...Continued) without a club, dig in with their feet in taking a stanceStance: The position of a player’s feet and body in preparing for and making a stroke.(...Continued) to simulate playing the ball, leave to get a club, and then dig in again with his or her feet and make the strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued).
Although a player is allowed to play in any direction, they are not entitled to a normal stanceStance: The position of a player’s feet and body in preparing for and making a stroke.(...Continued) or swing and must adapt to the situation and use the least intrusive course of action.
Examples of actions that are considered fairly taking a stance and are allowed under Rule 8.1b even if the action results in an improvementImprove: To alter one or more of the conditions affecting the stroke or other physical conditions affecting play so that a player gains a potential advantage for a stroke. include:
Backing into a branch or a boundary objectBoundary Object: Artificial objects defining or showing out of bounds, such as walls, fences, stakes and railings, from which free relief is not allowed.(...Continued) when that is the only way to take a stanceStance: The position of a player’s feet and body in preparing for and making a stroke.(...Continued) for the selected strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued), even if this moves the branch or boundary objectBoundary Object: Artificial objects defining or showing out of bounds, such as walls, fences, stakes and railings, from which free relief is not allowed.(...Continued) out of the way or causes it to bend or break.
Bending a branch with their hands to get under a tree to play a ball when that is the only way to get under the tree to take a stanceStance: The position of a player’s feet and body in preparing for and making a stroke.(...Continued).
See8.1b/3 for when a player gets a penalty for doing more than is necessary to take a stanceStance: The position of a player’s feet and body in preparing for and making a stroke.(...Continued).
Examples of actions that are not considered fairly taking a stanceStance: The position of a player’s feet and body in preparing for and making a stroke.(...Continued) and will result in a penalty under Rule 8.1a if they improveImprove: To alter one or more of the conditions affecting the stroke or other physical conditions affecting play so that a player gains a potential advantage for a stroke. the conditions affecting the strokeConditions Affecting the Stroke: The lie of the player’s ball at rest, the area of intended stance, the area of intended swing, the line of play and the relief area where the player will drop or place a ball. include:
Deliberately moving, bending or breaking branches with a hand, a leg or the body to get them out of the way of the backswing or strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued).
Standing on tall grass or weeds in a way that pushes them down and to the side so that they are out of the way of the area of intended stanceStance: The position of a player’s feet and body in preparing for and making a stroke.(...Continued) or swing, when a stanceStance: The position of a player’s feet and body in preparing for and making a stroke.(...Continued) could have been taken without doing so.
Hooking one branch on another or braiding two weeds to keep them away from the stanceStance: The position of a player’s feet and body in preparing for and making a stroke.(...Continued) or swing.
Using a hand to bend a branch that obscures the view of the ball after taking the stanceStance: The position of a player’s feet and body in preparing for and making a stroke.(...Continued).
Bending an interfering branch in taking a stanceStance: The position of a player’s feet and body in preparing for and making a stroke.(...Continued) when a stanceStance: The position of a player’s feet and body in preparing for and making a stroke.(...Continued) could have been taken without doing so.
Rule 8.1b(8) allows a player to take actions to improveImprove: To alter one or more of the conditions affecting the stroke or other physical conditions affecting play so that a player gains a potential advantage for a stroke. the conditions affecting the strokeConditions Affecting the Stroke: The lie of the player’s ball at rest, the area of intended stance, the area of intended swing, the line of play and the relief area where the player will drop or place a ball. in the teeing areaTeeing Area: The area the player must play from in starting the hole they are playing.(...Continued). This limited exception to Rule 8.1a is intended to allow a player to only alter physical conditions on the surface of the ground inside the teeing areaTeeing Area: The area the player must play from in starting the hole they are playing.(...Continued) itself (including removing any natural objects that are growing from there) whether the ball is teed or played from the ground.
