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I have a question about how rules 15.1 and 8.1a (2) may work together. Rule 15.1 With this you can move individual barriers, in principle in any way as long as your ball does not move. It does not say that it is limited by other rules, so on the face it seems to make it possible to make loose barriers in any way – even in a way that improves the condition of your stroke. But 8.1a (2) says that you cannot move loose barriers if it improves the situation that influences your stroke (ie lie, posture, line, swing). What are the scenarios that limit 8.1a (2)? Rule 15.1 and 15.2 seem to indicate that you can move tree bark or leaves as long as you do not move the ball, even if it improves your lie or stroke; 8.1a (2) seems to indicate that you cannot. —David Wallace, Palm Beach Gardens, FLA.
David, you are a gentleman and a scholar. Under better conditions we can discuss this about a brandy. Unfortunately we have to do it on paper.
In essence, 8.1a (2) limiting an attitude – that is the only reasonable example we can imagine. You are not allowed to move individual barriers in any way, but 15.1 does not say in any place…. “In any way” means using your hand, a hat, a towel, a rake, a leaf blower, what do you have, but that does not give you the right to create new and improved conditions for yourself, such as a level.
Read on … Read on … Read on for more information about separate implediment from our guru …
My ball landed close to an aqueous sentence area where I had a very limited position. There was a large tree stump on the edge of the water where I could stand with one foot. Is it allowed to move the stump so that I can have both feet on the stump, or is that a position structured? —Randy Lavery, St. Augustine, Fla.
Rules Guy is a bit, well, stunned: “Stump” does not seem like the right word for something that is moved so easily.
Anyway, no, you are not allowed to move loose barriers in position to help with your posture. That would, as you noticed, to build up an attitude and infringement on rule 8.1a (2), the general punishment of two strokes in aaving game and the loss of gap in Match play.
Had you realized that error before you had made the move, you could undo the breach and move it … Large piece of wood … Back from position and avoid the punishment.
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