Cleaning off a ball?

[DrSlugger]

So today we had a practice match, and I landed my ball on the green from 150 out. I repaired my ball mark and then went to mark my ball. When I picked up my ball I noticed it had mud on it so I grabbed my towel and cleaned it off. My partner told me "You know that is a stroke penalty, right?" I disagreed and told him that I can clean off my ball if it was lying on the green, and I marked it. He proceeded to tell me that it would be a penalty, but never enforced it.

I forgot to ask my coach before I left so I just decided to come and ask you guys if I was right. A second question also, if a ball has mud on it but is not on the green, can I clean off my ball as long as I marked where it last was? And if I can do I need to ask my playing partners first?

[Valleygolfer]

Not a penalty. Pros caddies clean the ball after every putt for the most part.

[Strandly]

I think you can do it on the green because the lie is the same everywhere.  I don't think you can do it anywhere else though.

[Dormie1360]

R16-1b  tells us a ball on the putting green may be lifted, and if desired, cleaned.

I'm always amazed at some of the stuff I here from golfers with regards to rules.

As to your second question, you are not allowed to clean a ball that is off the green. (Assuming you are not lifting the ball under another rule.)  A ball lifted under another rule may be cleaned unless it is being lifted for identification, because it assists or interferes with another player, or if it is being checked for damage.

An uncommon exception is if you needed to identify your ball, and it needed to be cleaned to the extent necessary to identify it, you may do so.  That being the case, you still need to follow the procedure under R12-2 for identifying your ball.

[joekelly]

I just love the 'lift, clean and place' rule. Makes it all so fair and even.  Just off the green? Feel free to move the ball here or there, within the distance limit, no nearer the hole.

[Chris223]

  DrSlugger said:

So today we had a practice match, and I landed my ball on the green from 150 out. I repaired my ball mark and then went to mark my ball. When I picked up my ball I noticed it had mud on it so I grabbed my towel and cleaned it off. My partner told me "You know that is a stroke penalty, right?" I disagreed and told him that I can clean off my ball if it was lying on the green, and I marked it. He proceeded to tell me that it would be a penalty, but never enforced it.

I forgot to ask my coach before I left so I just decided to come and ask you guys if I was right. A second question also, if a ball has mud on it but is not on the green, can I clean off my ball as long as I marked where it last was? And if I can do I need to ask my playing partners first?

lol tell your partner to quit citing rules that he has no clue about and worry about his own game.