THE GREEN
Rule 16. The green
Definitions:
The putting green is all ground of the hole being played
which 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.
The line of putt is the line which the player wishes his ball to take after a stroke on the putting green. Except with respect to Rule 16-1e,the line of putt includes a reasonable distance on either side of the intended line. The line of putt does not extend beyond the hole.
A ball is holed when it is at rest within the circumference
of the hole and all of it is below the level of the lip of the hole.
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 cluby without pressing anything down;
(ii) in addressing the ball ,the player may place the cluby 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 play a 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 motion —see Rule 22.)
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.)
17. The Flag
Definitions:
The flagstick is a movable straight indicator, with or without bunting or other material attached, centred in the hole to show its position. It shall be circular in cross-section.
17-1.Flagstick Attended, Removed or Held Up
A Before and during the stroke, the player may have the flagstick attended, removed or held up to indicate the position of the hole. This may be done only on the authority of the player before he plays his stroke. If, prior to the stroke, the flagstick is attended, removed or held up by anyone with the player ’s knowledge and no objection is made, the player shall be deemed to have authorised it. If anyone attends or holds up the flagstick or stands near the hole while a stroke is being played, he shall be deemed to be attending the flagstick until the ball comes to rest.
17-2.Unauthorised Attendance
a. Match Play In match play, an opponent or his caddie shall not, without the authority or prior knowledge of the player, attend, remove or hold up the flagstick while the player is making a stroke or his ball is in motion.
b.Stroke Play
In stroke play, if a fellow-competitor or his caddie attends, removes or holds up the flagstick without the competitor’s authority or prior knowledge while the competitor is making a stroke or his ball is in motion, the fellow-competitor shall incur the penalty for breach of this Rule. In such circumstances, if the competitor’s ball strikes the flagstick, the person attending it or anything carried by him, the competitor incurs no penalty and the ball shall be played as it lies, except that, if the stroke was played from the putting green, the stroke shall be cancelled, the ball replaced and the stroke replayed.
17-3. Ball Striking Flagstick or Attendant
The player ’s ball shall not strike:
a. The flagstick when attended, removed or held up by the player, his partner or either of their caddies, or by another person with the player’s authority or prior knowledge;or
b. The player’s caddie, his partner or his partner’s caddie when attending the flagstick, or another person attending
the flagstick with the player’s authority or prior knowledge or anything carried by any such person;or
c. The flagstick in the hole, unattended, when the ball has been played from the putting green.
17-4. Ball Resting Against Flagstick
If the ball rests against the flagstick when it is in the hole, the player or another person authorised by him may move or remove the flagstick and if the ball falls into the hole, the player shall be deemed to have holed out with his last stroke; otherwise the ball, if move, shall be placed on the lip of the hole, without penalty.