Repairing damage on green

[backwoodsman]

Heres a new one for me.

A PP recently said that if there was a pitch mark on your line of putt you could not repair it unless you first asked your opponent /FC if it was ok to do so. Are you sure I asked. Yes, you have to ask, was the reply.

Sensible to ask perhaps - to avoid disagreement as to whether it's a pitch mark - but required? I don't see anything to that effect in r13 or r16. Am I missing something somewhere - or is it yet more eyewash?

 

[Deleted member 15344]

We have had this before - I don't believe you have to ask but most ask out of common curtesy to mainly ensure it is actually a pitch mark

 

[guest100718]

Heres a new one for me.

A PP recently said that if there was a pitch mark on your line of putt you could not repair it unless you first asked your opponent /FC if it was ok to do so. Are you sure I asked. Yes, you have to ask, was the reply.

Sensible to ask perhaps - to avoid disagreement as to whether it's a pitch mark - but required? I don't see anything to that effect in r13 or r16. Am I missing something somewhere - or is it yet more eyewash?

No you don't have to ask and I never do nor have I ever heard or seen anyone ask either. Just one more to chalk up as made up guff.

 

[rulefan]

One of golf's enduring myths.

 

[Fyldewhite]

As above, no, you don't have to ask.

But...... as you are not allowed to touch the line of your put for virtually any other reason then it is sensible to do so. Otherwise you just leave yourself open to the question being asked which can cause ill feeling amongst the group if a player feels like their integrity is being doubted. It can also, over time lead to people thinking you are "at it" in some way when you are not. It's not a rule but a custom which most (certainly in my experience, in a proper game) follow. So not following it (even if you don't have to) immediately arouses suspicion in some folk.

So why leave yourself open to all that when it's so easy to avoid? It's not about being right but being seen to be right.

 

[guest100718]

As above, no, you don't have to ask.

But...... as you are not allowed to touch the line of your put for virtually any other reason then it is sensible to do so. Otherwise you just leave yourself open to the question being asked which can cause ill feeling amongst the group if a player feels like their integrity is being doubted. It can also, over time lead to people thinking you are "at it" in some way when you are not. It's not a rule but a custom which most (certainly in my experience, in a proper game) follow. So not following it (even if you don't have to) immediately arouses suspicion in some folk.

So why leave yourself open to all that when it's so easy to avoid? It's not about being right but being seen to be right.

What a load of nonsense.

 

[chrisd]

As above, no, you don't have to ask.

But...... as you are not allowed to touch the line of your put for virtually any other reason then it is sensible to do so. Otherwise you just leave yourself open to the question being asked which can cause ill feeling amongst the group if a player feels like their integrity is being doubted. It can also, over time lead to people thinking you are "at it" in some way when you are not. It's not a rule but a custom which most (certainly in my experience, in a proper game) follow. So not following it (even if you don't have to) immediately arouses suspicion in some folk.

So why leave yourself open to all that when it's so easy to avoid? It's not about being right but being seen to be right.

You are allowed to touch the line of a putt, but not press anything down. I agree to a large extent that telling your playing partners that you intent to repair a pitch mark, so that they can observe, is sensible and likely to prevent Mr Rules Knowall from claiming a penalty after the event.

 

[bladeplayer]

What a load of nonsense.

Constructive answer Patrick ........

I always tell people "just getting this pitch mark" and if its a previously badly or incorrectly repaired one & im not sure il ask their opinion if it is a pitch mark or not ..
Saves any doubt all round

EDIT or as Chris said

 

[guest100718]

Constructive answer Patrick ........

I always tell people "just getting this pitch mark" and if its a previously badly or incorrectly repaired one & im not sure il ask their opinion if it is a pitch mark or not ..
Saves any doubt all round

EDIT or as Chris said

Why?
do you also call them over from the other side of the fairway to tell them you are just chucking a small stone out of the fairway bunker and not a loose impediment? Do you call them over to make sure you dont ground you club in a hazard?
Why pick this particular area to make such a point?

 

[Fyldewhite]

What a load of nonsense.

Paddy, I read the exhaustive argument on this subject last time but didn't get involved and I don't want to start off another bunfight. There are many instances in golf where you don't "have" to do something but custom/courtesey etc dictates that you do it anyway. For example, you don't "have" to measure out your clublength from NPR (recent thread) but in a competition, most players would be sticking the teepegs in etc both to maximise their relief....and to be seen to be within the rules when their marker may not be close by. It's why the pros do it, to avoid doubt, to be whiter than white.

You are effectively saying that you are never wrong, the status of the repair being a pitch mark could never be in doubt, you are the sole judge and will never make a mistake or be unsure. That I would say is nonsense.

 

[guest100718]

Paddy, I read the exhaustive argument on this subject last time but didn't get involved and I don't want to start off another bunfight. There are many instances in golf where you don't "have" to do something but custom/courtesey etc dictates that you do it anyway. For example, you don't "have" to measure out your clublength from NPR (recent thread) but in a competition, most players would be sticking the teepegs in etc both to maximise their relief....and to be seen to be within the rules when their marker may not be close by. It's why the pros do it, to avoid doubt, to be whiter than white.

You are effectively saying that you are never wrong, the status of the repair being a pitch mark could never be in doubt, you are the sole judge and will never make a mistake or be unsure. That I would say is nonsense.

Again, more nonense.

 

[Maninblack4612]

Again, more nonense.

I'm sure the other members of the Forum appreciate your constructive comments.

 

[guest100718]

I'm sure the other members of the Forum appreciate your constructive comments.

And you have added what to this thread exactly?

 

[Fyldewhite]

Again, more nonense.

Oh well, another constructive argument lost. I concede defeat, you were right all along

Chris: You can't touch the line of the putt except in doing one of the specific things listed in the rule (16-1).

 

[fundy]

Do we really need to repeat such pointless arguments over and over. PAddy doesnt tell people he's repairing a pitchmark, almost everyone else does and feels its etiquette to do so even though they dont have to according to the rules. 2 sides wont agree, doesnt need another 200 posts, thread over

 

[rosecott]

What a load of sense.

Fixed that for you.

 

[chrisd]

Chris: You can't touch the line of the putt except in doing one of the specific things listed in the rule (16-1).

I know Fylde but just wanted to dispel the myth that you cant touch the line. You and I are in complete agreement on the issue that the OP raised. It's just a shame Paddy only feels it necessary to post just enough to wind others up, at least Delc gives his ridiculous postings full value!

 

[Fyldewhite]

I know Fylde but just wanted to dispel the myth that you cant touch the line. You and I are in complete agreement on the issue that the OP raised. It's just a shame Paddy only feels it necessary to post just enough to wind others up, at least Delc gives his ridiculous postings full value!

:thup:

 

[guest100718]

I know Fylde but just wanted to dispel the myth that you cant touch the line. You and I are in complete agreement on the issue that the OP raised. It's just a shame Paddy only feels it necessary to post just enough to wind others up, at least Delc gives his ridiculous postings full value!

Ok, in a forum dedicated to the rules, you are claiming I should follow a rule that has been made up and doesnt actaully exist? yeah i am ridiculous

I guess I live in a parralel universe where I trust my FCs to play buy the rules.

 

[Colin L]

Ok, in a forum dedicated to the rules, you are claiming I should follow a rule that has been made up and doesnt actaully exist? yeah i am ridiculous

I guess I live in a parralel universe where I trust my FCs to play buy the rules.

Paddy you are in the best of two universes. You don't expect anyone to announce they are going to repair a pitch mark and so if they don't you aren't bothered. If they do, it's superfluous to your requirements but doesn't need to bother you either.

There you are - one happy golfer.