This blog results from an interesting situation at another club recently, but may occur on any course.
Following a summer gale, two large branches were blown down from a mature tree on to the course. One branch was hanging down from the tree and the other was completely detached and lying on the ground. It happened overnight and a competition was under way before the greenkeeping staff could remove the branches and before the Committee could consider whether the immediate area should be marked as temporary ground under repair.
The question that this scenario raises is whether a player may move the branches before playing their stroke, or not. The first point to make is that no relief is available; any part of a tree is natural and cannot therefore be an immovable obstruction, which only applies to artificial objects. However, if any part of the tree is completely detached, it is a loose impediment, notwithstanding its size. The first sentence of Rule 23-1 states;
Except when both the loose impediment and the ball lie in or touch the same hazard, any loose impediment may be removed without penalty.
Of course, the player must take care to ensure that they do not cause their ball to move while removing a loose impediment, or they will incur a penalty of one stroke, under Rule 18-2a, and the ball must be replaced. Yes, it is permissible to obtain assistance from anyone to remove a large loose impediment. However, if there is no assistance on hand to move the large, loose impediment, it is permissible for the player to break off any part of it that interferes with their stroke. Decision 23-1/4 confirms;
Q. If part of a large branch which has fallen from a tree (and thus is a loose impediment) interferes with a player’s swing, may the player break off the interfering part rather than move the whole branch?
A. Yes.
So the player whose ball lies near a large detached branch may remove all or part of the detached branch lying beside their ball, providing they can do so without causing their ball to move.
The situation with the branch that is still attached to the tree is different. Rule 13-2 prohibits a player from improving their intended stroke by moving, bending or breaking anything growing. Because the branch is still part of the tree it is deemed to be growing. This is the case even if a branch is dead and still attached to a tree. Decision 23-7 conveniently sums up the main point of this blog;
Q. Is a fallen tree a loose impediment?
A. If it is still attached to the stump, no; if it is not attached to the stump, yes.