Putting Question

[dolfinack]

Its a judgement call but its best not to touch the line of putt at all if it can be avoided, even if you think you are a few inches outside.

If I was in charge of the R&A; I would propose an amendment to the ruling to allow tapping down of spikemarks within two feet of the hole. Rarely does a ball get deflected from its line outside this distance (unless its a particularly evil spikemark) because its speed is sufficient for it to be maintained. However around the hole where the ball is supposed to be travelling slowly, the ball can be seen to move off at a rather alarming tangent!!

This said I do indeed realise that telly golfers could do with being chased with a cattle prod to prevent the current glacier pace at which they play and this little rule change adds a few seconds on to each hole. Still, I think it might improve the golfing experience enough to warrant this.

Thoughts?

[rustyredcab]

I've been behind some heavy footed golfers in my day... I tamp a lot down that is not in my line and more as I am leaving. I have played for years with a guy who sometimes gets excited when putting and does this slide move to encourage the ball into the hole (I call it "the Jimmy"). He twists his feet and scratches up the green something awful. I point it out to him every time he does it (he apologizes and does not seem to be able to stop himself) and then I repair all his fresh spike marks. He's getting better, but come on. Why should the poor slob behind us suffer from "the Jimmy?"

Like some other rules, not being able to tamp down a spike mark seems a bit random and seems to gives advantage to the lucky and to those with tee times in front of the heavy spike guys. Seems to me to be a bit outside the spirit of the game -- IMO.

I'm no scientist, but it also seems that the impact of a spike mark is enhanced as the greens get faster, And greens all over are getting faster. So, it seems to me that the advantage disparity will keep increasing if later groups can not fix spike marks.

[zeg]

Originally Posted by rustyredcab

not being able to tamp down a spike mark [...] seems to gives advantage to the lucky and to those with tee times in front of the heavy spike guys. Seems to me to be a bit outside the spirit of the game -- IMO.

Everyone is equally likely to get good luck.  It's not fair to call that an "advantage."  The spirit of the game is to play the ball as it lies.

And you really don't want ot go down this road. Luck is often a factor in much more significant ways than a spike mark on your line---I'd wager that an awful lot more strokes are saved when sliced tee shots ricochet off trees back into the fairway than are lost due to imperfections on the putting green.

[awj888]

i would read it as nothing should go in the line of the put, but it you wanted to place a putter next to it, dont see why not!