I think the player in the original example was jipped. The rules of golf state:
"Obstructions
An “obstruction’’ is anything artificial, including the artificial
surfaces and sides of roads and paths and manufactured
ice, except:
a. Objects defining out of bounds, such as walls, fences,
stakes and railings;
b. Any part of an immovable artificial object that is out of
bounds; and
c. Any construction declared by the Committee to be an
integral part of the course.
An obstruction is a movable obstruction if it may be moved
without unreasonable effort, without unduly delaying play
and without causing damage. Otherwise it is an
immovable obstruction." (emphasis mine)
US Golf Association Rules of Golf 2004-2007, p31
downloadable at www.randa.org/flash/rules/PDF/RoG2004.pdf

I think a cigarette butt would count as a movable obstruction.