Does this rule exist??

[Golfaway]

My caddy told me a couple of days ago about a rule I never heard of before. He says that if a player hits a tree branch on his practice swing, leading to the fall of leaves, he takes one stroke penalty for each leaf falling to the ground.

Is that true?

[jonnythan]

Oh my. That would be hilarious.

[David in FL]

My caddy told me a couple of days ago about a rule I never heard of before. He says that if a player hits a tree branch on his practice swing, leading to the fall of leaves, he takes one stroke penalty for each leaf falling to the ground.

A good caddy should always have a sense of humor! The right answer is found in rule 13-2. 2 stroke penalty in stroke play for improving the area of your intended swing. So depending on your point of view, I guess it could even be worse than what your caddy told you......if only one leaf fell, you'd be charged two strokes for that one leaf. Ouch!

[mdvaldosta]

Only if you were "practice" swinging where the tree branch overhangs your ball. As long as you're not improving your lie or stance, I don't think it matters.

[Golfaway]

Wait a minute. I understand that you cannot improve your lie by, for example, pulling out a weed out of the ground. But clearing around or under the ball (provided it doesn't move) has always been okay for me and for everyone I play with. I mean, say a leaf is under my ball, and I can pull it out without moving the ball, or if my ball has some fallen leaves and rocks in it's path that would hinder it's path when I'm intending to make a low punch would that be considered "improving" the lie??

[Fourputt]

You are only penalized if you improve your lie or the area of your intended swing. And then it's a two stroke penalty no matter how many leaves fall, unless you take one practice swing and break a branch, then take another practice swing and break another one. You can incur multiple penalties for multiple acts.

The key thing to consider is whether the leaves or branch (or weeds or tall grass) were in the area of your intended swing.

I've seen the guy who takes several practice swings near his ball to deliberately chop down the weeds so he has a less impeded swing.... and he is shocked when I tell him that he just added 2 strokes for each pass.

[jonnythan]

If there is a pine cone sitting 2 inches behind your ball, do you incur a penalty if you move it?

[billm408]

If there is a pine cone sitting 2 inches behind your ball, do you incur a penalty if you move it?

No. You're allowed to remove loose impediments as long as the ball does not move.

[jonnythan]

No. You're allowed to remove loose impediments as long as the ball does not move.

OK, just checking. Thanks.

[Fourputt]

OK, just checking. Thanks.

Rule 13-2 only applies to things that are attached or growing. If a broken branch is completely detached and hanging from another branch, you can remove the broken one as a loose impediment as long as nothing is done to the other branch to improve your swing.

[iWALK18]

Does breaking a branch on your backswing count as improving your swingpath? If not... seems like there could be an art to circumventing this rule... :-p

[billm408]

Does breaking a branch on your backswing count as improving your swingpath? If not... seems like there could be an art to circumventing this rule... :-p

On a practice swing... yes. But not if you're hitting the shot.

[Jigowatt]

My caddy told me a couple of days ago about a rule I never heard of before. He says that if a player hits a tree branch on his practice swing, leading to the fall of leaves, he takes one stroke penalty for each leaf falling to the ground.

I guess it depends on if you play with Al Gore or not.

[Fourputt]

Does breaking a branch on your backswing count as improving your swingpath? If not... seems like there could be an art to circumventing this rule... :-p

If you break the branch on your backswing then you must complete the stroke to avoid the penalty. If you stop your stroke after you break the branch, then you still incur the 2 stroke penalty. No way to get around it.