The characteristics of the putting green game

By The Albatross

Do you pay as much attention to your game on the putting green as you should? The putting green, that specially prepared part of the course that marks the end of play of each hole on the golf course, enjoys a special attribute in that it is the only time in the regular play of a round that the player is allowed to mark, lift and, if desired, clean the ball.

The green is defined in the Rules of Golf as all ground of the hole being played that is specially prepared for putting or otherwise defined as such by the Committee. A ball is on the putting green when any part of it touches the putting green.

Why should there be this special treatment? Play on the putting green is special in that the player is allowed two regular strokes in which to complete play of the hole.

Thus, on a par three, you play tee-to-green and you are allowed two putts: on a par four you land on the green for two and are allowed two putts, while on a par five you land on the green for three and make two putts. All this assumes that play is to be concluded on regulation. Let’s expound on this theme a little bit; and in that we shall assume play is on a regular par 72 golf course.

The rest of this discussion will make references to a scratch player; that is a golf player who plays off a zero handicap and one who makes all the holes on regulation and also concludes play of each hole on the stipulated, regular two putts. The assumption also eliminates all birdies, or better scores.

It is important to hold these variables constant in order to bring out the importance of accurate play on the green; for it is on the green that a full one half of the 72 strokes allowed for the round, will be executed. A scratch player, who concludes a round of golf on regulation, will have played 72 strokes through 18 holes and one half of those will be on the putting green.

Given then that play on the green constitutes 50 per cent of the 72 strokes the player is allowed in a round: and that yields a full 36 strokes, perhaps you might want to seriously consider allocating 50 per cent of your practice time to the putting green.

Given the importance of play on the putting green, therefore, let us now turn to the way players are expected to behave generally and towards each other on the putting green.

Touching the line of putt is prohibited. And this rule requires emphasis for it is observed more in breach than in compliance. Golf Rule 16-1a deals with this provision very clearly and it states: the line of putt must not be touched excepting: (a) the player may remove loose impediments, provided he does not press anything down; (b) the player may place the club in front of the ball when addressing it, provided he does not press anything down; (c) in measuring; (d) in lifting or replacing the ball; (e) in pressing down a ball marker; (f) in repairing old hole plugs or ball marks on the putting green; or (g) in removing movable obstructions. The penalty for violation of this rule is pretty severe. It is loss of hole in match play and two strokes in stroke play.

The spirit of this rule is to preserve, as far is practical, the conditions on the line of putt that obtained at the time the ball landed on the putting green. And the rule allows repairs of pitch marks and old hole plugs on the green. This then ensures that the player is provided with a putting surface that is as original as the Greens Keeper could get it.

It is imperative therefore that other players respect this preservation of the condition of the line of putt. There is a tendency for some players to casually walk over the line of putt arguing that players in the teams ahead did, indeed, walk all over the green.

This is an untenable argument and reflects total disrespect for the Rules of Golf.

The player is entitled to peace of mind as he prepares for his putting stroke and walking all over his line of putt is annoying and disruptive, to say the least.

Besides, as one walks over the putting green he presses down blades of grass and as these rise to regain their normal, erect positions, they provide all that was needed to shift the path of a ball that was otherwise headed straight to the hole.

The rules require that all players shall behave with the decorum that belongs to the realm of the gentleman’s game.

And those who persist in disrupting the peace of mind of their fellow competitors violate the Rules of Golf. The relevant section states: ‘If a player consistently disregards the guidelines stipulated in the Rules of Golf, during a round or over a period of time, to the detriment of other players, it is recommended that the Committee considers taking appropriate disciplinary action against the offending player.’ But surely this is not the way we want to go!

There are enough challenges in the regular game of golf itself without importing these other avoidable intrusions and causes of loss of concentration.

As golfers, we have a duty to abide by the rules and cause the journey to the ultimate orderly society to get that much smoother.