Moveable Obstruction in a Bunker

[natgolfer]

In today's Intersectional Matches a golfer's ball was played into a water hazard and lay against a curled up hose that had been placed there by the greens staff.

Can the hose be removed from the hazard?

If yes, and if the ball is moved in so doing, is the golfer penalized?

I know that relief cannot be taken in a hazard if the ball is near an immovable obstruction, but I am uncertain about the moveable one.

[Gary Hill]

Yes. The hose is a movable obstruction and may be removed from a hazard (just as a soft drink can may be removed).

If one end of the hose is immovable (attached to a spigot), the movable part of the hose may moved out of the way.

If the ball moves and the movement of the ball is directly attributable to the removal of the obstruction, the ball is replaced with no penalty.

Directly attributable means the specific act of moving the hose.

If you were walking over to move the hose and accidentally kicked your ball, then you would be subject to penalty under Rule 18-2a (Ball at Rest Moved by Player).

If the ball lies in or on the coiled hose, the ball may be lifted, without penalty, and the hose removed. The ball will then be dropped as near as possible to the spot directly under the place where the ball originally lay, but not nearer the hole.