On my local course the grass on the tee boxes can be quite long at various times of the year.. After teeing my ball up I often place my foot behind the ball and tee and flatten down any blades of grass in order to lessen the risk of any grass getting between the club face and the ball(hardly a big issue I know but it's more for peace of mind). I did this today and one of my golfing friends announced that I had broken a rule, In essence he said I was improving my lie. I disagreed as I hadn't addressed the ball and in any case I did not think the ball was in play. He didn't make a big deal of it but would be grateful for your views.

This is allowed on the tee. No rules violation. See bolded section:

11-1. Teeing
When a player is putting a ball into play from the teeing ground, it must be played from within the teeing ground and from the surface of the ground or from a conforming tee in or on the surface of the ground.

For the purposes of this Rule, the surface of the ground includes an irregularity of surface (whether or not created by the player) and sand or other natural substance (whether or not placed by the player).

And:

13-2. Improving Lie, Area of Intended Stance or Swing, or Line of Play

However, the player incurs no penalty if the action occurs:

in creating or eliminating irregularities of surface within the teeing ground (Rule 11-1) or in removing dew, frost or water from the teeing ground, or

Something I do on every tee box after teeing the ball.

Time to get a rules book for the bag...

I always knew my little man-made mound that I often hit a 3 wood or 1 iron off was legal - but now I know why.

Trevino did it...

Noel,

HoganFan cited the correct rule, but you need to be careful as the reason it is allowed is not the same reasoning as your original question. The ball does not have to be in play to be penalized for improving your area/line of play, which in the following circumstance is different from fixing the surface.

Kevin


13-2/14 Breaking Branch Interfering with Backswing on Teeing Ground
Q. On the teeing ground, a player broke off a branch of a tree which was interfering with his swing. The player maintained that such action was not a breach of Rule 13-2 because his ball was not yet in play. Was the player correct?

A. No. The player was in breach of Rule 13-2 for improving the area of his intended swing. Although Rule 13-2 allows a player to eliminate irregularities of surface on the teeing ground, it does not allow him to break a branch interfering with his swing. The penalty would apply even if the player, before playing his next stroke, re-teed elsewhere on the teeing ground — see Decision 13-2/24.

This is an interesting question that is more complicated than it would seem. While not specifically addressing the idea of flattening down the grass, Decision 13-2/3 does say that it is permissble to break or pull out the grass. If breaking or pulling pulling the grass is allowed, then it seems reasonable that flattening the grass via stepping on it would be permissible as well.

13-2/3 Breaking Off Grass Behind Ball on Teeing Ground

Q. Under Rule 13-2, it is permissible to eliminate irregularities of surface on the teeing ground. Is it also permissible to break off or pull out grass growing behind a ball on the teeing ground?

A. Yes.

jjj912,

Absolutely permissible using the rules HoganFan cited: 11-1 and 13-2. I just wanted to make it clear to the OP that you do not have cart blanche just because your ball is not yet in play as the original title asked. I apologize if I confused the issue.

Kevin

Ah, now I see where you were going. Good point.

Thanks guys for all the replies. It's good to know exactly where you stand in regard to some of the more obscure situations, even before you manage to (hopefully) hit a ball. Thanks.

Just like to add:

If the player only manages to hit the ball a few inches and it remains within the teeing ground, the player may still flatten the grass or pull it up, and divots may be replaced.
Rule 13-2 has no restrictions on ball in play/ball not in play.