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Rule 15.1

Loose impediments

Also searched as: leaves, stones, twigs, branches, pine cones, worm casts

Loose natural objects such as stones, leaves, twigs or pine cones. You may remove them anywhere on the course without penalty, including in bunkers and penalty areas.

Dead animals, animal droppings, worms and insects and what they build, such as worm casts and ant hills, also count, as do clumps of soil and aeration plugs. Anything growing or solidly embedded is not a loose impediment, nor is anything sticking to the ball. Dew, frost and water do not count either.

If your ball moves while you remove a loose impediment, you get one penalty stroke and replace the ball. On the putting green and in the teeing area there is no penalty.

Until 2018 you were not allowed to remove loose impediments in bunkers and water hazards. That restriction is gone.