Movable obstruction question (I think)

[perfectsim]

If I'm on the putting green and there are remnants of an old golf ball on the green (i.e. the skin of a ball), can I remove them as a movable obstruction or otherwise? I think I can remove them under 24-1a, but somebody told me I cannot.

[Zeph]

Yes you can, 24-1a is correct.

A player may take relief, without penalty, from a movable obstruction as follows: a. If the ball does not lie in or on the obstruction, the obstruction may be removed. Obstructions An "obstruction" is anything artificial, including the artificial surfaces and sides of roads and paths and manufactured ice, except: a. Objects defining out of bounds, such as walls, fences, stakes and railings; b. Any part of an immovable artificial object that is out of bounds; and c. Any construction declared by the Committee to be an integral part of the course. An obstruction is a movable obstruction if it may be moved without unreasonable effort, without unduly delaying play and without causing damage. Otherwise, it is an immovable obstruction.