Is it ok to repair pitch marks on the green after marking my ball and awaiting my turn to putt?
Basically doing what others should have and for good putting mojo ;)

yes…pitch marks (ball damage) can be repaired
other damage is off-limits (spike scuffs, for example)

Yes, anytime.

Other damage can be repaired after your group has holed out, provided you are not unduly delaying play.

Thanks guys. Good putting mojo here I come :)

Thanks guys. Good putting mojo here I come :)

www.challenge.org.au
’Get a Luke the Duck Merchandise to remind
yourself that you are golfing while Jarrod Lyle can’t’
VTTP #534
The “unofficial” millionth POST poster

Not only is it ok, it’s encouraged.

I play with guys that go through three buckets of sand filling old divots, and repair a couple of pitch marks each green.

No hold ups, and are smiled on by the golf gods.

In the same vein,you often see professional golfers tapping down spike marks after they’ve putted, but with others in their group still waiting to putt out.I wonder will anyone ever be penalised for this?

yes…pitch marks (ball damage) can be repaired
other damage is off-limits (spike scuffs, for example)

http://www.golflink.com.au/...

But can you “repair” scuffs and spike marks that are well away from your line? I have always interpreted it as you can.

The phrase “not permitted if it might assist the player in the playing off the hole.”
I take that as anything not on my line is fair game to fix.

bushy. if you pat down a spike mark on a fellow competitors line you can be penalised. however repairs to any part of the green not affecting a players putting line or extension of line through the hole is quite OK

Pom I dont think you can, if you look at the wording of that rule in particular the part “if it might assist THE player in his subsequent play of the hole” There is no mention of touching other peoples lines, that is simply an etiquette issue.

c. Repair of Hole Plugs, Ball Marks and Other Damage
The player may repair an old hole plug or damage to the putting green caused by the impact of a ball, whether or not the player’s ball lies on the putting green. If a ball or ball-marker is accidentally moved in the process of the repair, the ball or ball-marker must be replaced. There is no penalty, provided the movement of the ball or ball-marker is directly attributable to the specific act of repairing an old hole plug or damage to the putting green caused by the impact of a ball. Otherwise, Rule 18 applies.
Any other damage to the putting green must not be repaired if it might assist the player in his subsequent play of the hole.

The “line of putt” is the line that THE player wishes his ball to take after a stroke on the putting green. Except with respect to Rule 16-1e, the line of putt includes a reasonable distance on either side of the intended line. The line of putt does not extend beyond the hole.

From this ambiguous rule I see no problem repairing everything outside your own line of putt on the proviso that there is no delay of play and that your etiquette is never compromised.

There is no mention of touching other peoples lines, that is simply an etiquette issue.”

See R 1-2 and D 1-2/0.7

actually, i have often wondered where this “through line” comes from.

i don’t believe it is a phrase from the Rules (happy to be corrected), so I assume it is a protocol/etiquette thing.

i do know the rule about standing on a putting line (to get a read from another players putt) is “or a reasonable extension of it” but i note the quote from the Rules says the line of putt does not extend beyond the hole.

Where does “through line” come from?

tks

This another unfair rule, that another player not being respectful can affect another’s game. One would assume that the condition of the green should be the same for all, from any position. It shits me when I have to putt over some scuffed spike marks or depressions created by another player who didn’t even have the thought of what he has done. Un raked bunkers shit me, and I play at one of Adelaide big four clubs, and you wouldn’t believe the amount of times I see this, and repair 4 pitch marks on most greens when I am having a late hit by myself.
I don’t think it is fair that others disrespectful actions can’t be cause for some form of relief.

How do you distinguish between problems created by other players and those made by outside agencies? eg kids invading the course, sheep or deer walking through bunkers.

Bushy my comment comes back to that phrase. assist in subsequent play of the hole.
To me that means that you cannot pat down spike marks etc on the green where that may assist a fellow competitor in the play of the hole.
Again to me that means anywhere on the line of his putt or the line through the hole should his initial putt miss the hole.
IMO anywhere else on the green may be repaired

Yeah I do agree but I guess that’s where interpretation comes into it. The wording is very ambiguous and there are no clear areas of delineation. Directly and obviously on someone’s line is a no go but, what is deemed as my line compared to someone else’s could be completely different. What if I’m a good putter and my line is 6 inches wide and 1 ft past the hole? My playing partner has a highway 6 feet wide he ‘aims’ down and could end up anywhere from 6 feet short to 20m past. Potentially the entire green is off limits until everyone has putted out if someone wants to be pedantic because potentially some corner of the green could be used in “subsequent” play of the hole. Luckily most people I know wouldn’t be so silly in their interpretation of the rule but I’m sure there are people out there who are.

The point is though that they would have to convince the Match Committee / Comp organizer before applying the penalty. But I agree it is down to interpretation, but then, many rules are.