Movable Obstructions-Rule 24-1

In my earlier post,I have pointed out that that Relief for movable obstructions under Rule 24-1 is fairly liberal compared to other free reliefs. However, many players, even at the highest levels, fail to take advantage of this relief.
In the recent professional tournaments and Junior tournaments where I officiated, I noticed that many players are not fully aware of their entitlement to relief for stakes defining margins of Water Hazards and Lateral water hazards. Such stakes are movable, if they are easily movable and if not, immovable.If these stakes are easily movable, a player can move the stake, irrespective of the fact whether the ball is inside the water Hazard or outside it.I was called many times by players in the circuit to clarify this point.Many players seem to think that they cannot remove these stakes if the ball is inside the Hazard .
In many clubs,the committee makes a Local Rule that Water hazard Stakes are immovable,even if they are easily movable.The definition of obstructions under the Rules gives this authority to the committee.This Local Rule is made because many club players fail to replace the stake after removing it and burdening the Green staff with extra work.If these stakes are immovable or a local rule deems it immovable,a player will not get relief if his ball is inside the hazard and he has interference.He can only touch an immovable obstruction.If his ball is outside the water hazard and he has interference from these stakes which are immovable or deemed so by a local rule, he will get free relief under Rule 24-2.
The Local rule making the water hazard stakes immovable has some inherent dangers.A player inside the hazard and electing to play a ball close to these stakes runs the risk of the ball ricocheting and harming him physically or the stake itself hitting him or oher players nearby.