This exception does not allow a player to improveImprove: To alter one or more of the conditions affecting the stroke or other physical conditions affecting play so that a player gains a potential advantage for a stroke. the conditions affecting the strokeConditions Affecting the Stroke: The lie of the player’s ball at rest, the area of intended stance, the area of intended swing, the line of play and the relief area where the player will drop or place a ball. for their tee shot by taking actions outside the teeing areaTeeing Area: The area the player must play from in starting the hole they are playing.(...Continued), such as breaking tree branches located either outside the teeing areaTeeing Area: The area the player must play from in starting the hole they are playing.(...Continued) or when they are rooted outside the teeing areaTeeing Area: The area the player must play from in starting the hole they are playing.(...Continued) but are hanging over the teeing areaTeeing Area: The area the player must play from in starting the hole they are playing.(...Continued) and may interfere with the area of intended swing.
After a ball in a bunkerBunker: A specially prepared area of sand, which is often a hollow from which turf or soil was removed.(...Continued) is played and is outside the bunkerBunker: A specially prepared area of sand, which is often a hollow from which turf or soil was removed.(...Continued), Rules 8.1b(9) and 12.2b(3) use care for the courseCourse: The entire area of play within the edge of any boundaries set by the Committee:(...Continued) to allow the player to restore the bunkerBunker: A specially prepared area of sand, which is often a hollow from which turf or soil was removed.(...Continued) to the condition that it should be in, even if the restoring improvesImprove: To alter one or more of the conditions affecting the stroke or other physical conditions affecting play so that a player gains a potential advantage for a stroke. the player’s conditions affecting the strokeConditions Affecting the Stroke: The lie of the player’s ball at rest, the area of intended stance, the area of intended swing, the line of play and the relief area where the player will drop or place a ball.. This is true even if the player’s action is deliberately taken both to care for the courseCourse: The entire area of play within the edge of any boundaries set by the Committee:(...Continued) and to improveImprove: To alter one or more of the conditions affecting the stroke or other physical conditions affecting play so that a player gains a potential advantage for a stroke. the conditions affecting the strokeConditions Affecting the Stroke: The lie of the player’s ball at rest, the area of intended stance, the area of intended swing, the line of play and the relief area where the player will drop or place a ball..
For example, a player’s ball comes to rest in a large bunkerBunker: A specially prepared area of sand, which is often a hollow from which turf or soil was removed.(...Continued) near a putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued). Not being able to play towards the holeHole: The finishing point on the putting green for the hole being played:(...Continued), they play out backwards towards the teeing areaTeeing Area: The area the player must play from in starting the hole they are playing.(...Continued) with the ball coming to rest outside the bunkerBunker: A specially prepared area of sand, which is often a hollow from which turf or soil was removed.(...Continued).
In this case, the player may smooth the areas that he or she had altered as a result of playing the ball (including footprints getting to the ball) and may also smooth any other areas in the bunkerBunker: A specially prepared area of sand, which is often a hollow from which turf or soil was removed.(...Continued), whether created by the player or those that were already present when the player arrived to play from the bunkerBunker: A specially prepared area of sand, which is often a hollow from which turf or soil was removed.(...Continued).
If an individual area of damage is both on and off a putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued), the entire area of damage may be repaired.
For example, if a ball mark is partially on and partially off the edge of the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued), it is unreasonable to allow a player to repair only the portion of damage on the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued). Therefore, the entire ball mark (both on and off the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued)) may be repaired.
The same applies to other individual areas of damage, such as animalAnimal: Any living member of the animal kingdom (other than humans), including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates (such as worms, insects, spiders and crustaceans). tracks or hoofs marks, or club indentations.
However, if a portion of damage extends off the greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued) and is not identifiable as part of the damage on the greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued), it may not be repaired if the repair improvesImprove: To alter one or more of the conditions affecting the stroke or other physical conditions affecting play so that a player gains a potential advantage for a stroke. the conditions affecting the strokeConditions Affecting the Stroke: The lie of the player’s ball at rest, the area of intended stance, the area of intended swing, the line of play and the relief area where the player will drop or place a ball..
