Today at a par-3 hole, my tee shot landed just on the green, making a fairly large pitch mark, but then screwed back onto the fringe grass. The pitch mark was right on my line. Am I allowed to repair this pitch mark? :mmm:
Repairing pitch marks on the green?
- Thread starter delc
- Start date
ger147
Tour Winner
Yes
Spuddy
Challenge Tour Pro
Yes, rule 16-1c.
Thanks! Wasn't sure if repairing the pitchmark would constitute 'improving my area of play'😀
rulefan
Tour Winner
If the pitchmark had not been on the putting green, it would have been improving your Line Of Play to use the words in the rule (13-2).
Smiffy
Grand Slam Winner
You can repair ANY pitchmark, whether in your line of play or not.
It's spike marks you have to be careful of
rulefan
Tour Winner
Providing it is on the putting green.
Smiffy
Grand Slam Winner
Correct.
Any reason why you can't repair spike marks? I know that is the rule but I can't see the reason for it. If you can repair a pitch mark then why not a spike mark?
Fyldewhite
Tour Winner
Basically because a pitch mark can be fairly well defined, a spike mark (or divot, it's the same argument) can't. If you got relief there would be endless debate, argument, accusations of taking liberties..... etc.
As for OP. It's probably worth mentioning that a lot of people think you can't repair the pitch mark on the green if your ball is off the green which is very much a myth but causes a fair few arguments.
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woody69
Journeyman Pro
Probably because I can't remember the last time I saw a "spike mark" on the green since people stopped wearing metal spikes on their shoes!
Smiffy
Grand Slam Winner
Because you're not a pro.
Pro's can repair spike marks. We can't.
And they play off superbly manicured fairways and greens that are super slick.
No wonder they all play so well.
Ooops. I was wrong. They can't.
I always thought they could
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Foxholer
Blackballed
Apparently because pitch marks are pretty obvious as being pitch marks - though occasionally necessary to confirm - while significantly more difficult to truly identify spike marks/scrapes.
I'd much prefer being able to repair spike marks as I used to play behind a group with some that left them, so I suffered but, being a 'correct' golfer, spent a little time repairing them (after completing the hole) so following groups didn't suffer the same disadvantage that I did! Somewhat 'unfair' to my mind!
@DelC 10/10 in the R&A Rules Quiz and you didn't know that one? I'm a bit surprised!
Did/Do you know the (relatively rare but it has happened to me) situation where you are able to repair a PM that is off the Green?
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It just seems odd that you can not make the green perfect. I get it off the green as you "play it where it lies" but on it you are allowed to pick up your ball, clean it, replace it, repair a pitch mark but if some clod has caused damaged with their feet you can't do anything. Either allow total repair of the green or none? I suspect this has been discussed before endlessly but it seems inconsistent.
duncan mackie
Money List Winner
It has, but it isn't if you look at it from the opposite perspective!
Players are expected to repair their spike marks and pitch marks, as well as any other damage, before they leave the green.........so it's perfect when they left it.
Now your group fires in their approach shots and makes a whole load of damage - so the rules permit you to repair it. Simples
As a general rule you are entitled to the lie and shot that you had immediately after your ball comes to rest after a shot (another general principle) so you are also permitted to repair damage caused by balls/players after your ball comes to rest but before you play it (as Foxy is baiting delc over above!). Effectively the specific permission to repair any pitch marks follows naturally from the above and arguments over whose pitch marks and when!
The Tour briefly toyed with a rule permitting repair of spike marks (with R&A sanction) but it quickly became apparent that it would simply slow down the game and be open to abuse when (certain) players started carrying mini rollers and tamping bars in their bags
to create their model of perfection (a perfect chute) to putt down! It was abandoned.
The specific permission to repair old hole plugs is to reduce green staff abuse and the constant requests for the committee to repair them day in and day out...being less frequent and clearly defined they don't create the potential problems that wider permissions would.
Hope this helps.
Foxholer
Blackballed
It has indeed!
Objection Your Honour! Not baiting at all!...Challenging/Testing imagination perhaps (I did say that the situation was rare-ish).
PS: My turn to be 'too slow'
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If the pitch mark is created by another ball after your ball has come to rest?@DelC 10/10 in the R&A Rules Quiz and you didn't know that one? I'm a bit surprised!
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backwoodsman
Tour Winner
Sorry delc, although I don't normally approve of much of the apparent "delc baiting" that goes on on here, posting a correct answer some 2hrs after it's already posted really is sticking your head into the coconut shy. I, of course, will give the benefit of the doubt and assume you hadn't read the previous posts...
Sorry delc, although I don't normally approve of much of the apparent "delc baiting" that goes on on here, posting a correct answer some 2hrs after it's already posted really is sticking your head into the coconut shy. I, of course, will give the benefit of the doubt and assume you hadn't read the previous posts...
No I hadn't read it actually, but it seemed like the common sense answer: Not that common sense applies to some rules of golf! :mmm:
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North Mimms
Tour Winner
I was playing a few days ago with a friend whose ball landed just short of green on par 3.
It had made a big pitch mark a couple of inches off the green, with a ski jump lip at front of mark, and her ball was sitting immediately in front of the mark.
I had a pitch repairer in my hand ready to repair my mark (which was on the green) and offered it to her to repair her mark.
She - quite rightly - corrected me and said that she wasn't allowed to repair her mark yet.
We all sympathised at the rotten lie she had, with a lump sitting up nearly an inch a fraction behind her ball.
She opted to putt it, and sank the awkward putt for birdie!
Cheers all round, then she repaired the pitch mark!
It had made a big pitch mark a couple of inches off the green, with a ski jump lip at front of mark, and her ball was sitting immediately in front of the mark.
I had a pitch repairer in my hand ready to repair my mark (which was on the green) and offered it to her to repair her mark.
She - quite rightly - corrected me and said that she wasn't allowed to repair her mark yet.
We all sympathised at the rotten lie she had, with a lump sitting up nearly an inch a fraction behind her ball.
She opted to putt it, and sank the awkward putt for birdie!
Cheers all round, then she repaired the pitch mark!
