Question: Graham Arnott
Actually, we had one few weeks ago. A tree had shed a lot of bark and wood after a storm and was lying all over the place in the rough. My playing partner's ball landed on a piece of it but (just our luck) this piece was still attached to the tree but only just. I felt he had to play it as it lies but our opponents said we could take a drop. After a heated debate between us all my partner and I agreed it wasn't worth taking a chance so played it as it was. My thinking is that was all natural, part of the course and wasn't an abnormal condition at all. The opponents argued that it was dead. If that was the case, we could drop any leaves or grass that was dead. Were we right to play it as it was?
Answer:
A Loose Impediment is any natural object provided they are not fixed, growing or solidly embedded or adhering to the ball – i.e. stones, leaves, twigs, branches, grass cuttings, insects & the like.
Thus the bark & wood not attached to the tree can be removed (not in a hazard) as they are loose impediments, however, should the ball move while removing the loose impediments a 1 stroke penalty is incurred and the ball must be replaced or a further 1 stroke penalty is incurred.
Regarding the bark/wood attached to the tree they are not deemed loose impediments and thus may not be touched or moved and the ball must be played as it lies or relief taken under penalty.
Assuming a ball came to rest under a large branch that had broken off a tree and was not attached, the branch may be moved (with assistance from other player’s if necessary) but should the ball move while removing the branch then a Penalty is incurred and the ball must be replaced. However, if the branch is attached to the tree even by only a few of the branch fibers then it is not a loose impediment and it may not be moved.
Refer: Play Your Golf by the Rules.
Ball Moved – Pg. 39
Ball Played from Wrong Place – Pg. 45
Loose impediments – Pg. 79
