Lunch

Suddenly, without any warning, Reader JS’s eyes bulged and closed, his tongue fell out, his head dropped and drooped forward. F nimbly caught him as he was rolling helplessly out of his chair … all during a quiet and friendly post-round lunch in the BMCC Mens’ Grill.

Fortunately, this frightening incident was not of a medical nature. JS had simply fallen asleep. At the time, Sandwich was 6-7 minutes into a fascinating story, he claimed, involving Billy Graham and a Johnny Somebody. Other than the names, the story had no subject matter, plot, location, or theme, leaving Sandwich’s listeners totally baffled and in wonderment as to its relevance or direction, and more importantly, whether it would ever end. JS had simply succumbed to the moment.

Sandwich was somewhat incensed that no one appreciated his story. Reader and opponent, RM, tried to get the conversation back on track. After diplomatically gaining assurances from Sandwich that he would finish his story at a later date, RM completely changed the subject remarking that, in his opinion, the turning point of the match was when F had three-putted the tenth hole.

“Yes, I probably shouldn’t have putted that last one left-handed”, said F, “but an equally important moment was on the next hole when Sandwich missed his putt after you stomped in his line”.

Although F had offered this commentary in a light -hearted vein, RM did not take it so well. “There is nothing in the Rules of Golf”, he countered, “that says I can’t walk in your line”. F’s antenna perked up. At this point the conversation became relevant.

Facts

On the difficult Par 4 11th hole, the pin was tucked back-left over a sharp ridge bisecting the green. All 4 players were lying 3 having left chip shots just short of the ridge. Fortunately F’s partner, Sandwich, had a pop.

F putted first and ran it five feet past the hole. “I’ll finish”, said F, who promptly missed his come-backer (this time right-handed, darn it). It didn’t matter. Sandwich was putting next with a stroke. Unfortunately, he blew his putt 8-feet past the hole.

RM followed and ran his putt five feet past the hole. He marked, and then said, “I’ll finish.” As he replaced his ball, F had said, “No, you can’t finish, as you will have to step in Sandwich’s line.”

RM ignored F, replaced his ball, lined it up, then made a half-hearted effort to straddle the line for his putt. He made his putt, after doing a virtual war dance in Sandwich’s putting line. Although Sandwich gamely stroked his putt for the win, the ball had no chance of navigating the minefield of RM footprints leading to the hole.

Issue

Is it a penalty to step in another player’s putting line?

Ruling

Unlikely, but perhaps!

One of the first things every golfer learns is to avoid stepping onto another player’s putting line. This simple rule of etiquette is reinforced by every player in every game we play, and by the professionals we watch each week on tv.

Nevertheless, violation of this standard of conduct would not be a penalty violation, in most cases, unless intentional, or carelessly repeated in violation of the standards of conduct expected by the Committee in charge of a competition, and based upon the particular facts of the incident in question.

In this particular case, and in RM’s defense, he obviously didn’t think he was interfering with Sandwich’s putting line, and perhaps more importantly, he didn’t really care what F had to say about it (although that should be a violation in and of itself!).

The reason his action is problematic is because F (Sandwich’s partner and spokesperson) had politely asked him to mark his ball, rather than “finish”, which in F’s opinion might damage Sandwich’s line.

Players under the Rules of Golf have a broad ethical mandate to show consideration for other players. This mandate is “Conduct Expected of All Players” (R1.2a/1). Failure to adhere to this mandate could be deemed “serious misconduct ….contrary to the spirit of the game” resulting in disqualification.

An example: “Serious misconduct” would “likely” be found where an opponent moved Loose Impediments or Movable Obstructions from a player’s line of play, after being specifically asked to leave them in place. (Int. 1.2a/1). Hmmm…that sounds familiar.

Nevertheless, F finds that RM’s conduct on this occasion was probably insufficient to warrant the penalty of Disqualification. As an alternative punishment, however, F suggests that RM fulfill his promise and call Sandwich to listen to rest of that story.

As usual, all comments or corrections are welcome!

Respectfully submitted,
F