Rules we often get wrong

[JCW]

1. You just off the green , can you remove items like sand or leaves / twigs or other loose stuff that on your intended line of your next shot that are ON the green ?

2. Same again , You are off the green , can you repair pitch marks on the green that are on the line of your next shot , or for that matter not in your line /

3 you are on the green and there is damage to the hole , can you repair this before your group putts out or do you putt out then repair it or just leave it

Answers please ................................EYG

 

[Foxholer]

1. You just off the green , can you remove items like sand or leaves / twigs or other loose stuff that on your intended line of your next shot that are ON the green ?

You can remove LIs/loose impediments (leaves/twigs) ANYWHERE through the green. Sand and loose soil are not LIs EXCEPT when IT is on the green!

So be careful about associating sand with leaves/twigs!

2. Same again , You are off the green , can you repair pitch marks on the green that are on the line of your next shot , or for that matter not in your line

Yes. One of the few cases in The Rules where the wording (actually specifying 'whether the players ball lies on or off the putting green'of rule clarifies/stresses something that, by not stating the exclusion, can/should be determined without the clarification/stress. Another, of course, is in the very next Rule 'Flagstick' which can be requested to be attended from 'anywhere on the course' - another oft misconstrued one!

3 you are on the green and there is damage to the hole , can you repair this before your group putts out or do you putt out then repair it or just leave it

As an individual..I putt out then I repair it. Nothing to do with 'group'. If it's from a pitch mark, I can repair it before putting.

 

[woody69]

1. Yes - Loose impediments can be removed
2. Yes - 16-1c
3. No - Can only repair after the hole has been completed by all players

 

[Spuddy]

If you find a damaged hole (with it's dimensions changed) that was not caused by a pitch mark ( these can always be repaired) then you should, in the first instance try to inform the committee and have them fix it. If this is not possible then you can repair it yourself.

 

[rulefan]

3 you are on the green and there is damage to the hole , can you repair this before your group putts out or do you putt out then repair it or just leave it

There is a decision which covers this fully.

http://www.usga.org/Rule-Books/Rules-of-Golf/Decision-16/#d16-1a-6