Can you fix the hole before you putt?

Putting Green
A. Yes. You may repair damage to the hole, but not natural wear of the hole (see Rule 13.1c(2)).
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Can you fix Golf hole before putting?

The New Rule: Golfers are now allowed to repair almost any damage on the green, such as spike marks, ball-marks, indentations from a club or flagstick, and animal damage. They are not permitted to repair aeration holes, natural surface imperfections, or natural wear of the hole.
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Can you repair a divot off the green?

A player may repair on old hole plug or damage caused to the putting green caused by the impact of a ball whether or not the player's ball lies on the putting green. (Any other damage to the putting green must not be repaired if it might assist the player in his subsequence play of the hole).
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Can I touch the green before putting?

There is no longer a penalty for merely touching the line of play on the putting green (the term “line of play” applies everywhere on the course including the putting green, and the term “line of putt” is no longer used).
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Can you tap down the hole in Golf?

And what's the big deal with tapping down spike marks, anyway? To answer the first question: It's a violation of Rule 16-1a and comes with a two-shot penalty in stroke play (loss of hole in match play).
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Want to hole more putts? Just do THIS!!!!



Can you change balls on the putting green?

You can also substitute a different ball any time you are taking relief, including both free and penalty relief. Unless the one-ball Local Rule is in effect, the substituted ball could be any brand. On the putting green however, when you mark and lift your ball, you must replace that same ball to finish out the hole.
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Should I leave the pin in when putting?

Dave Pelz, a physics graduate long regarded as a putting guru for professional and amateur players, recommended keeping the pin in the hole all the time, based on a loss of energy when the ball hits it.
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Is it legal to align ball for putt?

Why? Because it's not legal. To be fair, it's not illegal, either. In fact, the act of applying a line to your ball with the intent of it helping with alignment isn't specifically addressed anywhere in the rules (it was before 2019, but no longer).
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Can you brush sand off the green with your hand?

Yes. Rule 13.1c (1) says sand and loose soil on the green can be 'removed without penalty'. You can do that 'no matter whether the ball is on or off the putting green'.
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Can I fix a ball mark in the fairway?

Under Rule 13-2, you can repair a pitch mark as long as doing so doesn't involve improving your line of play, the area of intended stance or swing, or the position or lie of the ball. Any of those issues would yield a two-stroke penalty in stroke play or loss of hole in match play.
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Can you repair a pitch mark in the fairway?

Repair Pitch Marks on the Green

If your Pitch mark tears the green (exposing dirt), insert your pitch repair tool at an angle into the back of the pith mark and move the top of the repair tool inwards as you lift. This will help bring the turf across the full surface of the damaged part of the green.
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Can you fix your own ball mark on the fringe?

You can repair ball marks on the green at any time but you cannot repair a ball mark on the fringe if it's on your line. So, for example, if you are on the fringe and fancy putting it, but there is a deep pitch mark on your line in the fringe, you cannot repair that.
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Can you walk on your putting line?

The only way to tell for sure is to use your sense of touch, through your feet. "For long putts, don't walk on your line but walk alongside of it, where you think it's going to go," Day said. "If it's a left-to-right putt from 20 feet, you can walk from the ball all the way to the hole.
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What are the rules for putting in golf?

13.1 Actions Allowed or Required on Putting Greens. Purpose of Rule: This Rule allows the player to do things on the putting green that are normally not allowed off the putting green, such as being allowed to mark, lift, clean and replace a ball and to repair damage and remove sand and loose soil on the putting green.
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What is the 2 putt rule?

Two Putt Maximum: Each team is allotted only two putt attempts. If the ball is not holed after two putts, the ball will be picked up and a stroke added to the hole score. This is to ensure pace of play. The two putt max rule only applies to the green. Scramble Rules.
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What if the wind moves a golf ball?

If you have marked, lifted and replaced your ball, or you replaced it because you or someone else caused it to move, and then it later moves for any reason including by wind, you must replace your ball on its original spot before making your next stroke (see Rule 13.1d(2)).
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Can you move a leaf in golf?

If you move a leaf near your golf ball and it causes the ball to move anywhere except the tee box or green, it's a one-stroke penalty under Rule 9.4b.
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How many balls can a golfer carry?

Under the Rules of Golf, a golfer can carry as many golf balls as they want in their bag. Really, they can carry as many golf balls as they're willing to carry around themselves or their caddie is willing to lug around for them. Most PGA Tour golfers carry in the area of nine golf balls in their bag per round.
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Is it legal to draw a line on your putter?

Features of any nature that extend ahead of the face are not permitted on any club – see Figure 31. For putters, alignment or other features must not extend above the top line of the face by more than 0.25 inches (6.35 mm) – see Figure 32.
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Can you touch your golf ball on the green?

New rule: You are now protected from this penalty under Rule 13.1d which states, “there is no penalty if you, your opponent or another player in stroke play accidentally move your ball or ball marker on the putting green.
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Why do golfers take off their glove to putt?

Less grip pressure or a lighter feeling in their hands – is exactly the reason that virtually all the golfers who take their golf gloves off before putting – will tell you that they are doing it for.
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Can golfers leave the flag in when putting?

And now it's completely within the rules. As of the start of the 2019 calendar year, golfers of all levels can now putt with the flagstick left in the hole. Caddies can also take the flag out or have it attended - previously the only two options.
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Why do I keep leaving my putts short?

One of the biggest reasons for a player “coming up short” especially on longer putts is because the strike has occurred too low on the putter face. This type of contact transfers less energy to the golf ball than if it was struck out of the 'sweet spot' or centre of the face.
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