YOUR QUERIES RESOLVED

Just thought I’d canvas opinion on the following. A player plays a pitch shot into the green, creates a deep pitchmark and repairs it… but not very well, leaving it a bit uneven and bobbly. You then play into the green and the ‘repair’ is right on your line. If it has already been repaired, is it still a pitch-mark and are you able to smooth/repair it some more? I had a couple of instances yesterday and a nagging doubt made me leave them as was, just in case. backswoodsman, GM website forum

You can repair damage on the putting green without penalty by taking actions to restore the putting green to its original condition. Damage means any damage caused by a person or outside influence and includes spike marks and indents caused by a ball, equipment or the flagstick. Therefore, although the ball mark was not your pitch-mark, you can repair this to restore the putting green to its original condition – Rule 13.1. Shona Mcrae R&A assistant director – Rules

I had a discussion with another player who was about to take a practice putt after he had holed out. I informed him that I didn’t believe he was allowed to do that in a medal or Stableford, but could do so in match play. Who was right? Randg, GM website forum

Generally, you are not permitted to make a practice stroke between the play of two holes. However, the exception is putting or chipping on or near the putting green of the hole just completed, or on or near the teeing area of the next hole. Provided you do not unreasonably delay play, practice putting after completing the hole would be permissible under Rule 5.5 in both match play and stroke play. However, the Committee can adopt a Local Rule to prohibit this, so it is worth checking first. Shona Mcrae R&A assistant director Ð Rules