Breach of Rules/Etiquette??

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I was taught many years ago it was bad etiquette. When you are putting, there should be no other balls on the green.
Other etiquette/ rules I was taught were

The golfer whos ball is nearest the hole should tend/remove the flag for the first putt.
The person who had the first putt should then tend the flag for the second putt. (if required)
When the flag is lifted, it should be lowered to the ground/off the green and not just dropped
The first person to hole out should then retrieve the flag ready to replace it when everyone else has finished
Rarely do I see this happen

I was also taught all of the above - and that's why I prefer all balls lifted. Also when attending the flag: I hold the flag so it doesn't flap - unless flagstick is too long for me to do that; I ask which side of the hole the player would like me to stand; when I lay the flag down if windy I wrap the flag round the flagstick and make sure that it doesn't flap - and place it off the green if that is close by. I make sure that it is not behind the hole on the line of any players putt.

 

[Fyldewhite]

Is it a breach? No. However if I did this and someone objected then I wouldn't do it again, and IMO if I did then that would be a breach. Etiquette is about manners and if something you do is putting another player off, regardless of whether it would put you off in the same situation then it's just good manners not to do it.

I agree that it doesn't really save much time......unless you do all that "aligning the ball" nonsense

 

[Smiffy]

I make a point of asking if the player concerned minds me placing my ball down, but I would never do it if I thought it was going to interfere with their putt in any way, shape or form.
I've never been told not to in over 25 years of playing.

 

[fundy]

Can someone explain to me how having a ball not a marker not close to the line is a distraction? seriously?

 

[bobmac]

Can someone explain to me how having a ball not a marker not close to the line is a distraction? seriously?

If someone walks on the green and doesn't mark and clean his ball, then that means he's waiting for his turn to putt to do it which takes time which makes me rush to make up that time.
If he marks it then replaces it, that suggests he thinks we're slow and rushing me.
Bottom line is if he knows he should pick it up and doesn't, he's trying to wind me up.

Repair your pitchmark, mark your ball and stand still, it's not difficult

 

[chrisd]

If someone walks on the green and doesn't mark and clean his ball, then that means he's waiting for his turn to putt to do it which takes time which makes me rush to make up that time.
If he marks it then replaces it, that suggests he thinks we're slow and rushing me.
Bottom line is if he knows he should pick it up and doesn't, he's trying to wind me up.

Repair your pitchmark, mark your ball and stand still, it's not difficult

Im just wondering though, you stand on the green thinking those thoughts about him and his ways, he, however, doesn't mind you doing any of those things as they don't irritate him at all. So, is he TRYING to wind you up or is he just playing the game his way?

 

[bobmac]

Im just wondering though, you stand on the green thinking those thoughts about him and his ways, he, however, doesn't mind you doing any of those things as they don't irritate him at all. So, is he TRYING to wind you up or is he just playing the game his way?

It doesn't bother me, been playing long enough not to worry

 

[Slab]

It doesn't bother me, been playing long enough not to worry

I’m losing the plot here

So it does bother you to the point of rushing if he doesn’t mark & lift his ball but it doesn’t bother you whether he doesn’t lift it for gamesmanship or not

 

[fundy]

If someone walks on the green and doesn't mark and clean his ball, then that means he's waiting for his turn to putt to do it which takes time which makes me rush to make up that time.
If he marks it then replaces it, that suggests he thinks we're slow and rushing me.
Bottom line is if he knows he should pick it up and doesn't, he's trying to wind me up.

Repair your pitchmark, mark your ball and stand still, it's not difficult

stop reading so much into what playing partners are doing and what it means and concentrate on your own ????

 

[chrisd]

I’m losing the plot here

So it does bother you to the point of rushing if he doesn’t mark & lift his ball but it doesn’t bother you whether he doesn’t lift it for gamesmanship or not

That's was my thinking too

 

[bobmac]

I’m losing the plot here

So it does bother you to the point of rushing if he doesn’t mark & lift his ball but it doesn’t bother you whether he doesn’t lift it for gamesmanship or not

I obviously didn't make it clear.........
He may have been trying to rush me but it didn't work as I'm wise to those tactics

 

[guest100718]

If the is a ball close to the hole i'd expect it to be putted out in or marked.

Fiddling with your ball while you FC is lining up his putt doesnt save much time. Like bob says, repair your pitch mark, mark your ball and stand still

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

I obviously didn't make it clear.........
He may have been trying to rush me but it didn't work as I'm wise to those tactics

So.....is there a problem??

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

If someone walks on the green and doesn't mark and clean his ball, then that means he's waiting for his turn to putt to do it which takes time which makes me rush to make up that time.
If he marks it then replaces it, that suggests he thinks we're slow and rushing me.
Bottom line is if he knows he should pick it up and doesn't, he's trying to wind me up.

Repair your pitchmark, mark your ball and stand still, it's not difficult

Correct - it's not difficult - so just do it as you should be aware that a PP may be distracted - in whatever way or for whatever reason - it is none of your business why it might distract him. So to avoid him having to ask you - or indeed just in case he puts up with your ball being a distraction to him because he is too embarrassed to ask - just mark and pick up.

I have no embarrassment on this matter. If I am to putt and it appears that a FC is not going mark and pick, and I would rather he did, I ask him to do so. I do not have to explain why. I do not have to justify myself.

As for almost all of my etiquette-related golf practices - this is what I was told to do by the auld fellas when I was learning the game in the early 70s. As many of these guys learned the game in the 1920s and 30s - and so they knew the score in respect of traditional etiquette. What was right for them back then is right for me today.

 

[palindromicbob]

I was taught many years ago it was bad etiquette. When you are putting, there should be no other balls on the green.

Playing partners must make sure they don't squat too low

 

[BTatHome]

Just love these threads were anything etiquette related is thought to be correct so long as somebody from a previous generation told you it :lol:

Time to stand in the right place, use an invisible ball marker and behave like a statue at all times.

.... does dropping a flag pole mean I'm DQ'd 😉

 

[HawkeyeMS]

I don't see how it could be. I will often place and line up my putt as long as I'm nowhere near my FCs line or close to the hole. FWIW, no-one has ever asked me to not do it so I can only assume it doesn't bother them.

 

[bladeplayer]

A lot depends on how well ya know the ppl your playing with surely ?

in our regular group it would be common on longer putts for the other two to replace their balls (???) & be reading putts as the other 1 plays ,

in general il be reading the line off my marker, step up place the ball , quick look , putt .. very little time difference at all ...


where Its not my personal opinion , I do understand with strangers how it could be frowned upon as bad etiquette

 

[hovis]

played in a comp today with two random blokes that where a joy to play with. we only marked balls when necessary. what made me laugh was when i marked a tap in because i didn't want to stand on his line. he said "stand on my line if you like. 30 other people have in the last hour"

 

[drdel]

I thought the majority of us played for the enjoyment, not as a professional.

All that is needed is a bit of respect for your FC.

So hit the little round white thing in the darn hole with your stick so unless a FC's ball is in the way get on with it!!