Dear Linda,
I have seen golfers put their putter in front of the ball and then behind it before putting. Why are they allowed to do this? Wouldn’t they be touching the line of putt?
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
I am delighted to see that you understand that you are not permitted to touch the line of putt. There are some exceptions to this prohibition, of course. You are allowed, for example, to remove loose impediments (leaves, twigs, etc.), although you must be careful that in doing so you do not press anything down. You may also touch the line when you perform any measurement, when you lift or replace a ball, when you press down a ball marker, and when you repair ball marks or old hole plugs [Rule 16-1a].
Some golfers, as you note in your question, are in the habit of placing their putters directly in front of the ball just prior to placing the putter behind the ball and then putting. This action is specifically permitted by Rule 16-1a/ii. However, the player must be careful not to press anything down in front of the ball, as that action is specifically prohibited and would incur a two-stroke penalty (loss of hole in match play).
While we’re on the topic of putting, I would like to remind everyone that while you may mark and lift your ball as many times as you wish on the putting green, you are never permitted to move your ball if its position has not first been marked. I occasionally note players who replace a ball on the green, remove their markers, and then rotate the ball to line up the trademark or some other marking on the ball with the hole. If you have not marked your ball and you rotate the ball and then return it to its original orientation, the penalty is one stroke. If you rotate the ball and proceed to putt, you will incur a two-stroke penalty (loss of hole in match play). Don’t misunderstand – you are permitted to rotate the ball, but you must have it marked when you do so [Decision 18-2a/33].
Linda
Copyright © 2009 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
