The ruling in plain English
If an artificial object can be moved with reasonable effort without damaging it or the course, remove it without penalty. If the ball moves while you remove it, replace the ball with no penalty. A ball resting in or on the object uses a separate free-relief procedure.
Apply the Rule on the course
If the ball moves during removal, there is no penalty and it must be replaced. A ball in or on the object away from the putting green receives free relief using the point directly below it.
- 1
Confirm that the artificial object is movable with reasonable effort and without damage.
- 2
If it is beside the ball, remove it; replace the ball without penalty if it moves.
- 3
If the ball is in or on it away from the putting green, remove the object and drop within one club-length of the estimated point directly below the ball, in the same course area and no nearer the hole.
- 4
On the putting green, place the ball on the estimated spot directly below where it rested.
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What else matters
Relief is normally free. Playing from a wrong place brings loss of hole in match play or two penalty strokes in stroke play.
Exceptions
- A tee-marker must not be moved when the ball will be played from that teeing area.
- Immovable obstructions are handled under Rule 16.1; boundary and integral objects do not receive Rule 15.2 relief.
- If the ball is not found in the object, relief requires knowledge or virtual certainty that it came to rest there.
Common mistakes
- Confusing an artificial movable obstruction with a natural loose impediment.
- Taking Rule 15.2 relief from a boundary object or integral object.
Remember: Artificial and movable: remove it. Ball moves: replace it, no penalty.
R&A Rule 15.2
Independent plain-English guide. The current Rules, Interpretations and applicable Local Rules control.