Hi there, Linda. Hope you are doing well and enjoying the
summer and all this hot weather. Question: can you lay your putter
on the green to check out the slope of the green? Can't wait to see if we
agree. Take care, Lulu
Dear Lulu,
Hmmm… Rule 14-3 states that a player may not use any
equipment in an unusual manner for the purpose of measuring conditions that
might affect her play. (Exception: Using your putter as a plumb-line is
permitted – Decision 14-3/12.) Based on this information, I’m going to conclude
that a player may not place her putter on the green to check out the slope.
Take a look at Decision 14-3/12.5. In this Decision, a
player is penalized for placing a bottle of water on the green to gauge the
slope. She receives a two-stroke/loss of hole penalty because she has used
equipment in an unusual manner to help her in her play. However, a player may
place a bottle of water on the green if there is no intent to use it to gauge
the slope.
I believe the same ruling would be in effect for the putter.
Merely placing a putter on the green while you chip a ball from the fringe is
clearly permissible. Intentionally placing it to gauge the slope would
constitute unusual use of equipment, which is not permitted.
Everything boils down to intent.
Linda
Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
