Walking on my own line. Penalty?

[Augster]

Well this happened today....

 

Had about a 30 foot putt. Looked at it from behind for one second, saw it was going to break left to right, but I didn’t read it as there were more than a few leaves between me and the hole.

 

I walked well to the left of the line I thought I might take to walk up and remove the leaves. I walked back to the ball on the low side.

 

When I got back and read the putt, it turns out there was a large bank I’d have to putt across, way left of the hole. My line was actually along my foot print line as it was soft and dewey and I could see all my prints.

 

Is there a penalty? I only walked there to remove loose impediments and I felt, at the time, I was walking well outside my line. Turns out I wasn’t.

 

Thanks.

 

And a follow up....

 

Can I smooth those footprints? If a careless FC were to do that walk, and leave those prints, I would assume I’d be entitled to the original conditions I had when my ball came to rest. If that is the case, does it change because the footprints were made by my own feet?

 

Thanks!

[rogolf]

Rule 16-1a(i) excuses you from touching your line of putt when removing loose impediments.

Decision 16-1a/13 says that you may have the green restored to its original condition if an opponent, fellow-competitor or their caddies caused the damage.

There is nothing in the Rules that permits you to restore the damage (footprints) that you caused.

[gretch]

I'd like to know how exactly one would go about smoothing out footprints from yourself or anyone else without a roller or greens mower, and even then to think that those footprints would be much more of a temporary imperfection than the edges of said roller, or greens mowers tires?

[Augster]

Thanks! I thought that’d be the case.

 

For the footprints and smoothing, on greens like this, very soft, you can tap down the edges of the footprint with your putter. That way the ball will roll down, then roll up and out of the print instead of falling down and hitting the hard edge at the other end of the print and popping in the air.

 

I figured I was okay, Rules-wise, as I was going to pick up LI’s. Not surprisingly, the putt came up woefully short as it popped in and popped out of each print along the way. Never had a chance. :)

[Cwebb]

I'm just glad you didn't do this in the dew, in someone else's line :nono:

[Sawgrass]

Do you typically pick up LIs on the green which you don't think are on your line?

[deadsolid...shank]

Do you typically pick up LIs on the green which you don't think are on your line?

 

We do, we have a lot of those bean pods on some of our greens. We’ll all clean them off each others lines when we’re nearby. Are we committing an infraction of some sort?

[rogolf]

Do you typically pick up LIs on the green which you don't think are on your line?

 

We do, we have a lot of those bean pods on some of our greens. We’ll all clean them off each others lines when we’re nearby. Are we committing an infraction of some sort?

 

You mean you're just "caring for the course"?

[deadsolid...shank]

Do you typically pick up LIs on the green which you don't think are on your line?

 

We do, we have a lot of those bean pods on some of our greens. We’ll all clean them off each others lines when we’re nearby. Are we committing an infraction of some sort?

 

You mean you're just "caring for the course"?

 

Overall yes, but we’re also clearing putting lines for anyone. If we happen to be next to the line, between him and the cup, we’ll clear stuff away. It’s just quicker that way as opposed to each guy walking the length of his putt doing it.

[Sawgrass]

Do you typically pick up LIs on the green which you don't think are on your line?

 

We do, we have a lot of those bean pods on some of our greens. We’ll all clean them off each others lines when we’re nearby. Are we committing an infraction of some sort?

No, no infraction. You are permitted to pick up LIs whether they are on your line or not. (And I'm posting an additional, generally reassuring, Decision below.)

 

The reason I brought the question up was that some people might feel they benefit from the presence of LIs, either as targets or even backstops. All depends on your orientation to the hole (and your attitude). Of course, if someone picks up something that you wish was left there, you may replace it.

 

16-1a/12

 

Player Walks on Line of Putt

 

Q.A player walked on his line of putt. Did he incur a penalty for a breach of Rule 16-1a?

 

A.Yes, if he did so intentionally. No, if he did so accidentally and the act did not improve the line.

[Swisstrader98]

Do you typically pick up LIs on the green which you don't think are on your line?

 

We do, we have a lot of those bean pods on some of our greens. We’ll all clean them off each others lines when we’re nearby. Are we committing an infraction of some sort?

No, no infraction. You are permitted to pick up LIs whether they are on your line or not. (And I'm posting an additional, generally reassuring, Decision below.)

 

The reason I brought the question up was that some people might feel they benefit from the presence of LIs, either as targets or even backstops. All depends on your orientation to the hole (and your attitude). Of course, if someone picks up something that you wish was left there, you may replace it.

 

16-1a/12

 

 

Player Walks on Line of Putt

 

 

Q.A player walked on his line of putt. Did he incur a penalty for a breach of Rule 16-1a?

 

A.Yes, if he did so intentionally. No, if he did so accidentally and the act did not improve the line.

 

Have never heard of someone using a LI as a backstop on the putting green?

 

Yes, for sand shots or chipping from off the green, but on the putting green. Nah!

[Sawgrass]

Do you typically pick up LIs on the green which you don't think are on your line?

 

We do, we have a lot of those bean pods on some of our greens. We’ll all clean them off each others lines when we’re nearby. Are we committing an infraction of some sort?

No, no infraction. You are permitted to pick up LIs whether they are on your line or not. (And I'm posting an additional, generally reassuring, Decision below.)

 

The reason I brought the question up was that some people might feel they benefit from the presence of LIs, either as targets or even backstops. All depends on your orientation to the hole (and your attitude). Of course, if someone picks up something that you wish was left there, you may replace it.

