Embedded Ball

[Old Skier]

Apologies if this has been done but can't find it in search or going back a couple if pages.

Can someone in the know clarify if a ball that is plugged in the general playing area can be cleaned after it has been lifted prior to dropping?

 

[duncan mackie]

Yes

Only restrictions I am aware of relate to marking and lifting to identify (clean only as much as necessary to identify) and when required to lift it because it's in someone else's way.
The former would also carry over to marking and lifting a ball to check whether it's embedded - if not replace no cleaning.

 

[Deleted member 15717]

16.3 calls out cleaning the ball when on a putting green, so my immediate assumption would be no, you can’t clean the ball when taking relief from an embedded ball

 

[Spuddy]

14.1c is the rule.

You can always clean a lifted ball on the green. A lifted ball in the general area can be cleaned except under a few circumstances. Taking relief from an embedded ball isn’t one of those cirumstances so you can clean it

 

[Deleted member 15717]

Yup, didn’t see 14.1c. Bizarrely, you think they would refer to it in 16.3 to make it really clear and not leave it to the interpretation I, wrongly, had.

 

[Old Skier]

Entered in error

 

[Colin L]

Entered in error

.... and made a sharp exit.