Your Queries Answered
A group of us had a discussion recently about a Rules query which we couldn’t resolve. Watching golf on the TV, when players are on the green, great care is taken not to stand or walk on the line of another player’s putt.
We can find nothing in the Rules that says you cannot walk on the line of someone else’s putt. We assume it is a matter of etiquette, unless walking on the line of a putt might deliberately affect the putt. My interpretation is that when golfers wore spiked shoes and spike marks couldn’t be repaired, then that might have been a reason. But nowadays, with soft spikes or no spikes, does it really matter that much?
John Baker, Somerset
Under the previous Rules, you are correct that the etiquette section stated: “On the putting green, players should not stand on another player’s line of putt.”
This was merged into Rule 1.2 in the 2019 Rules, which covers the conduct expected of all players when playing golf. Under this Rule, all players are expected to play in the spirit of the game by showing consideration to others, which includes not doing anything to distract the play of another player and taking good care of the course by not causing unnecessary damage.
Although there is no penalty under the Rules for failing to act in this way, it is still an important aspect of the way the game is played, and the Committee may disqualify a player for acting contrary to the spirit of the game.
Chris Wallace, R&A Rules manager
On one of the holes at my home club there is a red penalty area marked out around a pond, with part of the grass bank surrounding the pond also within the red penalty area lines. My ball recently came to rest on that grass bank within the penalty area, with some leaves and twigs close to the ball. I thought I could now remove these loose impediments just as you can elsewhere on the course, but my playing companion insisted that I couldn’t touch them in a penalty area. Who was correct?
Hilary Macdonald, Cornwall
There are no longer any special restrictions when a ball is in a penalty area and you are correct that there is no penalty if you touch or move loose impediments (such as leaves, stones and sticks).
The same Rules apply to a ball in the general area, and just as when your ball lies in the rough or on the fairway, there is no restriction on touching the ground (or water) with your hand or club, or taking practice swings in a penalty area (see Rule 17.1b). Chris Wallace, R&A Rules manager