For example, an entire shoe print that starts on the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued) and extends off it may be repaired. However, if one shoe print is on the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued) and another shoe print is off the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued), only the shoe print on the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued) may be repaired as they are two separate areas of damage.
Examples of when restoration is allowed include when:
A 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) is worsened by a pitch-mark in the general areaGeneral Area: The area of the course that covers all of the courseexcept for the other four defined areas: (1) the teeing area the player must play from in starting the hole they are playing, (2) all penalty areas, (3) all bunkers, and (4) the putting green of the hole the player is playing.(...Continued) that was made by a ball played by someone else after the player’s ball came to rest.
A player’s lieLie: The spot on which a ball is at rest and any growing or attached natural object, immovable obstruction, integral object, or boundary object touching the ball or right next to it.(...Continued) or area of intended stanceStance: The position of a player’s feet and body in preparing for and making a stroke.(...Continued) or intended swing is worsened when another player’s strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) creates a divot or deposits sand, soil, grass or other material on or around their ball.
A player’s ball in a bunkerBunker: A specially prepared area of sand, which is often a hollow from which turf or soil was removed.(...Continued) lies close to another player’s ball in the bunkerBunker: A specially prepared area of sand, which is often a hollow from which turf or soil was removed.(...Continued), and that other player’s stanceStance: The position of a player’s feet and body in preparing for and making a stroke.(...Continued) or swing in making the strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) worsens one or more of the player’s conditions affecting the strokeConditions Affecting the Stroke: The lie of the player’s ball at rest, the area of intended stance, the area of intended swing, the line of play and the relief area where the player will drop or place a ball..
In all such situations, the player is allowed to restore conditionsConditions Affecting the Stroke: The lie of the player’s ball at rest, the area of intended stance, the area of intended swing, the line of play and the relief area where the player will drop or place a ball. without penalty, but is not required to do so.
Generally speaking, a player is entitled to the conditions affecting the strokeConditions Affecting the Stroke: The lie of the player’s ball at rest, the area of intended stance, the area of intended swing, the line of play and the relief area where the player will drop or place a ball. that they had when the ball came to rest. Any player may move loose impedimentsLoose Impediment: Any unattached natural object such as:(...Continued) or movable obstructionsMovable Obstruction: An obstruction that can be moved with reasonable effort and without damaging the obstruction or the course.(...Continued) (Rules 15.1 and 15.2), but if this worsened the conditions affecting the strokeConditions Affecting the Stroke: The lie of the player’s ball at rest, the area of intended stance, the area of intended swing, the line of play and the relief area where the player will drop or place a ball. of another player, that player may restore the conditionsConditions Affecting the Stroke: The lie of the player’s ball at rest, the area of intended stance, the area of intended swing, the line of play and the relief area where the player will drop or place a ball. by replacing the objects under Rule 8.1d.
For example, a player has a downhill putt and picks up loose impedimentsLoose Impediment: Any unattached natural object such as:(...Continued) between their ball and the holeHole: The finishing point on the putting green for the hole being played:(...Continued) but deliberately leaves some behind the holeHole: The finishing point on the putting green for the hole being played:(...Continued). Another player removes the loose impedimentsLoose Impediment: Any unattached natural object such as:(...Continued) behind the holeHole: The finishing point on the putting green for the hole being played:(...Continued) that might have served as a backstop for the player’s ball.
Since the player’s conditions affecting the strokeConditions Affecting the Stroke: The lie of the player’s ball at rest, the area of intended stance, the area of intended swing, the line of play and the relief area where the player will drop or place a ball. have been worsened, they are allowed to replace the loose impedimentsLoose Impediment: Any unattached natural object such as:(...Continued).
