Rule 13: Ball played as it lies.

Definition.

A "hazard"is any bunker or water hazard. Note 1: A water hazard (not including Lateral Water Hazards) shall be defined with yellow stakes or lines. Note 2: The committee may make a local rule prohibiting play from an environmentally-sensitive area defined as a water hazard.

 

13-1 General.

The ball must be played as it lies, except as otherwise provided in the rules.

 

13-2 Improving lie, area of intended stance or swing, or line of play.

A player must not be allowed to take any of the following actions, unless otherwise regulated in the rules: moving, bending or breaking anything growing or fixed (including immovable obstructions and objects defining out of bounds), creating or eliminating irregularities of surface, removing or pressing down sand, loose soil, replaced divots or other cut turf placed in position, or removing dew, frost or water so as to improve or allow to be improved the position or lie of his ball, the area of his intended stance or swing, his line of play or a reasonable extension of that line beyond the hole, or the area in which he is to drop or place a ball. However, the player incurs no penalty if the action occurs: in fairly taking his stance, in making a stroke or the backward movement of his club for a stroke and the stroke is made, on the teeing ground in creating or eliminating irregularities of surface, or on the putting green in removing sand and loose soil (16-1a) or in repairing damage (16-1c). The club may be grounded only lightly and must not be pressed on the ground. Exception: Ball in hazard.