Cleaning Your Golf Ball: What The Rules Say

When your golf ball is in need of a quick wipe from a day of rolling in mud, dirt and sand, knowing when you can clean it is an important part of playing by the Rules of Golf.

There are several situations where you can mark, lift and clean your ball without penalty. These include anywhere on the putting surface, anytime you are allowed to take free relief, or anytime you are taking penalty relief.

The rule is generally straightforward, but comes with four exceptions where marking and lifting is allowed, but cleaning is not.

AZ GOLF Head of Rules and Competitions, Logan Rasmussen, uses the acronym IICC to remember the exceptions.

The Four Exceptions

Interfering — If your ball interferes with another player’s ball, that player may ask you to mark and lift your ball.

For example, if two balls come to rest close together on the fairway and one player believes the other ball is in the way of their swing. You must mark the spot before lifting your ball and you may not clean it before replacing.

Identifying — You are allowed to mark and lift your ball to identify it when you cannot tell whether it is yours. This can happen when your identifying mark is facing the ground and you cannot differentiate it from another player’s ball.

NOTE: In this specific case, you may clean the ball only as much as necessary to identify it.

Cut or Cracked — If you suspect your ball has been damaged from hitting rocks or another hard object, you may lift to check for a cut or crack. If the ball is cut or cracked, you may substitute another ball. If it is not damaged, place the ball back on the mark and continue play. A scuff or scrape does not mean the ball is cut or cracked.

NOTE: You may NOT clean the ball in any way to search for a cut or crack.

Condition — Sometimes you may need to lift your ball to determine whether it lies in a condition that allows relief.

For example, you might suspect your ball is embedded in the ground. You may mark and lift the ball to investigate, and if it qualifies for relief, you may clean the ball and take the appropriate relief. If it does not qualify, you must place the ball back on the mark and continue play without cleaning.

What About Lift, Clean and Place?

You may have heard golfers refer to “Lift, Clean and Place” (also called "playing the ball up") particularly when course conditions are wet or muddy.

Lift, Clean and Place is a Model Local Rule that a Committee may adopt when appropriate. When it is in effect, golfers may mark, lift, clean and place their ball at any location on the course, in addition to the usual circumstances covered by the Rules of Golf (above).

Before assuming you can lift, clean and place, ask the Committee in charge whether the rule is in effect.