Rules question

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weldmax

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Just wondering if anyone can enlighten me.
A guy at my club who I regularly find myself playing with, has a tendency to stand directly behind me to watch my putt if we are on a similar line.
In some cases he might even crouch down to get a better view! This can be quite annoying.
Is there any ruling on this?
 
I don't think you are allowed to do this, but it is appalling etiquet any way. Tell him to move, until after you have struck the putt.
 
I'm 99.9% sure he isn't allowed to do this. I do think however he's permitted to stand directly opposite you i.e the other side of the hole but a reasonable distance away, to watch the ball coming the other way.

Either way it's still pretty poor etiquette on his part and if I were you i'd politely tell him to "Foxtrot Oscar" out of your line of sight.

UP1.
 
Having thought about my answer again I think Murph is probably right.

Whilst you're taking your shot you can move him pretty much wherever you want to out of your line of sight, whether he's in front of you or behind you. Once you've hit it however he's perfectly entitled to walk in behind and see what the balls doing.

UP1.
 
There is nothing to spot them standing in your line but is exceptionly bad ettiquet.

I have had a few people do this to me and i gave always told them to step out of my lien as you are putting me off. After that they move and dont do it again. Problemo solved.
 
Just had a trawl and there's nothing to say he can't.

14.2b says a player must not 'Allow his caddie, his partner or his partner’s caddie to position himself on or close to an extension of the line of play or the line of putt behind the ball.'

I don't suppose they thought anyone would be so deficient in etiquette.
 
There is nothing to spot them standing in your line but is exceptionly bad ettiquet.

I have had a few people do this to me and i gave always told them to step out of my lien as you are putting me off. After that they move and dont do it again. Problemo solved.
Click to expand...

Spot on. It is not against the rules to stand behind a player taking a shot as it would be impossible to define properly and be too open to interpretation. It's better left to etiquette and simply asking them to move. If they persistently do this so you effectively have to ask them every time (ie they are doing it to wind you up) then this would constitute (IMHO) a serious breach of etiquette and is a possible disqualification under rule 33-7.
 
I hate to disagree with some of you guys, but the player is not allowed to stand either directly behind the line of your putt, or in front of you on a direct line with the putt. This is also not allowed even if he is on the same team as you (betterball/scramble..etc). I regularly see this in Scrambles and it amazes me how many people don't know.
 
You are correct about the rule in scrambles but that is covered under the 14-2 quoted by viscount17 above. There is no rule to stop you standing behind an "opponent" or "fellow competitor" though.

Fact is, you can, but shouldn't and it's just not done. The rules say nothing about coin rattling of dropping a club at the top of the backswing either but again the etiquette and serious breach would cover it if someone made a habit of such transgressions.
 
I think it's a great question, I never realised that you couldn't stand behind your opponents putting line. If it's OK by the rules for you to do so then would you have to move if asked or do you just whip out the rule book and say "show me the rule"?

Sounds quite awkward actually and the R&A really should amend that ruling.
 
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