stepping in someone's line,...

is it considered stepping someone's line if they are not on the green yet and they are chipping not even puttting,...?

I know it common golf courtesy to not step in someone's line but I never really got why people get so upset over it, because I figure the last foursome was probably tramping all over the green, surely they must have stepped in someones line along the way,...
whats the difference,...?

Of course it is.

Your line is your line, whatever kind of shot you are playing.

Whether it has any effect or not, doesn't really matter. Its just good manners, and shows respect to your fellow players.

Intent is also a big difference. The groups in front don't know its your line, your partners do.

Clipped & pasted from this URL .

Putting lines
On the green a golfer should be aware of many things. One of them is the putting line of each player. Every ball is connected to the cup by an imaginary line, the path the ball will (hopefully) travel into the cup. Walking, standing, or stepping on these lines creates footprints that can deflect the ball off its path toward the cup. Golfers should note each player's putting line, and avoid stepping on it as they play on the green. The through-line is the extension of the line beyond the hole. It is also considered good form to avoid stepping on another player's through-line since if the player misses their putt they will have to putt back along that line. A golfer should walk around the lines or step over them.
A second but related concern involves the hole itself. A golfer should avoid stepping within at least a one-foot radius of the hole. Golf instructor Dave Pelz, among others, has described a "doughnut effect" around the hole caused by players’ footsteps pressing down the ground around the cup, especially when a player goes to retrieve a ball. While subtle, these footsteps interfere with the path of the ball and can cause missed putts.
Thirdly, one should not stand on a line of sight, that is, in the line of sight either ahead or behind a player who is attempting to putt. Standing in this position puts you in the peripheral vision of your playing partner and for some this is very distracting. If you notice that you are standing in one of these positions you can discretely and quietly move to one side.

No, I don't consider it an issue to step in someones "line" if they are in the rough or somewhere else off the green. I still in general try to stay out of people way until they are on the green.

Sometimes it's hard to know where someone's line is if they are pretty far off a big breaking green. Who knows what line they are going to take? That said, it's courtesy so just be aware and do the best you can.

Also, greens compress and then slowly come back, so the last group tromping around over your line with have a much less influence on your roll than your fat partner who just ran across the green to answer his cell phone.

edit: Oh, and I don't get upset about it. I don't even mention it if someone steps on MY line - but I *do*mentioned it if someone steps or is going to step over someone else's line.

Nice ... I'm going to start stepping over my partners line on his 7-iron approach!

To take this a step further, how far is the "through line" when someone is putting? Should you just allow a couple of feet past the hole?

I try to give a little bit of room on that but it's a lot tougher when you are the first of four holing out. You either have to get in there and mark or finish and depending on where everyone is and their lines are it can make for an interesting greens dance. Personally I take the Nicklaus approach when it comes to my through line: Forget about the through line. The goal is the hole not the putt back.

I guess I have never seen a problem with just walking behind the person until they play their shot. That way you dont have to worry about it. If your furthest and putt first and dont sink it, I just try and be as careful as I can. Walk around people instead of in front trying to hop like their are land mines. Then pick a clean spot to walk to my ball.

I have to say that I would chuckle if someone yelled at me for stepping in their through line.

Do it quick, in case they play their shot!

problem was,... I was the only guy on the green, as I was walking up to mark my ball I realized I was getting the dirty look from my friend who was 20 feet off the green, he was looking at his line and back at me like I just stepped on his new Puppy,... (I wasn't near the cup) then he chipped it way past where I walked,... but sure enough, he complained, and this is a dude who fluffs every lie, everytime,...

^^^^^^
Sounds like he was just looking for a reason to complain to me. I wouldn't give it a second thought.

Sounds like you need new playing partners. First guys that only play par 3s, then guys that fluff every lie, and now the stink eye for walking on his line...