Sand on the putting green

[Chris]

When putting, if there is sand (from a bunker shot) between your ball and the hole, are you allowed to brush it aside; or do you have to play through it? In saying that, what can you clear off the green to allow for a clearer path to the hole?

[Gary Hill]

"Loose impediments’’ are natural objects such as stones, leaves, twigs, branches and the like, dung, worms and insects and casts or heaps made by them, provided they are not fixed or growing, are not solidly embedded and do not adhere to the ball.

Sand and loose soil are loose impediments on the putting green, but not elsewhere.

Except when both the loose impediment and the ball lie in or touch the same hazard, any loose impediment may be removed without penalty.

Loose impediments may be removed by any means except:

When your ball is ON the putting green, the loose impediments on the line of putt may be picked up or brushed aside with your hand or a club only and nothing may be pressed down.

Be carefull !!!! The "fringe" is NOT part of the putting green.

FYI -
The Rules are very specific, so I have to be very specific.
Technically, the Rules do not cover situtations that start with the phrase "when putting".

If your ball in not ON the putting green before the stroke, then it is not a "putt" even though you are using a putter for the stroke.
(PGA Tour stats do not included these strokes as putts either.)

For example, if your ball is on the putting green and there is casual water between your ball and hole, you are allowed to move your ball.
However, if your ball is on the "fringe", you must play through the casual water.

Similarly, if your ball is on the "fringe" you may not remove loose sand or soil from the "fringe", but you may remove the sand and loose soil from the putting green.