Hi Linda:
Always enjoy all the informative emails.
Yesterday, I was playing with a foursome [sic] and we were all on the same team.
We were on the green putting when one of the players smoothed out the hole, as
I complained about the edge. I told her that she couldn't do that until we all
putted out. From my understanding of the Rule, she could have done so after we
were all finished putting. If we were a 2-person team playing against another 2-person
team, I believe she could have fixed the hole, after she and I putted. But that
would have given them an advantage so I can't imagine most players would do
that anyway. Is there a penalty for fixing the hole, as I had stated above?
Thank you,
Lulu from Oceanside, California
Dear Lulu,
Yes. As long as the proper dimensions of the hole have not
been changed, the player must wait until everyone on her team has finished
putting before repairing minor damage to the hole. The hole is considered to be
on the player’s line of putt, and the player is not permitted to touch that
line (see Rule 16-1a for exceptions). All of the player’s partners who putt
after the repair will incur a two-stroke penalty for a breach of Rule 16-1a
[Decision 1-2/3.5]. If the player repairs the damage before she putts her own
ball, she will also incur a two-stroke penalty [Decision 16-1a/6].
If a player repairs the ragged edge of a hole after she
holes out but before her opponent or
fellow competitor putts, she is not penalized if her sole reason for doing
so is to care for the course. However, if she repairs the hole intending to
influence the movement of the other player’s ball, she incurs a two-stroke
penalty under Rule 1-2 [Decision 1-2/3.5]. In any case, there is no penalty to
the opponent or fellow competitor who has not yet putted.
It would be best to save all repair work until everyone has
holed out.
Linda
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