Walk the Line

[honketyhank]

Here is the situation I am seeing more and more often..... A player walks to the green and marks their ball, cleaning it and putting it in their pocket. Now, they have replaced the ball with a small marker, likely the color of dull silver or something like that. That marker might be 20 or 30 or 40 feet from the hole. At that point, how is anyone supposed to see where they are at, or avoid stepping in their line. Personally, I typically will mark my ball, pick it up and clean it and then immediately place it back on the green. Unless it is in someone else's way or might distract them.

 

I have started using ball markers the size of poker chips. At least I can find them after I put them down. Some of the older old toots, well maybe no.

[hbear]

I usually go about 4' or so for the through line (it's really not that hard to avoid)...the more important line is obviously the normal line.

If somebody gets in a huffy because you stepped on their through line 6' past the hole just tell them they should practise more on their putting so they don't jam their first putt more than 6' past the hole.

[hbear]

Here is the situation I am seeing more and more often..... A player walks to the green and marks their ball, cleaning it and putting it in their pocket. Now, they have replaced the ball with a small marker, likely the color of dull silver or something like that. That marker might be 20 or 30 or 40 feet from the hole. At that point, how is anyone supposed to see where they are at, or avoid stepping in their line. Personally, I typically will mark my ball, pick it up and clean it and then immediately place it back on the green. Unless it is in someone else's way or might distract them.

 

A courteous player will pay attention to where his playing partners/opponents are. And if in doubt ask so they don't inadvertatly step on a players line. It's really not hard to keep track of where 3 other guys are.

[atlanta golfer]

Here is the situation I am seeing more and more often..... A player walks to the green and marks their ball, cleaning it and putting it in their pocket. Now, they have replaced the ball with a small marker, likely the color of dull silver or something like that. That marker might be 20 or 30 or 40 feet from the hole. At that point, how is anyone supposed to see where they are at, or avoid stepping in their line. Personally, I typically will mark my ball, pick it up and clean it and then immediately place it back on the green. Unless it is in someone else's way or might distract them.

 

A courteous player will pay attention to where his playing partners/opponents are. And if in doubt ask so they don't inadvertatly step on a players line. It's really not hard to keep track of where 3 other guys are.

 

I agree with you, and it isn't hard to see, most of the time. But can you answer the question, if a player is, say, 20 or 30 feet from the hole and not close to anyone else's ball, what is up with them placing a marker and then puting their ball in their pocket?

[hbear]

From my understanding it's a form of etiquette.

I like to putt/chip when I don't see anybody else's ball on the green. Not that it really matters....but it's just what I'm used to since everybody I know will mark and pick up their ball if they are able to. e.g. on the green.

 

The real matter is in regards to the rules. If I am on the putting surface and you don't mark your ball, if I hit your ball I get a 2 stroke penalty. So in fairness everybody just marks so they don't have to be constantly asked.

 

To add: Most players like to clean their ball before they putt and many use an alignment line when setting up their putt....so it only makes sense to mark it and go through the cleaning process when others are lining up their putts and such.

[atlanta golfer]

I'm thinking that you may be one of the people I am talking about ... I mean, the cleaning process??? You pick it up, check it if is ok, and put it back down. Or if there is dirt on it, you wipe it down with the wet towel you have with you, or you spit on it and wipe it with your dry towel. Takes about 20 seconds tops. You like to putt or chip without seeing any other little white balls to distract you? C'mon, this is getting a little silly...

[hbear]

Why is that silly?

Do you tee up your ball and leave it there when it's another player's turn?

 

Yes cleaning only takes about 10s MAX, but it still doesn't tell me why it is so important for you to put the ball back down right away....

Is it that big of a deal to keep the ball in your hand/pocket until it's your turn to play? I mean the ball isn't going anywhere, and I promise you'll still get a chance to putt...we won't forget about you if that is what you are worried about.

 

Back to my original point, it's COURTESY to mark and pick up so your ball is not in the way (regardless if whether or not YOU think it's in the way or not).

 

To add: If you read my post I said it was a preference not to see any white balls on the green. I can still putt/chip when I do see them, by why should I have to just because my playing partner doesn't have the common courtesy to mark and lift.

Along those lines I can still hit my tee shot just fine with somebody yelling in my backswing.....or somebody is playing with the velcro strap on their glove when it's my turn to play....but that doesn't change the fact that those actions are considered VERY bad form.

[atlanta golfer]

Why is that silly?

