A player may not
the location of the stance or the position of his ball,
- the space of his intended stance or swing,
- improve his line of play or a reasonable extension of that line beyond the hole ( line of play ), or
- improve or cause to be improved the area for dropping or placing a ball by any of the following actions:
- pressing a club on the ground
- Moving, bending or breaking anything that is growing or attached (including immovable obstructions and objects used to mark From),
- Creating or removing uneven ground,
- Removing or pressing down sand, loose soil, turf that has been knocked out and replaced, or other turf that has been used, or
- removal of dew, frost or water.
However, the player does not incur a penalty if this occurs
- if the golf club is set down lightly to address the ball,
- when taking up a fair stance,
- when playing a shot or when swinging the club back to the shot and the shot is then made,
- when creating or removing uneven ground within the tee (Rule 11-1) or when removing dew, frost or water from the tee, or
- when removing sand and loose soil or repairing damage on the green (Rule 16-1).
Exception: ball in a hazard - see Rule 13-4.
Status: 2018