[tevyrefficy]

I especially enjoyed the video. It's fairly common to see someone stab their divot repair tool (or golf tee) under a divot and just lift up then smooth it out. That's what causes those little round dead grass spots on a green.

[13spebampiliece]

First time I've ever had this happen to me and I'm not sure what the actual ruling on this would be.....

Was playing as a single last week while on vacation in Florida and was partnered up with a 3some. Par 3 and I was the only one to hit the green. I didn't pick up my ball to mark it since they were all off the green so I didn't notice that my ball had landed and stayed in its ball mark on the green. I was furthest away after they all chipped on so I took my putt without picking my ball up.
Needless to say, my ball popped about 2 feet into the air before hitting and rolling well short of the hole. My partners laughed and said they had never seen that happen before. Neither had I!! So I just laughed it off and chalked it up to my inexperience.

Here's my question - if I had picked up my ball and marked it, would I have been allowed to fix my ball mark before replacing it to putt??

[Accor$314]

First time I've ever had this happen to me and I'm not sure what the actual ruling on this would be.....

Was playing as a single last week while on vacation in Florida and was partnered up with a 3some. Par 3 and I was the only one to hit the green. I didn't pick up my ball to mark it since they were all off the green so I didn't notice that my ball had landed and stayed in its ball mark on the green. I was furthest away after they all chipped on so I took my putt without picking my ball up.
Needless to say, my ball popped about 2 feet into the air before hitting and rolling well short of the hole. My partners laughed and said they had never seen that happen before. Neither had I!! So I just laughed it off and chalked it up to my inexperience.

Here's my question - if I had picked up my ball and marked it, would I have been allowed to fix my ball mark before replacing it to putt??

Yes, no issues.

[NETvoyne]

Yes, you can always fix a ball mark on the green . . . yours or any other.

[Fellionas]

as long as you properly fix the ball mark!

[13spebampiliece]

Thanks for the help on this.

I just wasn't sure because my ball landed and stayed in its own mark on the green. Never had that happen before. I thought that since it had landed and stayed in it, you might not be allowed to "improve your lie" even though it was on the green....

[NETvoyne]

In fact . . .

"A ball embedded in its own pitch-mark in the ground in any closely mown area through the green may be lifted, cleaned and dropped, without penalty, as near as possible to the spot where it lay but not nearer the hole."

[Accor$314]

From USGA Rules of Golf:

6-1. General
a. Touching Line of Putt

The line of putt must not be touched except:

(i) the player may remove loose impediments, provided he does not press anything down;
(ii) the player may place the club in front of the ball when addressing it, provided he does not press anything down;
(iii) in measuring - Rule 18-6;
(iv) in lifting or replacing 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 and Cleaning Ball

A ball on the putting green may be lifted and, if desired, cleaned. The position of the ball must be marked before it is lifted, and the ball must be replaced (see Rule 20-1).

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 the repair, the ball or ball-marker must be replaced. There is no penalty, provided the movement of the ball or ball-marker is directly attributable to the specific act of repairing an old hole plug or damage to the putting green caused by the impact of a ball. Otherwise, Rule 18 applies.

Any other damage to the putting green must not be repaired if it might assist the player in his subsequent play of the hole.

Additional info not necessarily applying to the green.

25-2. Embedded Ball
A ball embedded in its own pitch-mark in the ground in any closely mown area through the green may be lifted, cleaned and dropped, without penalty, as near as possible to the spot where it lay but not nearer the hole. The ball when dropped must first strike a part of the coursethrough the green. "Closely mown area" means any area of the course, including paths through the rough, cut to fairway height or less.

Video on how to repair your ball mark on the green:

[Sleflanna]

Nice post Biggsy. Knocked that question out the park!