Can I replace my ball with a club if I'm an amputee?
Yes, you can. Rule 25.3d modifies the definition of "replace" so an amputee may put the ball back either by hand or by using any piece of equipment — rolling it with a club is the classic example. No extra permission or penalty involved.
Important distinction: This rule (25.3d) applies specifically to amputees (limb deficiency or limb loss). It is separate from Rule 25.4e, which allows players who use assistive mobility devices (wheelchair, cane, crutch) to replace by rolling with a club. An amputee who does not use a mobility device still qualifies under 25.3d; a player with a mobility device who is not an amputee qualifies under 25.4e. See Can I replace my ball by rolling it with my club instead of by hand? for the mobility-device modification.
What the rule actually says
Rule 25.3d rewrites the definition of "replace" for amputees. You're allowed to put the ball back on its spot either by hand or by using another piece of equipment. The rule specifically calls out rolling the ball with a club as an example, but any equipment works — a putter, a wedge, even a ball marker if you can manage it. This applies anywhere on the course: fairway, rough, bunker, green.
How it works in practice
You don't need to ask the Committee, you don't need a medical certificate in your pocket, and you don't need to announce it to your playing partners before the round. If you're an amputee — whether congenital or acquired — the modification is automatic. Just replace the ball however works for you. If someone questions it, the rule number is 25.3d and it's in the official Rules of Golf under Rule 25.
What you don't need to do
No general authorization to another person is required for this specific act — that's covered separately under 25.3c for dropping, placing, and replacing by someone else. Here, you're doing it yourself, just with a tool instead of your hand. And there's no penalty for anchoring while you do it either; 25.3b covers anchoring for strokes, but replacing isn't a stroke.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use any club or just my putter?
Any club. The rule says "another piece of equipment (such as rolling the ball with a club)" — it doesn't restrict which club. Putter, wedge, driver, whatever's in your hand.
Do I need to tell my playing partners or the Committee before I do it?
No. The modification is automatic for any amputee. You don't need to announce it, file paperwork, or get permission. Just replace the ball and play on.
What if I have a temporary injury but I'm not an amputee?
Then Rule 25.3 doesn't apply. You must replace the ball by hand under the standard definition. Temporary injuries don't unlock the equipment modification — only limb deficiency or limb loss does.
Does this also let me drop or place with a club?
Dropping and placing are covered by 25.3c, which lets you authorize another person to do it for you. But 25.3d specifically modifies only "replace" — so for dropping or placing yourself, the standard rules still apply unless someone else does it under your authorization.
What counts as "equipment" — could I use a towel or my shoe?
Equipment means anything you're carrying or wearing for play: clubs, ball marker, tee, glove. A towel or shoe isn't golf equipment under the Rules, so stick to actual gear.