Another rules query!

[Golfmmad]

In a Stableford comp. today - ball in bunker as I walked up to it saw there were deposits left by either a Dog or a Fox. Not near the ball but right where my stance would be. I just grabbed the rake and carefully dragged them to the edge of bunker. Mentioned it to my playing partners and they said it wasn't as if I was "testing the surface" and to carry on and no penalty.

Was it a penalty?

Golfmmad.

 

[CliveW]

As far as I understand, you should incur a penalty as Dung is classed as a "Loose Impediment" and as such Rule 24 states "If the ball lies in a hazard, the player must not touch or move any loose impediment lying in or touching the same hazard."

 

[Golfmmad]

Thanks for that. Just goes to show how confusing rules are.
You can move stones in a bunker, are they not loose impediments?

Golfmmad.

 

[JT77]

I think that is a safety thing golfmad. But there is a course near us, I say course but its more like a big field, and they have a local rule that you cant remove stones, you play as it lies!

 

[CliveW]

You can move stones in a bunker, are they not loose impediments?

Golfmmad.

Correct, stones are a loose impediments and can only be removed if it is a local rule.

 

[Golfmmad]

Mmmm, some rules just aint fair

Golfmmad.

 

[coolhand]

The local rule in fact turns stones into "moveable obstructions" allowing them to be moved, "loose impediments" can't be removed.