Golf Rules: Cleaning and Lifting Your Ball on the Course

Question
can you tell other golfers you are lifting and cleaning when youn are in mud

Answer
Hi,

Under the Rules of Golf, one cannot clean a ball unless it is on the putting green. Anywhere else, the ball must be played as it lies.

There are cases where conditions are such (if there has been a lot of rain) that the Rules Committee provides a special rule that a ball may be lifted, cleaned and placed through the green.

See Rule 21.
http://www.usga.org/Rule-Books/Rules-of-Golf/Rule-21/

Hope this helps.

Best regards,
Ken Tannar

www.probablegolfinstruction.com