I was playing stroke play in a tournament. Both of
us were "on the green". My ball was in the direct line of my
partner's 20-foot putting path. After marking my ball, she asked me to place
the marker to the side. So I measured a distance of two putter heads to
the left and moved my marker to the new spot. She putted within two feet of the
hole and asked to finish. After putting my ball, I realized I had placed
my ball immediately in front of my marker -- without first compensating for the
two putter heads I had moved it to the side. She insisted it was her
fault, and I should not be assessed any penalty.
Should I have incurred a penalty? One stroke or two?
By the time we got back to the clubhouse, we forgot to ask
for a clarification of the rule. Your response will help in any similar
situation in the future.
Thanks,
Lulu from
Dear Lulu,
It is your responsibility to remember that you have moved
your marker and must replace it before you putt. The penalty for putting from a
wrong place is two strokes.
Here’s a tip: When you are asked to move your marker on the
putting green, place the marker upside down. The upside-down marker will remind
you that you moved it and must move it back before you put your ball down.
Linda
Copyright © 2015 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
