See Clarification 8.1b/6 for when damage partially on and partially off putting green may be repaired.
Damage to the holeHole: The finishing point on the putting green for the hole being played:(...Continued) is covered by Rule 13.1c as part of damage on a putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued). The player may repair a damaged holeHole: The finishing point on the putting green for the hole being played:(...Continued) unless the damage is natural wear that Rule 13.1c does not allow to be repaired.
For example, if the holeHole: The finishing point on the putting green for the hole being played:(...Continued) is damaged in removing the flagstickFlagstick: A movable pole provided by the Committee that is placed in the hole to show players where the hole is. The flagstick includes the flag and any other material or objects attached to the pole.(...Continued), it may be repaired by the player under Rule 13.1c, even if the damage has changed the dimensions of the hole.
However, if a holeHole: The finishing point on the putting green for the hole being played:(...Continued) has been damaged and the player cannot repair the damage (such as the holeHole: The finishing point on the putting green for the hole being played:(...Continued) cannot be made round again) or where natural wear that the player may not repair results in the holeHole: The finishing point on the putting green for the hole being played:(...Continued) not being round, the player should request that the CommitteeCommittee: The person or group in charge of the competition or the course. repair it.
If a player is unable to repair damage on the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued), such as an indentation from a club or an old holeHole: The finishing point on the putting green for the hole being played:(...Continued) plug that has sunk below the surface, the player may request that the CommitteeCommittee: The person or group in charge of the competition or the course. repair the damage.
If the CommitteeCommittee: The person or group in charge of the competition or the course. is unable to repair the damage and the player’s ball lies on the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued), the CommitteeCommittee: The person or group in charge of the competition or the course. could consider providing relief to the player under Rule 16.1 by defining the damaged area as ground under repairGround Under Repair: Any part of the course the Committee defines to be ground under repair (whether by marking it or otherwise). Any defined ground under repair includes both:(...Continued).
A player’s ball is on the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued) and they have interference from an abnormal course conditionAbnormal Course Condition: Any of these four defined conditions:. The player decides to take free relief under Rule 16.1d. If the nearest point of complete reliefNearest Point of Complete Relief: The reference point for taking free relief from an abnormal course condition (Rule 16.1), dangerous animal condition (Rule 16.2), wrong green (Rule 13.1f) or no play zone (Rules 16.1f and 17.1e), or in taking relief under certain Local Rules.(...Continued) is on the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued), once the ball is placed at this point, it is treated as if it has been lifted and replacedReplace: To place a ball by setting it down by hand and letting it go, with the intent for it to be in play.(...Continued) under Rule 13.1d(2).
For example, a player’s ball is in temporary waterTemporary Water: Any temporary accumulation of water on the surface of the ground (such as puddles from rain or irrigation or an overflow from a body of water) that:(...Continued) on the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued). They decide to take relief and places a ball on the spot of the nearest point of complete reliefNearest Point of Complete Relief: The reference point for taking free relief from an abnormal course condition (Rule 16.1), dangerous animal condition (Rule 16.2), wrong green (Rule 13.1f) or no play zone (Rules 16.1f and 17.1e), or in taking relief under certain Local Rules.(...Continued) which is on the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued). While the player is preparing to make the strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued), natural forcesNatural Forces: The effects of nature such as wind, water or when something happens for no apparent reason because of the effects of gravity. cause the ball to moveMoved: When a ball at rest has left its original spot and come to rest on any other spot, and this can be seen by the naked eye (whether or not anyone actually sees it do so).(...Continued). The player must replaceReplace: To place a ball by setting it down by hand and letting it go, with the intent for it to be in play.(...Continued) the ball on the spot of the nearest point of complete reliefNearest Point of Complete Relief: The reference point for taking free relief from an abnormal course condition (Rule 16.1), dangerous animal condition (Rule 16.2), wrong green (Rule 13.1f) or no play zone (Rules 16.1f and 17.1e), or in taking relief under certain Local Rules.(...Continued).
But when the nearest point of complete reliefNearest Point of Complete Relief: The reference point for taking free relief from an abnormal course condition (Rule 16.1), dangerous animal condition (Rule 16.2), wrong green (Rule 13.1f) or no play zone (Rules 16.1f and 17.1e), or in taking relief under certain Local Rules.(...Continued) is in the general areaGeneral Area: The area of the course that covers all of the courseexcept for the other four defined areas: (1) the teeing area the player must play from in starting the hole they are playing, (2) all penalty areas, (3) all bunkers, and (4) the putting green of the hole the player is playing.(...Continued) and the ball movesMoved: When a ball at rest has left its original spot and come to rest on any other spot, and this can be seen by the naked eye (whether or not anyone actually sees it do so).(...Continued) due to natural forcesNatural Forces: The effects of nature such as wind, water or when something happens for no apparent reason because of the effects of gravity. after being placed at this point, it must be played from its new spot, unless Exception 2 to Rule 9.3 applies (Rule 9.3).
