Forum > Any other business?

John Flood

While playing yesterday it was a bit blustery to say the least so on most putting greens there were a few leaves. I started to clear my line using my putter as most people do (I imagine ) when my playing partner told me that he thought that it was against the rules?

We looked in the rule book & he was correct you are not allowed to touch/sweep the surface of the putting green with your club even to clear leaves?

Glad I learnt that before the GS Open.

Was I the only one who didn't know this???? 

Sean Goucher

That is the same for Worm Casts - I believe.

I take it you are allowed to use your hands for Leaves?

Sean

John Pettitt

John Gentles

Alan Gunnigle

Gary Hand

Can't touch the line of your put at anytime with your putter, 2 shot penalty or loss of hole in match play. You can pick lose impediments with your fingers or brush away with the back of your hand.

I think the rules also says you can only repair your own pitchmark if it is on your line, the repair of  other pitchmarks is only permited with the approval of playing partners. So in a tight matchplay situation your partner could object and you would have to put over a pitchmark. I could be wrong with this one though any further clarification is welcome.

All these tend to restrict the player improving there line i.e removing lumbs bumps etc. I suppose it goes along with the play it as lies philosiphy.

Chris Perry

Chris Salter

David Marshall

Gary is correct about not touching the line of the putt. Which is what Floody was guilty of by using his putter to clear the leaves, as it constitutes testing the playing surface. Rule 16-1d applies

But Gary is wrong about repairing pitchmarks.

Rule 16-1c, does allow you to repair a pitch mark or old hole plug on the putting green irrespective of whether or not your ball is actually on the green.

Jamie C

David Marshall

Also, for Sean..

Rules of Golf: Loose Impediments

Loose impediments are natural objects. Examples: stones, leaves, twigs, branches etc… , dung, worms and insects and casts, sand and loose soil on the putting green only, and snow and natural ice can be either casual water or loose impediments, at the golfers discretion.

Points to remember:

1. Loose impediments are natural objects.
2. Sand and loose soil are loose impediments only on the putting surface
3. Natural ice and snow can either be a loose impediment or casual water
4. Dew and frost are not loose impdeiments

Note:
When removing loose impediments take care in that your ball does not move from the influence of removing the impediment.

Darren Millichip

"if the ball lies within the boundary of a hazard, like a bunker, the natural object cannot be removed"

even though thats a silly rule  

i certainly know that rule know, dont i dave

David Marshall

Alan Gunnigle

Gary Hand

Alan I to like to utilise the leather wedge it's a shame my playing partners don't agree it can be my 14th club and used without counting it a a stroke.Some people are sticklers for the rules though. 

Alan Gunnigle

Gary Hand

Alan Gunnigle

Gary Hand

John Flood

Alan,

So that's how you amassed 43 points at the NW qualifier

Tim Hawkins

John Flood

Alan Gunnigle

Dave ley

John Flood

Dave ley

David Marshall

Dave ley

Darren Atkinson

i thought this rule was modified recently by the joint R&A and USGA rules to allow brushing off loose impediments on a green in the line of your putt with either the back of a hand or a club. You cannot however push down on the surface to test it in any way ?? I'll have a look to try and find the update

 http://www.usga.org/Rule-Books/Rules-of-Golf/Rule-16/

Anyone got the R&A equivalent ?

Darren Atkinson

i thought this rule was modified recently by the joint R&A and USGA rules to allow brushing off loose impediments on a green in the line of your putt with either the back of a hand or a club. You cannot however push down on the surface to test it in any way ?? I'll have a look to try and find the update

 http://www.usga.org/Rule-Books/Rules-of-Golf/Rule-16/

Anyone got the R&A equivalent ?

David Marshall

R & A Golf rules website..