 

16-1a/12

 

 

Player Walks on Line of Putt

 

 

Q.A player walked on his line of putt. Did he incur a penalty for a breach of Rule 16-1a?

 

A.Yes, if he did so intentionally. No, if he did so accidentally and the act did not improve the line.

 

Have never heard of someone using a LI as a backstop on the putting green?

 

Yes, for sand shots or chipping from off the green, but on the putting green. Nah!

If there was a stick lying on the ground just past the hole, would you pick it up before putting?

[Swisstrader98]

Do you typically pick up LIs on the green which you don't think are on your line?

 

We do, we have a lot of those bean pods on some of our greens. We’ll all clean them off each others lines when we’re nearby. Are we committing an infraction of some sort?

No, no infraction. You are permitted to pick up LIs whether they are on your line or not. (And I'm posting an additional, generally reassuring, Decision below.)

 

The reason I brought the question up was that some people might feel they benefit from the presence of LIs, either as targets or even backstops. All depends on your orientation to the hole (and your attitude). Of course, if someone picks up something that you wish was left there, you may replace it.

 

16-1a/12

 

 

Player Walks on Line of Putt

 

 

Q.A player walked on his line of putt. Did he incur a penalty for a breach of Rule 16-1a?

 

A.Yes, if he did so intentionally. No, if he did so accidentally and the act did not improve the line.

 

Have never heard of someone using a LI as a backstop on the putting green?

 

Yes, for sand shots or chipping from off the green, but on the putting green. Nah!

If there was a stick lying on the ground just past the hole, would you pick it up before putting?

 

My focus is on the hole...not a stick that lies past the hole that could potentially be in my line.

[Sawgrass]

 

 

We do, we have a lot of those bean pods on some of our greens. We’ll all clean them off each others lines when we’re nearby. Are we committing an infraction of some sort?

No, no infraction. You are permitted to pick up LIs whether they are on your line or not. (And I'm posting an additional, generally reassuring, Decision below.)

 

The reason I brought the question up was that some people might feel they benefit from the presence of LIs, either as targets or even backstops. All depends on your orientation to the hole (and your attitude). Of course, if someone picks up something that you wish was left there, you may replace it.

 

16-1a/12

 

 

Player Walks on Line of Putt

 

 

Q.A player walked on his line of putt. Did he incur a penalty for a breach of Rule 16-1a?

 

A.Yes, if he did so intentionally. No, if he did so accidentally and the act did not improve the line.

 

Have never heard of someone using a LI as a backstop on the putting green?

 

Yes, for sand shots or chipping from off the green, but on the putting green. Nah!

If there was a stick lying on the ground just past the hole, would you pick it up before putting?

 

My focus is on the hole...not a stick that lies past the hole that could potentially be in my line.

I applaud your focus, but that doesn't answer my question. Would you typically pick up the stick?

[KCCO]

I'm glad someone posted actual rule (I couldn't imagine someone intentionally walking on someone else's line, but I've seen it all as "that guy" not playing well complains to a partner about someone's shadow 10 feet from his line, causing him frustration)

 

That being said, I was just always brought up as one of the 1st rules of poor etiquette crossing/stepping on someone else's putting line. I just stay away, surveying green from off green until my shot, and pay attention to others markers/line when my time comes to putt

[QEight]

If there was a stick lying on the ground just past the hole, would you pick it up before putting?

 

My focus is on the hole...not a stick that lies past the hole that could potentially be in my line.

I applaud your focus, but that doesn't answer my question. Would you typically pick up the stick?

 

I am not swiss nor trader but I would most likely remove the stick. Even if it could help me, the stick would look "out of place". Call me stupid..

[Shilgy]

If there was a stick lying on the ground just past the hole, would you pick it up before putting?

 

My focus is on the hole...not a stick that lies past the hole that could potentially be in my line.

I applaud your focus, but that doesn't answer my question. Would you typically pick up the stick?

 

I am not swiss nor trader but I would most likely remove the stick. Even if it could help me, the stick would look "out of place". Call me stupid..

Hey Stupid...:) Call me the same because I am picking up the backstop as well.

[SnapHooker_307]

If there was a stick lying on the ground just past the hole, would you pick it up before putting?

 

My focus is on the hole...not a stick that lies past the hole that could potentially be in my line.

I applaud your focus, but that doesn't answer my question. Would you typically pick up the stick?

 

I am not swiss nor trader but I would most likely remove the stick. Even if it could help me, the stick would look "out of place". Call me stupid..

Hey Stupid... :) Call me the same because I am picking up the backstop as well.

 

I would most definitely pick up the stick, leaves, anything else on the green that we can reasonably remove without slowing down the pace, if it is backed up we usually grab anything that is between the hole and the cartpath. Usually on the weekends or tournament days they are in pretty good shape, but during the week they tend to get messy. I used to work maintenance at a golf course so I try to repair as many ball marks as possible too before moving on if time allows, seeing them all over the place drives me nuts. Our course used to have a bunch of people who would do this constantly, but in the last couple years the number of people leaving ball marks and sunflower seeds (the term to describe these individuals is not appropriate to post here) all over the place has turned putting into a mini golf style experience.

[Bush Pilot]

If there was a stick lying on the ground just past the hole, would you pick it up before putting?

 

I would (if it wasn't exactly perpendicular to my putting line). LOL

[Sawgrass]

For the record, I’d not only leave it behind the hole to potentially help me, I’d put it back before I putted if an opponent or fellow competitor tossed it away.

 

I play by the rules both when it hurts and when it helps.

[Newby]

I play by the rules both when it hurts and when it helps.

 

:fan_1: