Rules of golf line of play | fixing a ball mark off the green

Golf rules are funny. The players ball and the ball mark are off the green. The player generally can not repair this ball mark before making a stroke. There are circumstances where the player could repair this ball mark. Do you know what they are? See description below for more.

8.1 Player’s Actions That Improve Conditions Affecting the Stroke
8.1a/1 – Examples of Actions That Are Likely to Create Potential Advantage
Examples of actions that are likely to improve conditions affecting the stroke (that is, likely to give a player a potential advantage) include when:

A player repairs a pitch-mark in the general area or replaces a divot in a divot hole a few yards in front of his or her ball on the line of play before making a stroke that might be affected by the pitch-mark or divot hole (for example, a putt or a low-running chip).

Rule 8.1

d. Restoring Conditions Worsened After Ball Came to Rest
If the conditions affecting the stroke are worsened after a player’s ball came to rest:

(1) When Restoration of Worsened Conditions Is Allowed. If the conditions affecting the stroke are worsened by any person other than the player or by an animal or artificial object, without penalty under Rule 8.1a the player may:
Restore the original conditions as nearly as possible.

Mark the spot of the ball and lift, clean and replace the ball on its original spot (see Rules 14.1 and 14.2), if it is reasonable to do so to restore the original conditions or if material ended up on the ball when the conditions were worsened.

If the worsened conditions cannot be easily restored, lift and replace the ball by placing it on the nearest spot (not nearer the hole) that (1) has the most similar conditions affecting the stroke, (2) is within one club-length of its original spot, and (3) is in the same area of the course as that spot.

Exception – Lie of Ball Worsened When or After a Ball Is Lifted or Moved and Before It Is Replaced: This is covered by Rule 14.2d, unless the lie was worsened when play was stopped and the ball was lifted in which case this Rule applies.

(2) When Restoration of Worsened Conditions Is Not Allowed. If the conditions affecting the stroke are worsened by the player, by a natural object or by natural forces such as wind or water, the player must not improve those worsened conditions in breach of Rule 8.1a (except as allowed in Rules 8.1c(1), 8.1c(2) and Rule 13.1c).
Penalty for Playing Incorrectly Substituted Ball or Playing Ball from a Wrong Place in Breach of Rule 8.1d: General Penalty under Rule 6.3b or 14.7a.

If multiple Rule breaches result from a single act or related acts, see Rule 1.3c(4).

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