No. Rule 13-2 prohibits a player from improving or allowing to be improved the position or lie of the ball, the area of his intended swing, his line of play, or the area in which she is to drop or place a ball. In this particular situation the player is prohibited from improving her line of play by eliminating an irregularity of surface (Dec. 13-2/6).

If the original ball is neither lost nor out of bounds, the player must abandon the provisional ball and continue playing with the original ball (Rule 27-2c). However, the procedure for playing a provisional ball requires that the player must announce that she intends to play a provisional ball and play it before she or her partner goes forward to search for the original ball. As the player did not announce her intention to play a provisional ball, that ball becomes the ball in play under penalty of stroke and distance and she must continue with the second ball played from the tee. She is lying three. (Rule 27-2).

The player incurs a two stroke penalty in stroke play or a loss of hole penalty in match play for violating Rule 20-7, playing from a wrong place. While a player may deem her ball unplayable at any place on the course other than a water hazard, the declaration must be made before the player takes further action.

If the player has not yet made a stroke at the ball she may lift the ball and proceed correctly under Rule 20-6 (A ball incorrectly substituted, dropped, or placed in a wrong place or otherwise not in accordance with the Rules but not yet played may be lifted, without penalty, and the player then proceeds correctly.) If the player has made a stroke at the ball she incurs a two stroke penalty in stroke play or a loss of hole penalty in match play for violation of Rule 20-7, playing from a wrong place. (Dec. 20-6/1).

Unless a condition of competition exists to the contrary, in match play a player may always practice on the competition course before the round or on any day during a match play competition. Before a round or play-off on any day of a stroke play competition, a competitor must not practice on the competition course or test the surface of any putting green on the course by rolling a ball or roughening or scraping the surface. When two or more rounds of a stroke play competition are to be played over consecutive days, a competitor must not practice between rounds on any competition course remaining to be played, or test the surface of any putting green on such course by rolling a ball or roughening or scraping the surface. The Committee may, in the conditions of a competition (Rule 33-1) prohibit practice on the competition course on any day of a match play competition or permit practice on the competition course or part of the course (Rule 33-2c) on any day of or between rounds of a stroke play competition.

The player made a stroke at the ball which happened to be a wrong ball. She is not absolved of penalty because she missed it. In stroke play the player is accessed a two stroke penalty and must proceed with the correct ball. The stroke at the wrong ball does not count in her score. In match play the player incurs a loss of hole penalty. (Dec. 15/1).

This is not considered advice and there is no prohibition as long as the caddie does not delay play. The player may always seek advice from her partner or either her or her partner’s caddie. (Dec. 8-1/15)

As long as the movement of the ball or ball marker on the putting green was accidental, there is no penalty as long as the ball or ball marker is replaced.

As long as the player did not make a stroke with the nonconforming club she is not disqualified. She is in breach of two Rules and will incur multiple penalties for breaches of Rule 4-1 (carrying a nonconforming club) and Rule 4-4 (maximum of 14 clubs). In stroke play, 2 strokes are added to her score of both the first and second holes for breach of Rule 4-1 and an additional 2 strokes are added to her score for the first hole for breach of Rule 4-4. In match play, the state of the match is adjusted by 3 holes at the conclusion of the second hole. The nonconforming club must be declared out of play immediately. Failure to do so results in disqualification. The maximum penalty for either of these breaches is four strokes in stroke play (two strokes added to the score for the first and second holes played) and an adjustment to the match of 2 holes assessed at the conclusion of the hole where the breach is discovered. (Moral of the story: count your clubs, ensure they are conforming!)

There is no penalty as the physical conditions were not altered with the intention of affecting play. The player may have the line of putt restored. The player is entitled to the lie and line of play that she has when the ball comes to rest. (Dec. 16-1a/13)

Both through the green and partially touching the putting green—putting green
Both through the green and partially touching a bunker—bunker
Both through the green and partially touching the margin of a water hazard—water hazard
Both through the green and partially touching the margin of out of bounds—through the green
When any part of the ball touches:
— a putting green, it is on the putting green
— a teeing ground, it is on the teeing ground
— a bunker, it is in the bunker
— a water hazard (or overhangs the margin of a water hazard, it is in the water hazard
— casual water, it is in casual water
— an abnormal ground condition, it is in the abnormal ground condition
— the course (or overhangs the course), it is in bounds

No. Under Rule 22-2, except on the putting green, a player may not lift her ball solely because she considers it might interfere with the play of another player. If a player lifts her ball without being asked to do so, she incurs a penalty of one stroke for breach of Rule 18-2 and must replace the ball. She is entitled to clean her ball before replacing it.