Linda, I played my second shot into the green, hit about two feet
on and spun back about three feet onto the fringe off the putting surface
leaving a LARGE ball mark directly in my line to the hole about fifteen feet
away. I didn't think that I could fix it and chipped over it but my opponents
claimed that I could have. Your ruling? Also what would the ruling be if both
ball and ball mark were in the fringe? Thanks.
Lou from Illinois
Dear Lou,
Your opponents were correct, Lou. A player is always
entitled to fix a ball mark on the putting green, regardless of where his ball
lies [Rule 16-1c].
A ball mark off the green is another story. A player is not
permitted to improve his lie, area of intended stance or swing, or line of play
by eliminating an irregularity of surface [Rule 13-2]. The penalty for fixing a
ball mark off the green is two strokes (loss of hole in match play).*
That is not to say that you shouldn’t fix ball marks,
divots, and other damage off the putting green. There is no penalty if you fix
them after your shot, and it would
be a courtesy to the players following you.
Linda
Copyright © 2014 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
*There is an exception to this Rule: The player may repair a ball mark that has been made after his ball came to rest. So if your ball is lying on the fringe, and another player's ball subsequently makes a ball mark on the fringe in front of your ball, you may repair it before you hit. A player is always entitled to the lie his shot gave him.
*There is an exception to this Rule: The player may repair a ball mark that has been made after his ball came to rest. So if your ball is lying on the fringe, and another player's ball subsequently makes a ball mark on the fringe in front of your ball, you may repair it before you hit. A player is always entitled to the lie his shot gave him.
