. Be Kind To Those Trees By LindaSue Linton CWGA Assistant Executive Director MTT Contributing Writer How many times have you hit a less than ideal shot directly into a plump bush or tree? The problem lies in how to hit your next shot. A word to the wise, be careful how you enter the tree and address your ball. You may not improve your lie by moving, breaking, or bending anything that is growing or fixed. Furthermore you may not create or eliminate any irregularities in the surface or remove sand, divots, or loose soil that is set in position - i.e. a replaced divot may not be taken out of the ground. Before you panic about the grass that bends when you step on it, Rule 13-2 does include an exception that allows for movement, which occurs in fairly taking your stance and during the act of making a stroke or throughout the backward movement of your club during a stroke. This exception also permits players to eliminate or create surface irregularities on the teeing ground and to remove sand and loose soil on the putting green. Therefore, when you approach the tree to hit your ball out from underneath of it, know that the Rules of Golf do not allow players to deliberately move, bend, or break branches with their hands (or any other body part) to get them out of the way of their upcoming stroke. Players are also not permitted to stand on branches or manipulate them in any way to prevent them from interfering with their backswing or stroke. Even after your stance has been taken, branches may not be moved to make your visit in the tree more comfortable. As a good rule of thumb, take your grip on the club before you enter the tree and back into the tree with your hands securely on the club. If you do this, your hands are not subject to the temptation of rearranging the tree. For more information regarding playing the ball as it lies, see Rule 13-2 in the Rules of Golf.