Standing In A Player's Eyeline

[Region3]

Players A & B's balls are on opposite sides of the flag. B is on the green and A is a couple of inches off it. A plays first but B is standing behind his own ball. A asks him to move because he is distracting him (but I guess he really means he doesn't want him to see the line the ball takes).
B says that he doesn't have to move because A is off the green.

My own view is that it doesn't need a rule because if someone asks me to move I will do it out of courtesy.

The only thing I can find in the rule book is this little bit in the etiquette section...

remember not to stand close to the ball, directly behind it, or directly behind the hole, when a player is about to swing

Is there anything in the rules about this, either for a fellow competitor or team mate?

 

[Doon frae Troon]

Just etiquette as far as I know.

I remember as a youngster playing in a tournament, we had one spectator follow us all the way round.
Every shot I hit off the fairway he stood about 30 yards directly behind me.
It was really annoying.

 

[Robobum]

It has to be in the rule book - Monty used to have the wording as "anywhere on the same continent"...........probably

 

[pbrown7582]

just etiquette i believe, i wouldnt expect to stand behind somebodys line wether its by my ball or not, just not the done thing.

 

[duncan mackie]

the wording in the etiquette section is clear, "Players should not stand close to or directly behind the ball, or directly behind the hole, when a player is about to play." and not restricted to on the green. There would only be a penalty for doing this if a player cosistently did this, and it would require the committee to act under 33-7.

however, I would suggest that if the player refused to move when requested to do so by a fellow competition then Rule 3-4 could come into play because etiquette is part of the rules, and the wording above is so clear. In matchplay I would consider an analogous ruling but with a penalty of loss of hole.

for team mates, partners etc you have 14-2b, but this only covers an extension of the line of putt away from the hole not in front. In this case it would be legal, and I'm presuming you aren't asking the question as to what happens if the player doesn't want his partner there (and the partner refuses to move!)

 

[ArnoldArmChewer]

Not sure about rules, but if asked the opponent should move. We played a Volvo doubles match one year, one of our opponents constantly took a position in my eyeline, I suffered it for two or three holes and then pointed it out to him, a brief exchange ensued, he moved and not a word more was said for the remaining holes, his handshake on the 20th (they lost) was perfunctory to say the least.

 

[garyinderry]

Just etiquette as far as I know.

I remember as a youngster playing in a tournament, we had one spectator follow us all the way round.
Every shot I hit off the fairway he stood about 30 yards directly behind me.
It was really annoying.

that really shouldnt bother you tbf !

 

[MadAdey]

that really shouldnt bother you tbf !

+1

What do you do on a Saturday morning, clear a 1 square mile area around the first tee incase someone is on your line the other side of the carpark?

 

[AmandaJR]

In one of my first ever (very nerve wracking) matches I was unfortunate to come up against a player who was never happy wherever I stood. Having been abruptly told (ordered) to move on every hole she came up to me on the 5th and I put my hand up and said "tell me where I can stand as it will be a whole lot quicker". She went red and backed off. Thing is though she was so annoying that if I see a player standing close to the opposite side of the hole I want to politely ask them to move but remember her and don't!

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Just etiquette as far as I know.

I remember as a youngster playing in a tournament, we had one spectator follow us all the way round.
Every shot I hit off the fairway he stood about 30 yards directly behind me.
It was really annoying.

30 yds behind you? I'm not sure I'd even notice

 

[pokerjoke]

For me as long as no-one is standing next to me when im about to play im happy.
I dont mind where they stand otherwise.
I suppose its good ettiquette,so if asked i will always move.
Have you ever played with someone who notices everything from,a bird singing,
a ball landing on the fairway behind him,someone whispering,someone rustling through
their bag,etc.
To me none of the above would bother me,but some players notice all things going on.
It was refreshing in the Ryder cup to see Bubba and Ian Poulter play their
shots whilst the crowd cheered,showed it can be done.

 

[Colin L]

Have you ever played with someone who notices everything from,a bird singing,
a ball landing on the fairway behind him,someone whispering,someone rustling through
their bag,etc.

Like P G Wodehouse's character, Mitchell Holmes, such a highly sensitive golfer that

the least thing upset him on the links. He missed short putts because of the uproar of the butterflies in the adjoining meadows.

 

[AmandaJR]

Players are often amazed that I haven't heard a noise through my swing and been put off by it. Benefits of playing on a course that welcomes societies and Pay n Players with their beer cans! What really disrupts my concentration is the rustle of HID's waterproof trousers as he walks across the green as I'm putting - boy has he been told off more than once for that!

 

[Region3]

Within reason I don't mind where people stand, as long as they're still. If I think they might move I'm almost watching them out of the corner of my eye waiting for it to happen, not concentrating on my shot.

Sort of the same with sounds. If someone talks I notice and think about it, but if a train goes by I hardly notice.

Im surprised at a lot of replies saying they wouldn't mind where an opponent stands, ie watching the line, but when a question comes around about 4BBB, they would give a putt to an opponent that can't affect the hole so that their partner can't get a read on the line.

 

[Region3]

Thanks for all the replies. I could have sworn that there was at least something to prevent a partner standing behind the line in a better ball comp, if not an opponent.

I even thought team mates couldn't stand behind the line of a putt in a scramble, but now I know better, thank you.

 

[rulefan]

Thanks for all the replies. I could have sworn that there was at least something to prevent a partner standing behind the line in a better ball comp, if not an opponent.

I even thought team mates couldn't stand behind the line of a putt in a scramble, but now I know better, thank you.

Rule 14-2b mentioned above covers it. Although scrambles are not recognised in the rules of golf, a team mate in a scramble would be considered to be a partner in the same side.

http://www.usga.org/Rule-Books/Rules-of-Golf/Rule-14/#14-2

 

[duncan mackie]

Thanks for all the replies. I could have sworn that there was at least something to prevent a partner standing behind the line in a better ball comp, if not an opponent.

I even thought team mates couldn't stand behind the line of a putt in a scramble, but now I know better, thank you.

maybe I should have worded this (for team mates, partners etc you have 14-2b, but this only covers an extension of the line of putt away from the hole not in front) better

the other side of the hole is fine, as in the original question

behind the player on an extension of the line of putt is a breach of 14-2b. If you take into account 30-3f an 31-8, basically everyone involved would get 2 shot penalty, or in matchplay, the side would loose the hole.

 

[daymond]

I have a thing about anyone playing with me standing behind me. A bit odd but I seem to have the feeling that I will hit them or their equipment on the back swing.

 

[louise_a]

As long as they are standing still and not interferring with my swing/shot, people can stand where they like, it doesnt bother me.

 

[Region3]

As long as they are standing still and not interferring with my swing/shot, people can stand where they like, it doesnt bother me.

Would it bother you if they were only standing there so they could see the break on your ball so they had a better chance of making their putt?