Now there is NO excuse for not knowing the rules.

 http://www.randa.org/

David Marshall

a. Touching Line of Putt
The line of putt must not be touched except:
(i) the player may remove loose impediments, provided he does not press anything down;
(ii) the player may place the club in front of the ball when addressing it, provided he does not press anything down;
(iii) in measuring – Rule 18-6;
(iv) in lifting or replacing the ball – Rule 16-1b;
(v) in pressing down a ball-marker;
(vi) in repairing old hole plugs or ball marks on the putting green – Rule 16-1c; and
(vii) in removing movable obstructions – Rule 24-1.
(Indicating line for putting on putting green – see Rule 8-2b)

b. Lifting and Cleaning Ball
A ball on the putting green may be lifted and, if desired, cleaned. The position of the ball must be marked before it is lifted and the ball must be replaced (see Rule 20-1).
c. Repair of Hole Plugs, Ball Marks and Other Damage
The player may repair an old hole plug or damage to the putting green caused by the impact of a ball, whether or not the player’s ball lies on the putting green. If a ball or ball-marker is accidentally moved in the process of the repair, the ball or ball-marker must be replaced. There is no penalty, provided the movement of the ball or ball-marker is directly attributable to the specific act of repairing an old hole plug or damage to the putting green caused by the impact of a ball. Otherwise, Rule 18 applies.

Any other damage to the putting green must not be repaired if it might assist the player in his subsequent play of the hole.
d. Testing Surface
During the stipulated round, a player must not test the surface of any putting green by rolling a ball or roughening or scraping the surface.
Exception: Between the play of two holes, a player may test the surface of any practice putting green and the putting green of the hole last played, unless the Committee has prohibited such action (see Note 2 to Rule 7-2).
e. Standing Astride or on Line of Putt
The player must not make a stroke on the putting green from a stance astride, or with either foot touching, the line of putt or an extension of that line behind the ball.
Exception: There is no penalty if the stance is inadvertently taken on or astride the line of putt (or an extension of that line behind the ball) or is taken to avoid standing on another player’s line of putt or prospective line of putt.
f. Making Stroke While Another Ball in Motion
The player must not make a stroke while another ball is in motion after a stroke from the putting green, 

John Flood

@ TIM,

Tim I think this may answer your question regarding one of your playing partners pressing a club down on the ground before playing his shot

 13-2 - Improving Lie, Area of Intended Stance or Swing, or Line of Play

A player must not improve or allow to be improved:
• the position or lie of his ball,
• the area of his intended stance or swing,
• his line of play or a reasonable extension of that line beyond the hole, or
• the area in which he is to drop or place a ball,
by any of the following actions:
• pressing a club on the ground,
• moving, bending or breaking anything growing or fixed (including immovable obstructions and objects defining out of bounds),

Alan Gunnigle

John Flood

Alan,

I'm afraid not

During the stipulated round, a player must not test the surface of any putting green by rolling a ball or roughening or scraping the surface. 

Scott Dench-smith

I learnt the rules on Tiger Woods on the Xbox. Thanks Tiger LOL

SDS 

Alan Gunnigle

john, so as long as your putter doesn't touch the ground you can move leaves?

i'll bear that in mind, it's bound to happen sooner or later now winter is on it's way

John Flood

Alan,

Yes if you wish to take the chance. You'd have to be very precise as most leaves this time of year get stuck to the greens. 

Darren Atkinson

 the following is permissable according to the R&A

 16-1a/8 Loose Impediments Removed from Line of Putt with Cap or Towel

A player touches his line of putt in brushing aside loose impediments with his cap or with a towel. Is this permissible? 

Yes, provided he did not press anything down

16 /1a 10 -  In removing loose impediments from his line of putt by brushing with a putter, a player brushed along the line for about one foot before brushing the impediments to the side. Did the player infringe Rule 16-1?

Under Rule 16-1a a player is allowed to brush aside loose impediments on his line of putt. The casual movement of the putter along the line of putt would not be a breach of the Rules unless in the process the player did something to the putting green which might influence the movement of his ball when played (Rule 1-2).

Darren Millichip

i learnt something on saturday at the GS Open

you can keep your ball out of the wind by hitting it low and only 20 yards!!!!

Dave ley

Darren Atkinson

True u can but i'm sure i witnessed an even better attempt at keeping it out of the wind completely by just swinging the club at it and not hiiting the ball at all :-)

John Flood

Dave ley

Dave ley

Darren Atkinson

What was it a par 9  ??

John Flood

3 air shots!?!?!

I bet that takes some teaching  

Wayne Santorini