Rule 8.1d does not allow a player to restore the conditions affecting the strokeConditions Affecting the Stroke: The lie of the player’s ball at rest, the area of intended stance, the area of intended swing, the line of play and the relief area where the player will drop or place a ball. that were altered by natural forcesNatural Forces: The effects of nature such as wind, water or when something happens for no apparent reason because of the effects of gravity. (such as wind or water).
Examples of when restoration is not allowed include when:
A branch falls from a tree and alters the lieLie: The spot on which a ball is at rest and any growing or attached natural object, immovable obstruction, integral object, or boundary object touching the ball or right next to it.(...Continued) of the player’s ball or the area of their stanceStance: The position of a player’s feet and body in preparing for and making a stroke.(...Continued) or swing, without causing 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).
A signpost or other obstructionObstruction: Any artificial object except for integral objects and boundary objects.(...Continued) falls over or is blown into a position that alters one or more conditions affecting the strokeConditions Affecting the Stroke: The lie of the player’s ball at rest, the area of intended stance, the area of intended swing, the line of play and the relief area where the player will drop or place a ball.. See Rule 15.2 (Movable Obstructions) and Rule 16.1 (Abnormal Course Conditions) for what relief might be available from the obstructionObstruction: Any artificial object except for integral objects and boundary objects.(...Continued).
A player is not allowed to restore the conditions affecting the strokeConditions Affecting the Stroke: The lie of the player’s ball at rest, the area of intended stance, the area of intended swing, the line of play and the relief area where the player will drop or place a ball. if the conditionsConditions Affecting the Stroke: The lie of the player’s ball at rest, the area of intended stance, the area of intended swing, the line of play and the relief area where the player will drop or place a ball. are worsened by the player themselves.
This also includes when the conditionsConditions Affecting the Stroke: The lie of the player’s ball at rest, the area of intended stance, the area of intended swing, the line of play and the relief area where the player will drop or place a ball. are worsened by the player’s caddieCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued) or partnerPartner: A player who competes together with another player as a side, in either match play or stroke play. or another person taking an action that is authorized by the player (except that a player may always restore the conditions affecting the strokeConditions Affecting the Stroke: The lie of the player’s ball at rest, the area of intended stance, the area of intended swing, the line of play and the relief area where the player will drop or place a ball. that have been worsened by a refereeReferee: An official named by the Committee to decide questions of fact and apply the Rules.(...Continued)).
Examples of situations where the conditionsConditions Affecting the Stroke: The lie of the player’s ball at rest, the area of intended stance, the area of intended swing, the line of play and the relief area where the player will drop or place a ball. could not be restored include:
The player’s caddieCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued) or partnerPartner: A player who competes together with another player as a side, in either match play or stroke play. walks across a bunkerBunker: A specially prepared area of sand, which is often a hollow from which turf or soil was removed.(...Continued) to get a rake and leaves footprints in the sand that worsen 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), or
The player asks another person to remove a gallery control rope and, in removing the rope, a branch that had been held back by the rope is freed and worsens the area of the player’s intended swing.
Players should be careful when taking actions that might affect the conditions affecting the strokeConditions Affecting the Stroke: The lie of the player’s ball at rest, the area of intended stance, the area of intended swing, the line of play and the relief area where the player will drop or place a ball. because worsening these areas means that the player must accept the worsened conditionConditions Affecting the Stroke: The lie of the player’s ball at rest, the area of intended stance, the area of intended swing, the line of play and the relief area where the player will drop or place a ball..
