Do you know the rule…..

……..improving your lie One of your cronies hits the ball into the heavy rough

left of the 7th fairway. He takes his stance, grounds

his 6-iron behind the ball, and then presses the club

head into the ground to mash down some of the grass

allowing for better ball contact.

Any problem with this behavior?

(You can find further information

on Rule 13-2 in the USGA Rules)

Further, in the position of his ball, the area of

his intended stance or swing, of his line of

play, or the area in which he is to take a drop

or place a ball the player is prohibited from:

1. Bending or breaking anything growing

2. Creating or eliminating irregularities of

surface

3. Removing sand, dew, frost, or water if off

the green

An example of a prohibited action is that a

player cannot remove sand or loose soil not

on the green or eliminate an irregularity of

surface such as replacing a divot that lies

between his ball and the intended line of play.

The player incurs a 2-stroke penalty (or loss of hole

in match play) for pressing his club into the ground.

While entitled to ground the club “lightly” while

addressing the ball, Rule 13-2 prohibits a player from

improving his lie by pressing down the grass behind

the ball.