Hi Linda,
In our golf club players are notorious for walking or
standing on your line in order to complete their putting. Many of them do not
have the courtesy to ask permission to complete their play. They just go ahead
as if this is a right.
What is the Ruling on this?
Thank you.
Lou from Barbados
Dear Lou,
Walking on another player’s line of putt is poor etiquette.
There is no penalty. If the line of putt is damaged, the player is entitled to
repair the damage. If the damage cannot be repaired, the player may request
relief. Since a player is always entitled to the lie and line of putt he had
when his ball came to rest, relief should be granted [Decision 16-1a/13].
If this is a common occurrence on your course, someone (the
pro, perhaps) needs to take the initiative to explain to the members that
walking on another player’s line of putt is to be avoided. Players should not
complete their play of a hole if it would mean standing on another player’s
line of putt.
As a player, you need to point out when a player is standing
on your line (or is about to) and request that he move. If the player will need
to stand on your line to complete the hole, tell him that he will have to mark
his ball, and tell him why.
If there is a deliberate disregard of common golf courtesy,
your only hope is to request disciplinary action from the Committee. But I
believe that if you are persistent and polite with your requests, your fellow
competitors will learn to stay off your line of putt. And once they realize it
is improper, they will spread the news.
Linda
Copyright © 2015 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
