According to the Rules of Golf, one may not move, without penalty, an object defining out of bounds.
Definition of a Boundary object:
Artificial objects defining out of bounds such as walls, fences, stakes and railings may not be moved without penalty.
This includes all fence footings and posts defining out of bounds, but does not include:
· Any angular support or wire attached to a wall or fence, or
· Any walkway, foot bridge, or other structure built to allow passage over a wall or fence.
Boundary objects are treated as immovable even if they are actually movable or if one of their parts is movable (see Rule 8.1a).
Boundary objects are not obstructions or integral objects.
Rory McIlroy-WGC-Dell Match Play Championship
Last weekend during the match between Tiger and McIlroy, Rory hit his ball over the green ending up leaning on railroad ties that defined out of bounds. He was allowed to play his ball as it lay but it was an impossible shot.
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He had no choice but to declare it unplayable and so his options were:
A. Under penalty of one stroke, drop his ball 2 club-lengths from his position, not nearer the hole.
B. Under penalty of one stroke, go back to where he played the preceding shot, and drop a ball there (stroke and distance penalty).
C. Since he was so close to the green, there was the possibility that had he played under option A, his ball would roll back to the fence, so he elected to use option B.
WHITE STAKES
White stakes are used to define out of bounds, and they are not to be moved even if they are not rigidly fixed in the ground or easily removable. Moreover, one may not move the stakes if they interfere with the next stroke.
New rule 2019: In the case of a player who moves a white stake, he or she may avoid the two-stroke penalty by replacing the stake prior to the shot.
Salon du Golf-Levis
I will be giving three presentations on the new Rules of Golf during the salon du golf -Levis 2019. Consult the conference schedule for time and place and I look forward to meeting you.
My conference will be between 11H45 and Noon Saturday and Sunday
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