Do you tee up your ball and leave it there when it's another player's turn?

 

Yes cleaning only takes about 10s MAX, but it still doesn't tell me why it is so important for you to put the ball back down right away....

Is it that big of a deal to keep the ball in your hand/pocket until it's your turn to play? I mean the ball isn't going anywhere, and I promise you'll still get a chance to putt...we won't forget about you if that is what you are worried about.

 

Back to my original point, it's COURTESY to mark and pick up so your ball is not in the way (regardless if whether or not YOU think it's in the way or not).

 

To add: If you read my post I said it was a preference not to see any white balls on the green. I can still putt/chip when I do see them, by why should I have to just because my playing partner doesn't have the common courtesy to mark and lift.

Along those lines I can still hit my tee shot just fine with somebody yelling in my backswing.....or somebody is playing with the velcro strap on their glove when it's my turn to play....but that doesn't change the fact that those actions are considered VERY bad form.

 

Well, actually down here in the South, we do all tee up our balls at the same time, after going through the cleaning process, of course. But then eveybody marks them and puts their ball in their pocket until it's their turn to hit driver, so that no one else is distracted. To do anything else would be terrible form... :rolleyes:

[profsmitty]

Here is the situation I am seeing more and more often..... A player walks to the green and marks their ball, cleaning it and putting it in their pocket. Now, they have replaced the ball with a small marker, likely the color of dull silver or something like that. That marker might be 20 or 30 or 40 feet from the hole. At that point, how is anyone supposed to see where they are at, or avoid stepping in their line. Personally, I typically will mark my ball, pick it up and clean it and then immediately place it back on the green. Unless it is in someone else's way or might distract them.

 

A courteous player will pay attention to where his playing partners/opponents are. And if in doubt ask so they don't inadvertatly step on a players line. It's really not hard to keep track of where 3 other guys are.

+1

 

Emily Post, the most widely quoted authority on manners (read etiquette) wrote about the reason for good manners"

 

“Manners are made up of trivialities of deportment which can be easily learned if one does not happen to know them;

manner is personality—the outward manifestation of one’s innate character and attitude toward life.

”

 

As good sportpeople, we would never want to do anything that would put another competitor at a disadvantage. It is not what golf is about. Whether it actually harms another's ability to make a putt is irrelevant. That it has the potential to do so is reason enough to avoid it. If, for whatever reason, we violate another's rights, we should immediately apologize and do everything under rules of golf to rectify our error. We do this simply because it is the right thing to do. We do this because this is the way we would ourselves like to be treated. We do this because Karma is a powerful force in the universe - one that is not to be trifled with.

[larrybud]

Here is the situation I am seeing more and more often..... A player walks to the green and marks their ball, cleaning it and putting it in their pocket. Now, they have replaced the ball with a small marker, likely the color of dull silver or something like that. That marker might be 20 or 30 or 40 feet from the hole. At that point, how is anyone supposed to see where they are at, or avoid stepping in their line. Personally, I typically will mark my ball, pick it up and clean it and then immediately place it back on the green. Unless it is in someone else's way or might distract them.

 

A courteous player will pay attention to where his playing partners/opponents are. And if in doubt ask so they don't inadvertatly step on a players line. It's really not hard to keep track of where 3 other guys are.

 

I agree with you, and it isn't hard to see, most of the time. But can you answer the question, if a player is, say, 20 or 30 feet from the hole and not close to anyone else's ball, what is up with them placing a marker and then puting their ball in their pocket?

I clean the ball immediately after reaching the green. If it's not my turn to putt, the ball won't be on the green probably 90% of the time so as not to distract the other player. If I'm at a right angle to a player, I may go to replace the ball as he's making his stroke if I'm next to play.

 

If you're on the opposite side of the hole, mark your ball. If you're close to someone's intended line, mark your ball. If you're within 6' of the hole, mark your ball.

 

Shouldn't you be aware of the other 3 players to know when it's your turn to hit?

[Giantbear]

As good sportpeople, we would never want to do anything that would put another competitor at a disadvantage. It is not what golf is about. Whether it actually harms another's ability to make a putt is irrelevant. That it has the potential to do so is reason enough to avoid it. If, for whatever reason, we violate another's rights, we should immediately apologize and do everything under rules of golf to rectify our error. We do this simply because it is the right thing to do. We do this because this is the way we would ourselves like to be treated. We do this because Karma is a powerful force in the universe - one that is not to be trifled with.

just thought this one should be repeated.