Rules: Acorn Under My Feet

Q. Can you remove an acorn or twig that is under your feet when taking a stance?

It is loose and in a hazard? Then no. Rule 13-4c states that no loose impediment can be moved or removed from a hazard.

It is loose elsewhere?  Then yes since it is a loose impediment.

But what if it's buried?  Some would still say yes because a buried acorn or twig can still be considered a loose impediment.  After all, it fell loose didn't it?  Ha Ha Ha!

But seriously if it's buried, can you remove it either by picking/digging it out or shuffling your feet?

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Rules: Grounding a Club in a Hazard

Q. Can you ground a club in a hazard?

We all know you can take multiple clubs into a hazard and place the unneeded clubs in the hazard (for pace of play).  You can also make contact with any grass, bush, tree or other growing thing during address and the swing (think tall grass). 

But what about grounding the club you are actually using?

Case in point.  In the final round of the LPGA's Kia Classic (March 30, 2010), Michelle Wie hit her approach shot into a water hazard.  She elected to attempt the shot with one foot in the water and one foot on the bank.  She swung and the ball made it out of the water but was still in the hazard.  The video clearly shows Wie letting the club head rest on the bank inside the hazard after the first shot.  As a result, she was penalized two strokes bumping her from second to sixth and losing $91,000 in prize money.

Now this is not a debate on what and why she did what she did so lets get back to the original question.  Can you ground a club inside a hazard?

Still say no?  Read on….

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