Hi
Linda,
I've
been hunting for the answer to (a highly debated) question that came up today.
I fixed a dent in the hole (cup) that was obviously damaged by a flagstick. It
was from previous players. The dent was straight in my putting line. In reading
one of your articles you cited rule 16-1a/13. I can't locate it in my 2012-2015
Rules of Golf.
I
know that one can repair a cup damaged by a ball, but I have to know
specifically about flagstick damage.
Lulu from Austin,
Texas
Dear
Lulu,
16-1a/13
is a Decision, not a Rule. You will find it in the Decisions on the Rules of
Golf book, which can be accessed online at usga.org. (Click on the drop down
menu for Rules on the far left, then click on Rules and Decisions.)
Decision
16-1a/13 explains that if another player in your group damages your line of
putt after your ball has settled on the green, you may repair it. This is
because you are always entitled to the lie and line of putt that you had when
your ball came to rest.
This is
not the case in the situation you describe. The damage to the hole was caused
by previous players (who should have fixed the damage before they left the
green!). The damage was already there when your ball came to rest on the green.
You are not entitled to fix it.
The
penalty for fixing the damage is two strokes (loss of hole in match play). By
fixing damage on your line of putt you have breached Rule 16-1a, which
prohibits touching the line of putt.
Linda
Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
