Ball Mark or Spike Mark???

[Focker Singh]

Sometimes I see players on TV take their divot tool and fix a ball mark in their line. I know as a Rule of Golf that you can only fix ball marks or move loose impediments from your line but cannot flatten out spike marks to improve your line. So in order to find a loop-hole around this rule, could a player fix a spike mark and say its a ball mark to avoid being penalized. How could you determine that? Officials are not close enough to tell and most of these type of penalites are usually called by the actual player on himself or his fellow group. Please take out the consideration of sportsmanship, morals, and etiquette. I'm just wondering cause I see it happen so many times and I wonder if there could be that many ball marks unfixed when everyone at that level knows to replace them.

[Greywolf]

Not sure, but sometimes you see the pros conferring with their playing partners about a particular mark, trying to determine if it is an old ball mark or something else. Golf, for the most part, is an honest game, the pros call penalties on themselves, I suppose there are instances when a spike mark gets fixed but on the tour I believe that would be a rarity.

[DavidY]

Personally, I have wished that spike marks can be repaired like ball marks. This would simplify this rule IMO.

Dave

[abz-pete]

If you're playing competitively, you should inform your fellow competitor (the one who's marking your card) of your intentions - whether it's taking relief from a cart path or casual water, or repairing a pitch mark. You need his agreement or he has the option of refusing to sign your scorecard. If he thinks it's a spike mark then you have to accept that - of course the pros have officials everywhere to help them make decisions but that doesn't happen in the amateur game.
If it's a relief situation and you either don't know the ruling or can't agree, then play the ball as it lies and take relief and play a second ball, finish out the hole with both balls and get a ruling when you return to the clubhouse.
BTW, I think the pitch mark/spike mark rule is ridiculous, and I've no idea why it hasn't been changed.

[tjhayko]

This does seem to be one of the stranger rules in golf. The difference between a spike mark and ball mark is what, that one can be intentionally inflicted by an opponent? Seems dumb to me.

[aaagc]

How do you tell the difference between a spike mark and an odd tuft of longer grass?
But how often do you actually see spikemarks with the modern plastic grips

[goshawk]

How do you tell the difference between a spike mark and an odd tuft of longer grass?
But how often do you actually see spikemarks with the modern plastic grips
They are more frequent than they should be. I've been paired with lots of guys who are wearing "soft spikes" and drag their feet on the green, or twist their feet in place and create little tufts of grass near the hole. None of these can be repaired, except by the player than made them. Of course, someone who is finished playing the hole can repair them when they are done.

[Focker Singh]

Exactly, I feel the same way. If a ball mark can be fixed, why can`t a spike mark!! This rule should be changed, especially when you have people who drag and turn their feet on the greens. The worst I`ve seen is a full 360 turn that completely ripped the green. I dont know what people are thinking sometimes, maybe they sank a birdie putt and celebrated too much!

[Golfbum]

Exactly, I feel the same way. If a ball mark can be fixed, why can`t a spike mark!! This rule should be changed, especially when you have people who drag and turn their feet on the greens. The worst I`ve seen is a full 360 turn that completely ripped the green. I dont know what people are thinking sometimes, maybe they sank a birdie putt and celebrated too much!

Same damn thing they are thinking when they drag pull carts across the greens. I witnessed that act of stupidity by a green fee player at my course yesterday. Needless to say he was told in a rather loud holler to not pull his cart across the greens. He looked at me like I was wrong. :confused:

Then there is the chunk of sod missing from one of the greens. Another bozo move, most likely by a green fee player. Our members tend to look after our course.

[tjhayko]

Same damn thing they are thinking when they drag pull carts across the greens. I witnessed that act of stupidity by a green fee player at my course yesterday. Needless to say he was told in a rather loud holler to not pull his cart across the greens. He looked at me like I was wrong. :confused:

Then there is the chunk of sod missing from one of the greens. Another bozo move, most likely by a green fee player. Our members tend to look after our course.

Whoa, watch the generalizations there! Some players (green fee or otherwise) don't think about anything but themselves out on the course, but at least half do look after the courses they play.