Dear Linda
What is your understanding of Reasonable Distance when it comes to Line of Play?
Last week I drew attention to a fellow competitor that he had perhaps improved his lie on his line of play. He was 20 yards from the green and I saw him repair a scuff mark between him and the pin. When I asked him about this, he said that he had made the scuff mark with his putter when he walked forward to test the degree of the slope and therefore was entitled to repair it. Subsequently I discovered that Decision 13-2/29 states: If a player worsens the lie of his ball, the area of his intended stance or swing, his line of play or a reasonable extension of that line beyond the hole, or the area in which he is to drop or place a ball, he is not entitled to restore that area to its original condition. If he does so, he is in breach of Rule 13-2 and incurs a penalty of loss of hole in match play or two strokes in stroke play.
The question then arose as to what is meant by a reasonable distance on either side of the intended direction. I suggested that perhaps a club length either side would be a good marker. He disagreed. How would you have ruled and what is your interpretation of a reasonable distance?
Kind regards
Lou Lou from Perth, Australia
Dear Lou Lou,
Line of Play is defined as the direction the player wishes his ball to take after a stroke, and includes a reasonable distance on both sides of that intended direction. “Reasonable” cannot be defined as “one club length.” It is assumed that golfers will use common sense in deciding what distance is reasonable.
If a player worsens his line of play, he is not permitted to restore it to its original condition. When your fellow competitor repaired the scuff mark on his line of play, he violated Rule 13-2. His penalty is two strokes (loss of hole in match play). Good etiquette would dictate that he repair the scuff mark after he completes play of the hole.
Linda
Copyright © 2011 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
