Golf Rules: Obstructions on the Putting Green - Penalty Explained

Question
A player is putting - while the ball is in motion - another player notices that a club is lying on the green and rushes to remove it so as to not have her competitor hit the club.  Is there a penalty involved and if so on which player

Answer
Hello Anne:

Thanks for this question.

The following is the quote under Rule 24-1: Movable Obstruction.

"When a ball is in motion, an obstruction that might influence the movement of the ball, other than an attended flagstick or equipment of the players, must not be removed."

So, in this case, a club lying on the green is a equipment of the players, and thus there will be no penalty.

Hope this helps.
Thanks.

Dan