a) General
When a player's ball is in play and
(I) the player, his partner or one of their caddies picks it up or moves it (ball moved at rest by teammate), deliberately touches it (other than with a club when addressing the ball) or causes it to move, except as permitted by a rule, or
(II) equipment of the player or his partner causes the ball to move, the player incurs a penalty stroke. The ball, if moved, must be put back unless the movement of the ball occurs after the player has begun his stroke or backswing of the golf club to the stroke and he then makes the stroke.
A player does not incur a penalty under the rules if he inadvertently causes his ball to move while searching for a loose obstructing object.
- searching for a ball covered by loose obstructing natural material or sand in the hazard or for a ball in an obstruction or unusually shaped ground or for a ball presumed to be in the water in a water hazard - Rule 12-1;
- Mending a hole plug or ball hole - Rule 16-1c;
- Measuring - Rule 18-6;
- Picking up the ball in accordance with a rule - Rule 20-1;
- Putting the ball down or back in accordance with a rule - Rule 20-3a;
- Moving loose obstructing natural material on the green - Rule 23-1;
- Moving moving obstructions - Rule 24-1.
b) Ball moves after being addressed
If the ball moves in play after the player has addressed it (except as a result of a stroke), the ball is deemed to have been moved by the player and he incurs a penalty stroke. The ball must be put back unless the movement of the ball occurs after the player has started his stroke or the backswing of the club to the stroke and he then makes the stroke.
Status: 2018