You are playing hole number 1 on the Sabal Golf Course. You hit your second stroke over the bunker on the right side of the fairway just short of the green. For your next stroke you would like to use your putter. The problem is that there is a pile of sand just off the green on the line you need to putt your ball. Are you allowed to remove this pile of sand just off of the putting green?
No. You must play the course as you find it.
Sand and Loose Soil are not loose impediments except on the putting green.
Definition of loose Impediment:
The Rules allow the player to do things on the putting green that are normally not allowed off the putting green, such as being allowed to mark, lift, clean and replace a ball, and to repair damage and remove sand and loose soil on the putting green.
Here is this month’s golf etiquette tip: It is disrespectable to everyone playing behind you to not rake the bunkers properly, and not repair pitch marks.
