Conference 7.286::golf

    
    I don't think pro's can fix spike marks. I believe the reasoning behind
    it is that golf is supposed to be the "gentleman's game" and if you
    make a spike mark or drag your feet on the green, you should fix it.
    Ahhh...to live in a perfect world.
    I have no problem with people fixing them in a friendly match.
    
    Joe

    
    Pros cann't fix them either. I heard part of the reasoning behind
    the ruling is that it would slow play down even more if players
    were allowed to fix all the spike marks in their path...
    
    You can fix them when you are done, so the next guy doesn't have
    the same problem though... :-{
    
    I don't agree, I think you should be able to fix them, but thems
    tha rules...
    
    Gene

    I think the rule exists because they don't want people touching the
    line of the putt, matting down the line right to the hole.
    
    peter

    re: .3
    
    ya, wouldn't that be great on those early morn rounds if you could
    matt the line down and plow a track through the heavy dew....
    
    of course the rules don't allow it so I use my driver to put when
    it's like that... ;^)

    
    It occurs to me that you can repair ball marks, (those nasty little
    round pock marks that golfing morons don't know to repair), and then
    pat down the area you have just fixed. If some of the spike marks get in
    the path of your fix, you are ok.
    
     great white north golf fanatic

    
    re .5
    
    You are walking a thin line here, personally I let people smooth 
    spike marks, don't matter to me, but then again I believe that 
    you should follow a "spirit to the rules" not the rule to the letter.
    What I mean is, there are rules that were meant to stop certain 
    behaviour, but as a side effect they hurt other things, some things
    that should not occur, yet do, like having your ball land in 
    a bunker that was unraked, and this clearly makes the shot much 
    harder, I will let league opponents rake and drop the ball.  At this
    level it really does not make that much difference.
    
    But back to .5, keep in mind if you do this you are walking a thin 
    line and potentially could be called for it.
    
    --Bob
    

    re .6
    
    Keep in mind here I was only trying to point out that this was a one
    instance where you could probably 'tap' down the putting surface, not a
    way around the rules. 
    
    I believe those goofs who do not rake traps,
    repair ball marks and the like should be penalized... maybe as far as
    taking away playing privileges...:^)
    
    great white north golf fanatic
    

    Ask your opponent first. Most people will let you tap them down.
    Some who follow the "letter of the law" will not. Watch those few
    and call EVERYTHING you see them do. They'll get the message.
    
    At my home course, the average age is about 68. Many of the old timers
    scuff their feet for one reason or another. The local club rule is
    fix the spike marks.
    
    I agree with a response a few ago about morons who do not rake traps,
    fix ball marks and litter. When I'm done with a round, I've fixed MANY
    MANY ball marks, scuff marks, raked a trap that was in dire need of it
    and picked up enough trash to fill a barrel. I can't stand slobs who
    don't take care of a course. Especially one that needs taking care of !
    
    Oh well..
    
    Jim

    To my knowledge, Pros are permitted to repair spike marks on the
    green while we amateurs are not allowed to do so (except, as in
    my local club - Divonne ,near Geneva - we have have a local rule
    which permits this).
    
    In all other cases, amateurs cannot repair spike marks - so make
    sure that you repair yours once you have holed out.

    
    Now Pros have different rules...! ;-) I think you will find that
    they can NOT tap down spike marks... We all can tap them down after
    we are done with a hole to help other players that will be playing
    the hole though...
    
    Regards
    Gene

    
    Below are the things which may be repaired, but my book says SPIKE
    MARKS may not be repaired.  No exceptions.
    
TOUCHING THE LINE OF PUTT

The line of putt must not be touched except:

o	the player may move sand, loose soil and other loose impediments
	by picking them up or by brushing them aside with his hands
	or a club without pressing anything down;
o	in addressing the ball, the player may place the club in front of
	the ball without pressing anything down;
o	in measuring - rule 10-4
o	in lifting the ball - rule 16-1b
o	in repairing old hole plugs or ball marks - rule 16-1c;
o	in removing movable obstructions - rule 24-1
o	indicating line for putting on putting green - rule 8-2b

    
    Of course, you may/should repair them after you've holed out!
    

>    Now Pros have different rules...! ;-) I think you will find that
>    they can NOT tap down spike marks... 

     I believe you are are correct Gene.  You often see pro going back and
     tapping down "Christmas trees" (spike marks) that had bothered them
     after they've holed out.

     The rules of golf aren't consistent from club to club.  Every club has
     their own local rules!  The PGA has a routine set of local rules.  However
     I haven't see an authoritative list.  I know that it has caused problems
     when pro go to events run by the USGA or R&A and assume the local rule
     is in effect, but much to their chagrin it is not!

     Larry

RE: .11
    
    dwight,
        
>    Below are the things which may be repaired, but my book says SPIKE
>    MARKS may not be repaired.  No exceptions.
    
>TOUCHING THE LINE OF PUTT

>The line of putt must not be touched except:

>o	the player may move sand, loose soil and other loose impediments
>	by picking them up or by brushing them aside with his hands
>	or a club without pressing anything down;
>o	in addressing the ball, the player may place the club in front of
>	the ball without pressing anything down;
>o	in measuring - rule 10-4
>o	in lifting the ball - rule 16-1b
>o	in repairing old hole plugs or ball marks - rule 16-1c;
>o	in removing movable obstructions - rule 24-1
>o	indicating line for putting on putting green - rule 8-2b
        ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
    
    	In your wording of your note your last line would lead one
    	to believe that it is ok to taouch the gren to indicate the
    	line of a putt...! This would be incorrect...!
    
    	Rule 8-2b reads as follows...
    
    	When the player's ball is on the putting green, the player,
    	his partner or either of their caddies may, before but not
    	during the stroke, point out a line for putting, but in so
    	doing the putting green shall NOT be touched. No mark shall
    	be placed anywhere to indicate a line for putting...

    -1
    
    ... but the player may rest his putter in front of his ball in lining
    his putt and then make his stroke.  Hence, he can touch his line in
    this way.
    
    -dwight

    
    RE: .15
    
    -dwight,
    
    A player may place the putter in front of the ball when addressing it,
    but in so doing may NOT press anything down...
    
    
    Regards
    Gene

    So touching the line by lining the putt, putting the putter in front of
    the ball, is obviously not the same as pressing anything down.
    
    -dwight