16-1. General
a. Touching Line of Putt
The line of putt must not be
touched except:
(i) - the player may move sand and loose soil on the putting
green and other loose impediments
by picking them up or by brushing them aside with his hand or a
club without pressing anything down;
(ii) - in addressing the ball,
the player may place the club in front of the ball without pressing
anything down;
(iii) - in measuring -Rule 10-4;
(iv) - in lifting the ball-Rule 16-1b;
(v) - in pressing down a ball-marker;
(vi) - in repairing old hole plugs or ball marks on the putting
green -Rule 16-1c; and
(vii) - in removing movable obstructions
-Rule 24-1.
(Indicating line for putting on putting green -see Rule 8-2b.)
b. Lifting Ball
A ball on the putting green
may be lifted and, if desired, cleaned. A ball so lifted shall be
replaced on the spot from which it was lifted.
c. Repair of Hole Plugs, Ball Marks and Other Damage
The player may repair an old hole plug or damage to the putting
green caused by the impact
of a ball, whether or not the player's ball lies on the putting
green. If a ball or ball marker is
accidentally moved in the process of such repair, the ball or ball-marker
shall be replaced, without penalty. Any other damage to the putting
green shall not be repaired if it might assist
the player in his subsequent play of the hole.
d. Testing Surface
During the play of a hole, a player shall not test the surface
of the putting green by rolling
a
ball or roughening or scraping the surface.
e. Standing Astride or on Line of Putt
The player shall not make a stroke
on the putting green from a
stance astride, or with
either foot touching, the line of putt or an extension of that line
behind the ball.
f. Playing Stroke While Another Ball in Motion
The player shall not playa stroke
while another ball is in motion after a stroke from the putting
green, except that, if a player does so, he incurs no
penalty if it was his turn to play.
(Lifting ball interfering with or assisting play while another ball
in mQtion -see Rule 22.)
PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE 16-1:
Match play -Loss of hole
Stroke play -Two strokes.
(Position of caddie or partner -see Rule 14-2.)
(Wrong putting green -see Rule 25-3.)
16-2. Ball Overhanging Hole
When any part of the ball overhangs the lip of the hole,
the player is allowed enough time to
reach the hole without unreasonable delay and an additional ten
seconds to determine
whether the ball is at rest. If by then the ball has not fallen
into the hole, it is deemed to be at rest. If the ball subsequently
falls into the hole, the player is deemed to have holed out with
his
last stroke, and he shall add a penalty stroke
to his score for the hole; otherwise there is no penalty
under this Rule.
(Undue delay -see Rule 6-7:) |
