Ask Linda #29 - repairing damage to hole

Good morning Linda:
I have a question that occurred at the ladies’ Amateur Championship.
All three ladies are on the green to putt. One gal was tending the pin for a gal to putt. Now it is my turn to putt and the gal that was tending the pin took it out of the hole. As she took it out she made a dent in the back of the cup with the pin. Question, can she fix it? Did I have to putt with that dent in the hole?
Lulu

Dear Lulu,

Your line of putt includes the hole. You are entitled to the lie and line of putt you had when your ball came to rest. You (or anyone) may fix the damage to the hole prior to putting. If someone were to accidentally step on your line of putt and damage it, you may fix that too (Decision 16-1a/13).

Linda

I sent out my response to Lulu, and she had a follow-up question:

Linda, one other thought. If the cup is damaged prior to anyone getting on the green, can it be fixed before or during the putting?

Lulu, if the damage is from a ball mark, you may repair it. If the dimensions of the hole have not been changed, you should leave things as they are and report the damage to the club. If the dimensions of the hole have changed, and no club official is readily available to repair it, then you may repair the damage (Decision 16-1a/6).

Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.