Friday, May 9, 2014

Ask Linda #842-Mark assists player


Good morning:

I am looking for an answer to a question concerning golf rule under 8.2a.

Indicating Line of Play
• a. Other Than on Putting Green
Except on the putting green, a player may have the line of play indicated to him by anyone, but no one may be positioned by the player on or close to the line or an extension of the line beyond the hole while the stroke is being made. Any mark placed by the player or with his knowledge to indicate the line must be removed before the stroke is made.

The specific questions concerns the following situation:

• Golfer 1 is about to tee off. Golfer goes through pre-shot routine as follows:

– look at fairway and visualize shape of shot
– stand behind ball and determine line of flight
– approach ball from behind and scrape grass slightly to establish swing  path on take away

• Golfer 2 complains that this is a “mark,” thus violating the last sentence of 8.2.a.

Please comment.

Thanks.
Lou from Illinois

Dear Lou,

A player is not permitted to place anything behind the ball to help indicate his line of play [Decision 8-2a/2]. A mark on the grass behind the ball to guide the player’s swing would be a violation of Rule 8-2a. The penalty is two strokes (loss of hole in match play).

Linda
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