From: kim@guppy.uucp (Isaac Kim)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.golf
Subject: Re: golf shoes, spike marks, rules question
Date: 25 Dec 1992 09:08:49 GMT
Organization: UC San Diego
NNTP-Posting-Host: guppy.ucsd.edu

In article <2934219410.15.p00168@psilink.com> "James F. Tims" <p00168@psilink.com> writes:
>>  Neil W. Lareau <lareau@esmlsun.gatech.edu>
>>
>>The discussion of spiked versus non-spiked shoes reminded me of something I 
>>thought I heard.  Somebody shed some light on this please.
>>
>>I understand there has been a USGA ruling (it may not be recent) regarding 
>>a player fixing spike marks.
>>
>>1) I know that before you putt, you are allowed to repair ball-marks but not 
>>spike marks.
>
>True.  The rule has taken a few flops, but that's where it stands now.
>
>>
>>2) After I putt, if I see spike marks on the green, I usually tamp them down 
>>with my putter.  There is usually some sloth that scuffs up the greens in 
>>front of me.

Those ugly spike marks wouldn't happen if he or she was wearing soft-soled 
tennis shoes.

>>3) Rule question:  I understand now that in tournament play, it is illegal 
>>for me to fix the spike marks on a green, even after we have completed the 
>>hole.  I understood it had some origin in college team golf, with players '
>>fixing greens for the players behind them.
>
>You may tamp them down.  You may not tamp down marks in another player's
>line before he putts, for obvious reasons.  Chip Beck is the champion tamper
>downer of old spike marks.  A veritable avitar of altruism.
>
>Raking traps is pretty much demanded, with strong etiquette sanctions.
>Tamping down spike marks is a noble undertaking.  8^)

Don't you think that tapping down spike marks that you know you 
have caused (usually by the ripping sound of the grass on the greens) 
by dragging your feet should also be demanded "with strong etiquette 
sanctions".  

Most players I know will tap down their own obvious spike 
marks after the group has putted out.
But Jim, before you claim that this statement completely justifies 
your previously posted statement:

>As a statistical collection, IMO, those who wear golf shoes care more about 
>maintaining the condition of the course than those who don't.

let me remind you that those of us who play in soft-soled tennis shoes
don't need to tap down our spike marks.  

>
>>Neil W. Lareau
>
>  ,...,.,,
> /666;    ',    jim tims
>////;    _~ -   p00168@psilink.com
>(/@/----0-~-0
> ;'  . `` ~ \'
>  , `    ' , >
>;;|\..((   -C---->> And I think it's a stupid goddamned rule, BTW

My guess is that you are refering to the first rule mentioned in the post:

>>1) I know that before you putt, you are allowed to repair ball-marks but not 
>>spike marks.

I read somewhere in Golf Digest I think about Lee Trevino explaining this
rule.  They had to draw the line somewhere because if they allowed players
to completely "garden" their putting path to the hole, the already obnoxious 
amount of time spent on the greens would get completely out of hand.
Let me also remind you that you wouldn't have this problem with the 
repairing spike marks rule if everybody ahead of you were playing in 
soft-soled tennis shoes.

Do you not like this rule because it makes putting "unfair"?
Maybe you would also like it if the USGA switched to winter rules
permanently so you would never get a bad lie in the fairway?
Or let you wipe off any mud that your ball has accumulated before
you reach the green that was not from casual water or ground under 
repair?

You need to learn how to play out of crappy lies, or hit with mud on 
your ball, or putt around or through spike marks to become a
more complete player.  Look at how well the Europeans play in
America after playing alot on much poorer conditioned courses in Europe.
Although I guess it never helped Bernard Langer when he needed to
get by that spike mark on the last putt of the last Ryder Cup.

Happy holidays,
Isaac (kim@bull.ucsd.edu)