Can I improve my lie by moving sand or grass before hitting?

Yes, but only on the putting green. Rule 13.1c lets you remove sand and loose soil and repair damage like ball marks or spike marks without penalty. Anywhere else on the course, improving your lie by moving sand or grass costs you the general penalty.

What you can do on the putting green

When your ball is on the putting green — or even when it's off the green but you're standing on it — you may brush away sand and loose soil with your hand, a towel, a hat, or anything else. You may also repair damage: ball marks, old hole plugs, spike marks, animal tracks, embedded stones or acorns, and indentations from maintenance equipment. Use your hand, foot, a divot tool, tee, or club, but don't unreasonably delay play.

What you cannot do on the putting green

You may not create a pathway to the hole, smooth the entire line of your putt, or use anything other than your body or normal equipment (club, tee, ball-mark repair tool). Aeration holes, vertical-mowing grooves, bare or diseased patches, and natural wear of the hole are not "damage" — leave them alone. If you go beyond reasonable restoration, it's a breach of Rule 8.1a and the general penalty applies.

Off the putting green

Once your ball is off the green — in the fairway, rough, bunker, or penalty area — Rule 8.1a takes over. You must not press down grass, remove dew, move sand, or alter the ground in any way that improves the conditions affecting your stroke. Doing so is the general penalty (two strokes in stroke play, loss of hole in match play). The only sand you may touch off the green is in a bunker when your ball is also in that bunker, and even then only under Rule 12.2.

Exceptions that change the answer

• Your ball lies off the green but sand or loose soil is on the green between you and the hole → You may still remove that sand or loose soil because Rule 13.1c(1) applies "no matter whether the ball is on or off the putting green."
• You accidentally move your ball or ball-marker while removing sand or repairing damage on the green → No penalty — just replace it on its original spot (Rule 13.1d).
• The hole is damaged (e.g., from removing the flagstick) → You may repair the hole under Rule 13.1c(2) even if the dimensions have changed, unless the damage is natural wear.

Frequently asked questions

Can I brush sand off my line of putt with my hand?

Yes. On the putting green you may remove sand and loose soil by any means — hand, towel, hat, club — without penalty (Rule 13.1c(1)).

Can I fix spike marks on my line?

Yes. Spike marks are "damage on the putting green" and you may repair them with a repair tool, tee, club, or your foot, provided you don't unreasonably delay play (Rule 13.1c(2)).

Can I smooth out aeration holes on my line?

No. Aeration holes and vertical-mowing grooves are normal maintenance practices, not "damage," so you may not repair them (Rule 13.1c(2) exclusion list).

What if I'm in the fairway and there's a divot hole — can I press it down?

No. Off the putting green, pressing down grass or altering the ground to improve your lie is a breach of Rule 8.1a — general penalty (two strokes or loss of hole).

Does Rule 13.1 let me remove sand in a bunker?

Only if your ball is also in that bunker and you're proceeding under Rule 12.2. Rule 13.1 applies only to the putting green.