Removing distance stakes.

I’ve never fully understood the ruling on distance stakes. More specifically the ones in the middle of the fairway. At a lot of courses they are painted wood with a spike at the bottom. With those types, I always see the golfer pull it out of the ground toss it to the side, make their shot and place it back. Is this within the rules?

The stake is an obstruction.

The same applies to stakes used to mark ground under repair and water hazards.  Note that the same rule doesn't apply to a stake used to define out of bounds (not an obstruction, so no relief).

At least that's what I see in the Rules.

I have done it before. I did ask the counter guy if it was acceptable before I did it, and he said it was with in the rules. These were PVC pipe at the 150 yardage that fit inside a sleeve to make the removable. Then again, I don't remember the last time one of those yardage markers were actually in my way.

Actually, most such stakes are movable obstructions, so no penalty for removing one while you take your shot.  Just be sure that you replace it afterward.

I agree with everyone that states the markers can be moved.

A group of courses run by a regional government authority mark the 150 yard distance with a 4 x 4 sunk into the ground about 3-4 feet.  The marker stands about 5 feet out of the ground and most have a bluebird bird house attached.  One could lift these markers out of the ground with some effort.  They are located about 3-4 yards off the fairway

I asked the USGA what one should do if one of these moveable yardage markers was in the way of my planned shot AND there was a nesting bluebird in the bird house.  Clearly moving the bird house would be extremely disruptive to this protected species and possibly against federal law.  At the same time, I would be within my rights to move a moveable obstruction.

I was told to check with the golf course about whether they had a Local Rule in effect making these moveable obstructions immoveable.  Or, alternately, whether the course had declared these marker/bird houses an integral part of the course and thus they could not be moved.

Fat chance that there was a Local Rule addressing the situation.  Also, many of these markers have now been permanently affixed with concrete and have now become immoveable obstructions.  So the bluebirds are once again safe from my erratic golf game.

You're not saying that out of bound stakes are movable obstructions, are you?

The OP said " I’ve never fully understood the ruling on distance stakes . More specifically the ones in the middle of the fairway "

Fourputt refers to such stakes.

No, he was agreeing with you, which is why he said "most."  There are lots of other stakes/posts that are also movable obstructions (like the little "carts" signs, the green stakes with the ropes reminding you where not to drive your cart, etc, etc) and he was adding that those fall under the same rule.

Yeah.  Nothing at all was previously mentioned about OB stakes, or I'd have been a lot more specific.  I was simply replying to the original post.

Just recently got on Amazon and bought a copy of the "Illustrated Rules of Golf".  By used and save.  You don't know what you don't know.  Yes you get relief from the distance markers but not from OB stakes.

Not quite the full story. You only get relief from distance markers if they are not declared to be an 'integral part of the course'.

Probably, but it's upto the club.

As one example, I've played courses where the distance "stakes" were bushes, strategically placed on each side of the fairway. Even though they serve the purpose of providing center-of-the-green yardage, they're an integral part of the course. Not quite what the OP is alluding to, but worth noting just the same.

To my knowledge, I have never played a golf course that the distance markers in the fairway were an integral part of the golf course.

We have buried cement markers that note the yardages. I've had balls bounce off them before, but it looks like it's possible to roll one right onto them. On top of that they are right in the middle of the fairway.

Some years ago a local course had smallish holly bushes (as 150yd markers) some distance each side of the fairway. Originally they were staked and relief was given. But soon it was decided they didn't need protection from golfers but only needed stakes to support them in the prevailing strong winds. The stakes were declared to be integral.

The stakes have now been removed as the bushes are well established and maintained as compact bushes.

But I must admit I have never encountered other distance markers declared as integral. But then there are over 2000 courses I haven't visited in the UK alone.