Rule 13.1e prohibits a player from taking two specific actions on the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued) or a wrong greenWrong Green: Any green on the course other than the putting green for the hole the player is playing. Wrong greens include:(...Continued) for the purpose of finding out information about how a ball might roll on it. It does not prohibit a player from taking other actions even when done for the purpose of testing or from inadvertently taking the prohibited actions.
An example of an action that is a breach of Rule 13.1e is when:
A player roughens or scrapes the grass on the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued) to determine which way the grain is growing.
Examples of actions that are not a breach of Rule 13.1e are when:
A player concedes their opponent’sOpponent: The person a player competes against in a match. The term opponent applies only in match play. next putt and hits the ball away on the same line of playLine of Play: The line where the player intends their ball to go after a stroke, including the area on that line that is a reasonable distance up above the ground and on either side of that line.(...Continued) as the player may subsequently use but does not do so deliberately to learn information about the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued).
A player places the palm of their hand on the surface of the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued) on their line of playLine of Play: The line where the player intends their ball to go after a stroke, including the area on that line that is a reasonable distance up above the ground and on either side of that line.(...Continued) to determine the wetness of the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued). While the player is doing so to test the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued), this action is not prohibited under Rule 13.1e.
A player rubs a ball on the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued) to clean off mud.
A player is entitled to play the courseCourse: The entire area of play within the edge of any boundaries set by the Committee:(...Continued) as they find it, which includes the position in which the preceding group left the flagstickFlagstick: A movable pole provided by the Committee that is placed in the hole to show players where the hole is. The flagstick includes the flag and any other material or objects attached to the pole.(...Continued).
For example, if the preceding group replaced the flagstickFlagstick: A movable pole provided by the Committee that is placed in the hole to show players where the hole is. The flagstick includes the flag and any other material or objects attached to the pole.(...Continued) in a position that is leaning away from the player, the player has the right to play with the flagstickFlagstick: A movable pole provided by the Committee that is placed in the hole to show players where the hole is. The flagstick includes the flag and any other material or objects attached to the pole.(...Continued) in that position should they find this advantageous.
If another player or caddieCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued) centres the flagstickFlagstick: A movable pole provided by the Committee that is placed in the hole to show players where the hole is. The flagstick includes the flag and any other material or objects attached to the pole.(...Continued) in the holeHole: The finishing point on the putting green for the hole being played:(...Continued), the player may keep it in that position or have the flagstickFlagstick: A movable pole provided by the Committee that is placed in the hole to show players where the hole is. The flagstick includes the flag and any other material or objects attached to the pole.(...Continued) restored to its previous position.
If a player chooses to play with the flagstickFlagstick: A movable pole provided by the Committee that is placed in the hole to show players where the hole is. The flagstick includes the flag and any other material or objects attached to the pole.(...Continued) in the holeHole: The finishing point on the putting green for the hole being played:(...Continued) and another player takes the flagstickFlagstick: A movable pole provided by the Committee that is placed in the hole to show players where the hole is. The flagstick includes the flag and any other material or objects attached to the pole.(...Continued) out of the holeHole: The finishing point on the putting green for the hole being played:(...Continued) without the player’s authority, it may be put back in the holeHole: The finishing point on the putting green for the hole being played:(...Continued) while the player’s ball is in motion.
However, if the other player’s action was a breach of Rule 13.2a(4), they do not avoid a penalty by replacing the flagstickFlagstick: A movable pole provided by the Committee that is placed in the hole to show players where the hole is. The flagstick includes the flag and any other material or objects attached to the pole.(...Continued).
Rule 13.2b(1) allows a player to make a one-handed strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) while holding the flagstickFlagstick: A movable pole provided by the Committee that is placed in the hole to show players where the hole is. The flagstick includes the flag and any other material or objects attached to the pole.(...Continued) with the other hand. However, the player may not use the flagstickFlagstick: A movable pole provided by the Committee that is placed in the hole to show players where the hole is. The flagstick includes the flag and any other material or objects attached to the pole.(...Continued) to steady themself while making a strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) (Rule 4.3a).
