Today we finished our front 9 in good time. Unfortunately we then had to wait for 2 groups of 4 starting off the 10th.

We had about 20 minutes to spare & I wanted to have a few putts on the practise green. One of the blokes said it wasn’t a good idea as I could be disqualified from the comp.

I didn’t end up practising. I had a quick look in the R&A rule book, but only found rulings on practising on the course before & between comp rounds.

Can anyone please advise what the rulings are regarding the practise greens during rounds? Thanks…

Ru;e 7-2 allows you to do this providing you don’t delay play and the Committee has not made a conditions of a competition (see Note 2) to prohibit you doing so.

I’ll be amazed if you can be DQ’d.
Yes you cant practice on the course, but how many pros hand in their card and then go practice before a possible playoff?

Maybe the playoff is regarded as a new round??

Just on this I think when a comp is finished at pro level I reckon its a tad unfair that a player can go and practice then enter the playoff if the other player hasn’t had the same oppurtunity..often I have seen the other player putt out on 18 – sign the card then rushed off back to the 18 tee box….he hasnt had a chance to calm down – hit a few putts and take a breath

love to see the stats on who has won playoffs more the guy who is in the clubhouse lead or the guy finishing later – would be interesting to see that stat (if there is such a one)

you could argue the guy who is still warm has the advantage over the guy hitting chips and putts

my arguement would

on the local comp rule – Im not 100% sure but someone here will know.

I’ll be amazed if you can be DQ’d.
Yes you cant practice on the course, but how many pros hand in their card and then go practice before a possible playoff?

Maybe the playoff is regarded as a new round??

…..

not that this has anything to do with the OP’s question but yes the playoff will constitute another round and they will be able to practice – obviously this will be in the practice area not on on the course proper. This is covered in part by Rule 7-1.

The OPs question was about during the round which as I said is allowed by Rule 7-2

You need to read Rule 7-2 carefully.
Between the play of 2 holes, a player may not make a practice stroke except for a. b. or c.
b. is “any practice putting green”.

Those exceptions are the only ones permitted.

So, McSlice, it was ok to practise there.

You need to read Rule 7-2 carefully.
Between the play of 2 holes, a player may not make a practice stroke except for a. b. or c.
b. is “any practice putting green”.

Those exceptions are the only ones permitted.

So, McSlice, it was ok to practise there.

OldBogey

GolfLink

OlindaGolfClub

......and also depends upon the format of the days play.

I understand you can practise on the course prior to a comp, IF IT IS MATCH PLAY. Rule 7-1 (a) refers.

Thanks for the advice everyone.

I suppose if there’s ever any uncertainty in the future, one could always ask the course pro or staff first, before going ahead & doing it…

Your playing partner also breached a rule => “the annoying playing partner who sprouts off B.S. & confuses everyone else” rule. Penalty: immediate banishment or a kick to the cods.

Your playing partner also breached a rule => “the annoying playing partner who sprouts off B.S. & confuses everyone else” rule. Penalty: immediate banishment or a kick to the cods.

Starting to worry here TTR as I agree 100%.

Your playing partner also breached a rule => “the annoying playing partner who sprouts off B.S. & confuses everyone else” rule. Penalty: immediate banishment or a kick to the cods.

Starting to worry here TTR as I agree 100%.

I’ll try & stop it in future. ;) The OP’s situation reminded me of a personal experience when I marked my ball with a small tee on the putting green during a comp round. The beer bellied yobbo who I was (unfortunately) paired up with sprouted out, “you know at some clubs they consider that to be testing the green”. Of course, it was a load of codswallop & not in breach of the rules of golf but it was enough to unnecessarily divert my thoughts for a couple of holes. Wanker.

Never understood why anyone uses a tee to be honest.
And yes it should be regarded as testing the green.

But you can get a similar feel from just walking across it “gee this one feels firm” But I’d think using a tee on consecutive greens would confirm it wouldn’t it?

They’re easier to find in a pocket than a ball marker : ) I use a tee if it isn’t in anyone’s line.

I consider it a service to the club that I help aerate the greens.

Interesting. I’d wondered if it was laziness or I needed to buy them a marker.
I’ve played with people from here who do it. I can’t remember who, it doesn’t stress me that much !

I can honestly say I have never used a tee. Not once.

These days I have a magnetic marker, and it sticks to my pitch repairer every time I throw it in my pocket.

Good use of a pitch repairer because it doesn’t get used for it’s designed application :)

Of course it’s laziness; thats why I use a tee to repair pitch marks as well : )

Interesting. I’d wondered if it was laziness or I needed to buy them a marker.

…..

Perhaps option 3 → while fishing around in pocket for errant ball marker, finds tee.

But I am happy for you to exercise option 2 in my favour. ;)

lol. any time.

Your playing partner also breached a rule => “the annoying playing partner who sprouts off B.S. & confuses everyone else” rule. Penalty: immediate banishment or a kick to the cods.

Starting to worry here TTR as I agree 100%.

I’ll try & stop it in future. ;) The OP’s situation reminded me of a personal experience when I marked my ball with a small tee on the putting green during a comp round. The beer bellied yobbo who I was (unfortunately) paired up with sprouted out, “you know at some clubs they consider that to be testing the green”. Of course, it was a load of codswallop & not in breach of the rules of golf but it was enough to unnecessarily divert my thoughts for a couple of holes. Wanker.

You should have accused him of testing the green when he repaired his next pitch mark.

Thats a different ball game though isn’t it Libba? You can repair the course any time you like.

Glad I don’t rely on interpretations like that. Thanks R&A.

Never understood why anyone uses a tee to be honest.
And yes it should be regarded as testing the green.

But you can get a similar feel from just walking across it “gee this one feels firm” But I’d think using a tee on consecutive greens would confirm it wouldn’t it?

…..

v_c, it’s no more testing the green than taking your stance in a bunker is testing that.

You can’t repair the course at any time. If you replace a divot in the fairway then stand on it to play your shot, you have built your stance and it’s a two stroke penalty. You can replace it after you’ve played. On the green, you may only repair pitch marks before you’ve holed out. Then you can fix anything else.

Straight from the R&A app on my iPad re: testing the surface.

”d. Testing Surface

Exception: Between the play of two holes, a player may test the surface of any practice putting green and the putting green of the hole last played, unless the Committee has prohibited such action (see Note 2 to Rule 7-2).”

No mention of inserting a tee…

Straight from the R&A app on my iPad re: testing the surface.

”d. Testing Surface

During the stipulated round, a player must not test the surface of any putting green by rolling a ball or roughening or scraping the surface.

Exception: Between the play of two holes, a player may test the surface of any practice putting green and the putting green of the hole last played, unless the Committee has prohibited such action (see Note 2 to Rule 7-2).”

No mention of inserting a tee…

“If your not improving, your going backwards.”

... and in the section at the early part of the rules it talks about marking the ball. No prohibition on the use of a tee.

That said, 99.9% of the time I use a flat coin style marker.

Yeah me too, I actually use a piece of stainless rod I worked up on the lathe, sized between a 10c and 20c coin but flatter and polished… Still, when I can’t find it I use a tee…