Questions from week #214

Concerning where the player may position other people when making a stroke, decide True or False for the following four statements:

A. I am making a chip from off the green, I can position anyone on my line of play beyond the hole when making the stroke.

B. I am putting from on the green. While I make the stroke, I can have someone point out the line of putt provided they do not touch the surface of the green.

C. I have a tight shot through the trees. My partner’s caddie may stand behind me on an extension of my intended line through the trees while I attempt the shot.

D. Only in foursomes play, where we are playing one ball (in alternate shot format), may I allow my partner to watch me putt from behind on an extension of my line.

Answers

A. False. R8-2a. When not on the green, the player must not position anyone on or close to the line of play, or an extension of the line of play beyond the hole while the stroke is being made.

B. False. R8-2b. When the player’s ball is on the putting green, the player’s partner or either of their caddies may, before but not during a stroke, point out a line for putting, but must not touch the green when doing so. NOTE: When the player’s ball is off the green, there is no prohibition against touching the putting green when pointing out the line of play. R8-2a.

C. False. R14-2b. The player must not make a stroke with his caddie, his partner, or his partner’s caddie on or close to an extension of the line of play or line of putt behind the ball. NOTE: Definitions of both Line of Play and Line of Putt includes a “reasonable distance either side of the line”.

D. False. R14-2b, R29. There is no exception in fourball or foursomes play to R14-2b.

The common theme here is “when a stroke is being made”. You can pretty much place people where ever you want, except during the stroke.

The most common breach is by partners who have similar lines of putts. The partner who is to putt second wants to watch his partner’s putt from behind to get a read. He can’t stand behind. He must be off to the side, till the ball is on the way, then may quickly step in to view the ball as it rolls. Alternately, if his partner is putting from on the green, there is no restriction that prohibits a partner from standing beyond the hole to watch the stroke. That restriction only applies to a ball off the green. Also, review the note in item C above.

When positioning yourself to be able to move in after a stroke is on the way, you must be a minimum of a reasonable distance either side of the extension of the line. On the putting green that is a minimum of one club-length to the side.

The above penalties are always on the player who is making the stroke. So if it is your stroke, you are the one who has to get the partner or caddie to move.

In stroke play, you pick up two strokes. In match play, you lose the hole or in fourball, disqualified for the hole. In fourball play if the breach would also assist your partner in his play of the hole, you are both penalized.

Even in casual play, avoid doing this as it is a bad habit to get into.

RELUCTANT OPINION : Since the Rules of Golf does not recognize a “Scramble” format as a legitimate form of play, these restrictions probably don’t matter much for that or other similar “hit and giggle” formats.