For example, a player is taking relief from an abnormal course conditionAbnormal Course Condition: Any of these four defined conditions: behind a bunkerBunker: A specially prepared area of sand, which is often a hollow from which turf or soil was removed.(...Continued) and the 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 rolls into the bunkerBunker: A specially prepared area of sand, which is often a hollow from which turf or soil was removed.(...Continued). If the player creates footprints while walking into the bunkerBunker: A specially prepared area of sand, which is often a hollow from which turf or soil was removed.(...Continued) to retrieve the ball to dropDrop: 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) it again, they are not allowed to restore the bunkerBunker: A specially prepared area of sand, which is often a hollow from which turf or soil was removed.(...Continued) to its previous conditionConditions Affecting the Stroke: The lie of the player’s ball at rest, the area of intended stance, the area of intended swing, the line of play and the relief area where the player will drop or place a ball. if doing so would create an improvementImprove: To alter one or more of the conditions affecting the stroke or other physical conditions affecting play so that a player gains a potential advantage for a stroke. under Rule 8 because the player was responsible for worsening its conditionConditions Affecting the Stroke: The lie of the player’s ball at rest, the area of intended stance, the area of intended swing, the line of play and the relief area where the player will drop or place a ball..
In such a case, the player could use another ball for the second dropDrop: 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) (Rule 14.3a) or take additional care when retrieving the original ball to avoid worsening the conditions affecting the strokeConditions Affecting the Stroke: The lie of the player’s ball at rest, the area of intended stance, the area of intended swing, the line of play and the relief area where the player will drop or place a ball..
Rule 8.2 applies only to altering physical conditions other than the conditions affecting the strokeConditions Affecting the Stroke: The lie of the player’s ball at rest, the area of intended stance, the area of intended swing, the line of play and the relief area where the player will drop or place a ball. when the player’s ball is at rest on the courseCourse: The entire area of play within the edge of any boundaries set by the Committee:(...Continued) or when they do not have a 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).
Examples of a player’s actions listed in Rule 8.1a (Actions Not Allowed to Improve Conditions) that would be a breach of Rule 8.2 if taken to deliberately improveImprove: To alter one or more of the conditions affecting the stroke or other physical conditions affecting play so that a player gains a potential advantage for a stroke. other physical conditions to affect their own play (except as expressly allowed in Rules 8.1b or c) include when:
A player’s ball is just short of the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued) and, although their 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) is straight at the holeHole: The finishing point on the putting green for the hole being played:(...Continued), the player is concerned their ball might come to rest in a nearby bunkerBunker: A specially prepared area of sand, which is often a hollow from which turf or soil was removed.(...Continued). Before making the strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued), the player smooths sand in the bunkerBunker: A specially prepared area of sand, which is often a hollow from which turf or soil was removed.(...Continued) to make sure of a good lie if the shot to be played goes into the bunkerBunker: A specially prepared area of sand, which is often a hollow from which turf or soil was removed.(...Continued).
A player’s ball lies at the top of a steep hill and, because the player is concerned that the wind might blow the ball down the hill away from the holeHole: The finishing point on the putting green for the hole being played:(...Continued) before they are able to play it, the player deliberately presses down the grass at the bottom of the hill in case the ball might come to rest there.
If a player asks, authorizes or allows another player to deliberately alter physical conditions to improveImprove: To alter one or more of the conditions affecting the stroke or other physical conditions affecting play so that a player gains a potential advantage for a stroke. their play:
The player acting on the request will get the general penaltyGeneral Penalty: Loss of hole in match play or two penalty strokes in stroke play. under Rule 8.3, and
The player who requests, authorizes or allows the improvement will also get the general penaltyGeneral Penalty: Loss of hole in match play or two penalty strokes in stroke play. under either Rule 8.1 (Player’s Actions That Improve Conditions Affecting the Stroke) or 8.2 (Player’s Deliberate Actions to Alter Other Physical Conditions to Affect the Player’s Own Ball at Rest or Stroke to Be Made), whichever applies.
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), unaware of the Rules, Player A asks Player B to break a branch from a tree that is on Player A’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) and Player B complies; both players are penalized. Player A gets two penalty strokes for a breach of Rule 8.1 because Player B broke the branch at the request of Player A. Player B gets two penalty strokes for a breach of Rule 8.3.