Depending on the type of obstruction, golf rules allow different actions. Here’s what to do with movable obstructions.
Golfers frequently encounter situations on the course where their play is impeded by various objects. These can include trees, animals, rakes, course markers, and more. According to Rules 15 and 16 of the official R&A Rules of Golf, such obstructions are classified as either movable or immovable. In this article, we explain what counts as a movable obstruction and how to handle it.
What Is a Movable Obstruction in Golf?
An obstruction is considered movable if it can be removed without unreasonable effort, without delaying play, and without causing damage. Examples include man-made objects like bunker rakes, paper, bottles, and cans. Most course marking stakes are also considered movable unless otherwise specified by a local rule. However, boundary markers (e.g., out-of-bounds stakes) are not considered obstructions and must not be removed.
Golf Rules for Movable Obstructions
Rule 15 outlines how to deal with such items. It also covers loose impediments like leaves, branches, stones, animal waste, and insects. Players are generally entitled to free relief from these, as they are not considered part of the course’s intended challenge. Loose impediments may be removed anywhere on the course using hands, feet, clubs, or with help from fellow players (Rule 15.1a). If the ball moves while removing a loose impediment outside the green or teeing area, it must be replaced and a one-stroke penalty applies (15.1b).
Movable obstructions can also be removed without penalty anywhere on or off the course (15.2a). If the ball moves during removal, there is no penalty. However, there are two exceptions: tee markers must not be moved when teeing off, and movable obstructions must not be removed to influence a moving ball. If a ball moves while removing a movable obstruction it is resting on or in, it may be dropped within one club-length of the reference point, no closer to the hole.
Special Cases on the Green
Rule 15.3 addresses situations involving a stationary ball on the green. If a player believes another ball might assist another’s play—such as stopping a ball near the hole—they may ask for it to be marked and replaced afterward. If a ball marker interferes with a putt, it can be moved one or more clubhead lengths (15.3c).
If a stationary ball elsewhere on the course interferes with a player’s stance or line of play, it may be marked but not cleaned, and must be replaced afterward. If this is done without a request or without marking the ball, a one-stroke penalty applies (15.3b).