Loose Impediments in Golf: Rule 15 Explained
What is a loose impediment?
A loose impediment is any natural object that is not fixed, not growing, and not stuck to your ball. Common examples:
- Stones, pebbles, gravel
- Leaves, twigs, branches, pine cones, pine needles
- Dead grass, animal droppings, insects, worms
- Mud on your ball (the ball must be lifted first — see embedded ball)
- Sand and loose soil on the putting green only (not elsewhere)
Not loose impediments: Sand and loose soil off the green, dew, frost, and water are specifically excluded from the definition.
Where can you remove loose impediments?
Under Rule 15.1, you can remove a loose impediment anywhere on the course — fairway, rough, bunker, penalty area, and putting green — without penalty, as long as you don't cause your ball to move.
This includes:
- Clearing leaves from around your ball in the rough
- Removing a stone from a bunker near your ball
- Sweeping away twigs from your line on the green
What if your ball moves when removing a loose impediment?
If your ball moves while you are removing a loose impediment, the ball must be replaced on its original spot. You then incur one penalty stroke — unless the movement happened on the putting green or in a teeing area, where no penalty applies.
The key question is causation: did removing the impediment cause the ball to move? If the ball moved for another reason (e.g., wind) while you happened to be removing an impediment, Rule 9.3 (ball moved by natural forces) applies instead and there is no penalty — the ball is played from where it came to rest.
Loose impediments and embedded ball
If your ball is embedded in soil (i.e., in its own pitch mark), you may take free relief under Rule 16.3 in the general area. You do not need to remove loose impediments to claim this relief — you lift the ball, clean it, drop it in the relief area.
If your ball is sitting on top of loose material (leaves, twigs) but not embedded, you can clear the impediments and play the ball as it lies.
Loose impediments in a bunker
Under the current Rules (updated 2019), you can remove loose impediments from a bunker — there is no longer any restriction. This includes stones, leaves, twigs, acorns, and other natural objects.
The only remaining bunker restrictions concern sand: you must not touch sand in a way that tests its condition or indicates your intended swing direction before playing.
Loose impediments vs movable obstructions
It is worth knowing the difference:
| Loose impediment | Movable obstruction | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Natural object (stone, leaf) | Man-made object (rake, sign) |
| Where you can remove it | Anywhere | Anywhere |
| Penalty if ball moves | 1 stroke (except on green/tee) | No penalty |
Both can be removed without penalty; the difference is only in what happens if your ball moves as a result.
On the putting green
On the putting green, you may remove loose impediments on the line of your putt without restriction. You may also repair damage (pitch marks, ball marks, spike marks) but not general wear and spike damage — check the specific putting green rules for full detail.
Sand and loose soil on the putting green are treated as loose impediments here and may be removed freely. This is an exception — off the green, sand is not a loose impediment.
Frequently asked questions
Can I remove a stone from behind my ball in a bunker? Yes — under current Rules, stones in bunkers are loose impediments and may be removed without penalty.
A leaf is touching my ball. Can I remove it? Yes. You may carefully remove loose impediments in contact with your ball. If the ball moves in the process, replace it and take one penalty stroke (unless on the green or tee).
Is moss a loose impediment? Only if it is loose — not attached to the ground or growing. A clump of dead, detached moss lying on the ground is a loose impediment. Growing moss on a rock is part of the ground.
Can I use my club or foot to move a loose impediment? Yes, by any means. There is no restriction on how you remove loose impediments, only on whether your ball moves as a result.
What about an anthill? An anthill (or other soil cast up by burrowing animals) is loose impediment material and can be removed. If the ball is in or near a hole made by a burrowing animal, you may also have a free relief option under Rule 16.1.