Dear Linda,
I would appreciate your comments with regard to repair of spike marks on the putting green.
I understand spike marks on the putting green are made by spikes (be it metallic or plastic) of the golfers' shoes, when they walk across the putting green. As per rule 16-1, the player is not allowed to repair spike marks.
I am not sure whether the 'spike' mark made by a ball marker with a short pin at the centre, after such ball marker is lifted from the putting green, has the same status of a spike mark made by a golf shoe. In other words, may the player concerned press down the 'spike' mark made by his ball marker, after having it lifted from the putting green? When it happens, such a 'spike' mark would be between the ball and the putter surface, which may affect how the ball would roll on the putting green.
Thank you and best regards,
Lou
Dear Lou,
A spike mark is a tuft of grass raised by the spike on the bottom of the shoe of a golfer who is careless about the way he walks on the putting green. A mark caused by the lifting of a ball-marker might cause similar damage. Both will be treated the same under the Rules.
If a player has raised a tuft of grass on his line prior to putting, whether with his spikes or in the process of lifting his ball-marker, he is not permitted to tamp it down. Any such repair should be done after he holes out as a consideration to following groups.
Players are only permitted to repair old hole plugs and ball marks. If a player repairs any other damage that might assist him in his play of the hole, he will incur a two-stroke penalty in stroke play or loss of hole in match play [Rule 16-1c].
Players who worsen their own line of putt are not permitted to fix the damage. If a player worsens another’s line of putt, that player is, of course, allowed to make repairs.
Linda
Copyright © 2011 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
