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Q.
The player has finished play of the hole, and then rakes the ball back with the club and has a practice putt, is this permitted?
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A.
Under Rule 5.5, – practicing during a round or while play is stopped, it is permissible to have a practice putt on the putting green just completed.
HOWEVER, what you will most likely find in Tour stroke play events is that the players aren’t permitted to have a practice putt on the green just completed, because the Committee has adopted Local Rule I-2.
SO THE RULES IS:
Rule 5.5:
Practising During Round or While Play Is Stopped
a
No Practice Strokes While Playing Hole
While playing a hole, a player must not make a practice stroke at any ball on or off the course.
These are not practice strokes:
A practice swing made with no intent to strike a ball.
Hitting a ball back to a practice area or to another player, when done solely as a courtesy.
Strokes made by a player in playing out a hole whose result has been decided.
b
Restriction on Practice Strokes Between Two Holes
Between two holes, a player must not make a practice stroke.
Exception – Where Player Allowed to Practise Putting or Chipping: The player may practise putting or chipping on or near:
The putting green of the hole just completed and any practice green (see Rule 13.1e), and
The teeing area of the next hole.
But such practice strokes must not be made from a bunker and must not unreasonably delay play (see Rule 5.6a).
See Committee Procedures, Section 8; Model Local Rule I-2 (the Committee may adopt a Local Rule prohibiting practice putting or chipping on or near the putting green of the hole just completed).
c
Practice While Play Is Suspended or Otherwise Stopped
While play is suspended or otherwise stopped under Rule 5.7a, a player must not make a practice stroke except:
As allowed in Rule 5.5b,
Anywhere outside the course, and
Anywhere on the course the Committee allows.
If a match is stopped by agreement of the players and will not be resumed on the same day, the players may practise on the course without restriction before the match is resumed.
Penalty for Breach of Rule 5.5: General Penalty.
If the breach happens between two holes, the penalty applies to the next hole.
AND THE LOCAL RULE THAT CAN BE ADOPTED IS:
Prohibiting Practising on or Near Previous Putting Green
Purpose. Rule 5.5b allows a player, between the play of two holes, to practise putting or chipping on or near the putting green of the hole just completed. But if this may affect pace of play or for other reasons, the Committee can choose to prohibit such practice.
Model Local Rule I-2
“Rule 5.5b is modified in this way:
Between the play of two holes, a player must not:
Make any practice stroke on or near the putting green of the hole just completed, or
Test the surface of that putting green by rubbing the putting green or rolling a ball.
Penalty for Breach of Local Rule: General Penalty.”
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