For example, a player may:
Remove the flagstickFlagstick: A movable pole provided by the Committee that is placed in the hole to show players where the hole is. The flagstick includes the flag and any other material or objects attached to the pole.(...Continued) from the holeHole: The finishing point on the putting green for the hole being played:(...Continued) with one hand before putting and continue to hold it while making a one-handed strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) with the other hand.
Attend their own flagstickFlagstick: A movable pole provided by the Committee that is placed in the hole to show players where the hole is. The flagstick includes the flag and any other material or objects attached to the pole.(...Continued) in the holeHole: The finishing point on the putting green for the hole being played:(...Continued) with one hand before and while putting with the other hand. While or after making the onehanded strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued), they may remove the flagstickFlagstick: A movable pole provided by the Committee that is placed in the hole to show players where the hole is. The flagstick includes the flag and any other material or objects attached to the pole.(...Continued) from the holeHole: The finishing point on the putting green for the hole being played:(...Continued), but must not deliberately allow the ball in motion to hit the flagstickFlagstick: A movable pole provided by the Committee that is placed in the hole to show players where the hole is. The flagstick includes the flag and any other material or objects attached to the pole.(...Continued).
Determining the limits of a reasonable time to reach the holeHole: The finishing point on the putting green for the hole being played:(...Continued) depends on the circumstances of the strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) and includes time for a player’s natural or spontaneous reaction to the ball not going into the holeHole: The finishing point on the putting green for the hole being played:(...Continued).
For example, a player may have played the shot from well off the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued) and it may take them several minutes to reach the holeHole: The finishing point on the putting green for the hole being played:(...Continued) while other players play their shots and all walk to the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued). Or, the player may need to take an indirect route to the holeHole: The finishing point on the putting green for the hole being played:(...Continued) by walking around the line of playLine of Play: The line where the player intends their ball to go after a stroke, including the area on that line that is a reasonable distance up above the ground and on either side of that line.(...Continued) of another player on the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued).
After the flagstickFlagstick: A movable pole provided by the Committee that is placed in the hole to show players where the hole is. The flagstick includes the flag and any other material or objects attached to the pole.(...Continued) is removed by the player, if the player’s ball overhanging the holeHole: The finishing point on the putting green for the hole being played:(...Continued) movesMoved: When a ball at rest has left its original spot and come to rest on any other spot, and this can be seen by the naked eye (whether or not anyone actually sees it do so).(...Continued), they must proceed as follows:
If it is known or virtually certainKnown or Virtually Certain: The standard for deciding what happened to a player’s ball – for example, whether the ball came to rest in a penalty area, whether it moved or what caused it to move.(...Continued) that the player’s removal of the flagstickFlagstick: A movable pole provided by the Committee that is placed in the hole to show players where the hole is. The flagstick includes the flag and any other material or objects attached to the pole.(...Continued) caused the ball to moveMoved: When a ball at rest has left its original spot and come to rest on any other spot, and this can be seen by the naked eye (whether or not anyone actually sees it do so).(...Continued), the ball is replaced on the lip of the holeHole: The finishing point on the putting green for the hole being played:(...Continued) and Rule 13.3b applies. The ball is treated as coming to rest and the waiting time under Rule 13.3a no longer applies. There is no penalty to the player since the flagstickFlagstick: A movable pole provided by the Committee that is placed in the hole to show players where the hole is. The flagstick includes the flag and any other material or objects attached to the pole.(...Continued) is a movable obstructionMovable Obstruction: An obstruction that can be moved with reasonable effort and without damaging the obstruction or the course.(...Continued) (Rule 15.2a(1)).
If the player’s removal of the flagstickFlagstick: A movable pole provided by the Committee that is placed in the hole to show players where the hole is. The flagstick includes the flag and any other material or objects attached to the pole.(...Continued) did not cause the ball to moveMoved: When a ball at rest has left its original spot and come to rest on any other spot, and this can be seen by the naked eye (whether or not anyone actually sees it do so).(...Continued), and the ball falls into the holeHole: The finishing point on the putting green for the hole being played:(...Continued), Rule 13.3a applies.
If the player’s ball movedMoved: When a ball at rest has left its original spot and come to rest on any other spot, and this can be seen by the naked eye (whether or not anyone actually sees it do so).(...Continued) due to natural forcesNatural Forces: The effects of nature such as wind, water or when something happens for no apparent reason because of the effects of gravity. to a new spot not overhanging the holeHole: The finishing point on the putting green for the hole being played:(...Continued) and not because the flagstickFlagstick: A movable pole provided by the Committee that is placed in the hole to show players where the hole is. The flagstick includes the flag and any other material or objects attached to the pole.(...Continued) was removed, there is no penalty and the ball must be played from its new spot (Rule 9.3).