Rules of Golf - Rule 13: Ball Played as it Lies
13-1. General
The ball must be played as it lies, except as otherwise provided in the
Rules.
(Ball at rest moved see Rule 18.)
13-2.
Improving Lie, Area of Intended Stance or Swing, or Line of Play
A player must not improve or allow to be improved:
the position or lie of his ball,
the area of his intended stance or swing,
his line of play or a reasonable extension of that line beyond the
hole, or
the area in which he is to drop or place a ball,
by any of the following actions:
.moving, bending or breaking anything growing or fixed (including
immovable obstructions and objects defining out of bounds),
creating or eliminating irregularities of surface,
.removing or pressing down sand, loose soil, replaced divots or other
cut turf placed in position, or
removing dew, frost or water.
However, the player incurs no penalty if the action occurs:
in fairly taking his stance,
in making a stroke or the backward movement of his club for a stroke
and the stroke is made,
on the teeing ground in creating or eliminating irregularities of
surface (Rule 11-1), or
on the putting green in removing sand and loose soil or in repairing
damage .(Rule 16-1).
The club may be grounded only lightly and must not be pressed on the
ground.
Exception: Ball in hazard see Rule 13-4.
13-3. Building
Stance
A player is entitled to place his feet firmly in taking his stance, but
he must not build a stance.
13-4. Ball in
Hazard; Prohibited Actions
Except as provided in the Rules, before making a stroke at a ball that
is in a hazard (whether a bunker or a water hazard) or that, having been
lifted from a hazard, may be dropped or placed in the hazard, the player
must not:
a. Test the condition of the hazard or any similar hazard;
b. Touch the ground in the hazard or water in the water hazard with his
hand or a club; or
c. Touch or move a loose impediment lying in or touching the hazard.
Exceptions:
1. Provided nothing is done that constitutes testing the condition of
the hazard or improves the lie of the ball, there is no penalty if the
player (a) touches the ground in any hazard or water in a water hazard
as a result of or to prevent falling, in removing an obstruction, in
measuring or in retrieving, lifting, placing or replacing a ball under
any Rule or (b) places his clubs in a hazard.
2. After making the stroke, the player or his caddie may smooth sand or
soil in the hazard, provided that, if the ball is still in the hazard or
has been lifted from the hazard and may be dropped or placed in the
hazard, nothing is done that improves the lie of the ball or assists the
player in his subsequent play of the hole.
Note: At any time, including at address or in the backward movement for
the stroke, the player may touch with a club or otherwise any
obstruction, any construction declared by the Committee to be an
integral part of the course or any grass, bush, tree or other growing
thing.
Penalty For Breach of Rule:
Match play Loss of hole; Stroke play Two strokes.
(Searching for ball see Rule 12-1.)
(Relief for ball in water hazard see Rule 26.)
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