Playing the course as you find it is one of the fundamental principles and you can’t improve the conditions affecting the stroke by doing one of the listed prohibited actions. But there are also a number of actions that are necessary to play the game and you won’t be penalized even if doing so also improves your CATS:

• Fairly Search for the Ball. You have to be able to find your ball. So long as you’re taking reasonable actions and not going overboard, you aren’t penalized if one of the CATS is improved.

• Remove Movable Objects. You’re allowed to take reasonable actions to remove loose impediments and movable obstructions. Sometimes you may incidentally move some sand or soil in the process. You’re not penalized if this results in an improvement.

• Mark, Lift and Replace the Ball. This is part of the game and certain Rules will allow you to mark, lift and replace the ball. This may result in small improvements to your CATS and there is no penalty in this case.
• Ground the Club Lightly. Except in a bunker, you can lightly ground your club right behind or in front of the ball. This might result in pressing down soil which improves the lie. So long as you grounded the club only lightly and didn’t press down, there is no penalty.

• Firmly Place Your Feet to Take a Stance. This includes a little bit of reasonably digging in if you’re standing in sand or loose soil.
• Fairly Take a Stance. You have to be able to take a stance, but in doing so you need to take the least intrusive course of action to get to the ball and attempt to play the ball. You’re not entitled to a normal stance or swing.

• Make a Stroke and Backswing. One of the most obvious allowances, you have to be allowed to make a stroke and in many cases doing so will improve your CATS. There is no penalty if this happens even during the backswing and the stroke is made.
• Make Improvements to the Teeing Area. The teeing area is the most favorable area of the course and you can make alterations to the ground, move and break natural objects, remove dew, frost and water, even tee the ball up in this special area of the course.

• Smooth Sand in a Bunker After Playing from the Bunker. Once your ball is out of the bunker, there is no restriction on smoothing the sand, even if it is still on your line of play.

• Make Certain Improvements on the Putting Green. Like the teeing area, there are certain improvements you can make to the Putting Green including removing sand and loose soil and repairing damage.
• Move a Natural Object to See if it is Loose. It’s hard to know whether a natural object is a loose impediment or is growing if you’re not allowed to move it at least a little bit to make the determination. But if you find it is growing or attached you have to return it back to its original position as best as possible.