ok so 2 days ago i played with this guy whom i never played before so basically i have no clue how he plays. on the second hole green we ended up on the same line to make our 6 footers par putts and i was about less than a foot closer to the hole. so he'll be putting first. while the third guy was putting i went behind my ball about 10 feet away and was reading my putt then the 3rd guy finishes he's put and the next guy is the one who i ended up with the same line as me. as i was still reading my putt the guy addresses his ball and he saw me i was still behind my ball reading my putt 10 feet away so basically i was about 9-10 feet away behind him since we were on the same line. anyway when he setup on his putt and about to hit his stroke and saw me all of a sudden he stop and backed off and looked at me and said can you move? pointing me to move away from behind him and so i was like "what the hell im like 10 feet away from this dude?" although i was kinda pissed off a bit i just said hmmm its just the 2nd hole and why ruin my day so i just move away and through out the round i never spoke to the dude and i just did my own thing. what do u think happened here? is he being a jerk that he does not want me to read his putt since we were on the same line or its just simply bothers him when someone is behind him even though i was 10 feet away?

You don't stand behind someone when they are playing, pure and simple. Whether it's a putt, drive, iron shot, anything. Stand off to the side. If you stand behind him while he's putting on the same line, you're just trying to see the break of the putt. It's OK to move into that position after the ball is struck, but not while he's making the stroke.

IMO he had every right to ask you to move. I would do the same.

Kevin

Edit: It's proper etiquette to not stand behind someone. Check this:

http://www.usga.org/playing/etiquette/etiquette.html

I just think you were distracting him.

I never stand behind people when they putt, I move off to the side. They can see you in the peripheral vision.

10 ft seems awfully close to me. I think etiquette would suggest that you should be 20-30 ft away

What makes you think you have the "right" to stand behind and read his line while he putts?

You were the one breaking a rule of etiquette, common decency and respect for a playing partner.

Learn the rules and basic etiquette before playing with people you don't know.

And at the very least, don't b**** about others when you're clearly clueless!

Meh, it may have not been a great act of courtesy from yourself, but it sounds like this guy came across as a bit rude. I would never stand directly behind someone when they putt, even if it doesn't seem like a big deal to some people, you should still should respect the etiquette of the game and your playing partner.

This response is exactly correct. I am sure these weren't the responses you were expecting but they are correct. It was good of you to post. You are getting good feedback that will save you another tough moment on the golf course.

I used to play with a guy like that. Some people don't want you anywhere in their field of vision. Others just want to set up an excuse now so they can blame you after they miss the putt.

Either way, it's a war you can't win. Don't go into battle.

I get out of sight and then move in after the ball is hit. this is ok. I dont think someone should be rude about asking but simply ask nicely and just say it distracts them. i think they is a very reasonable request for anyone. i personally dont care if people talk, move or do anything short of actually touch me when I am swinging. I zone out. But some people are little girls and get all worked up.


Just be polite and show respect and educate....

rule 14-2 - Assistance

In making a stroke, a player must not: </SPAN>

b. Allow his caddie, his partner or his partner's caddie to position himself on or close to an extension of the line of play or the line of putt behind the ball.</SPAN>

Distraction or not, it's poor etiquette to stand directly behind someone when they're playing. I could hit every shot and putt with someone standing directly behind me and not be bothered one bit. But 99% of the people I've played golf with know that you DON'T do this.

Kevin

First two rules I learned when I started playing golf as a kid: 1) Dont move when other people are hitting; 2) Dont stand in anybody's sightline - always try to be where they cant see you.

Wow.

Those responses aren't that bad considering the title chosen by the OP and how he thought the other guy was wrong.

Kevin

It's against the rules to stand directly in front or behind his line while he's putting.

Like that saying goes, it's better to keep your mouth shut and be thought of a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.

All of the replies here are valid. In your case, if the guy addresses his ball & you're still reading your putt, just move and stand off to the side while he putts. Once he's done, go back to reading your putt. It's common courtesy, just like not walking through someone's line.

Another thing I can't stand is when someone stands on my putting line extended past the hole. He pulls the flag out of the hole and just stands there on the other side, right in my line of sight. Clueless.

are you "that guy"

woow! hold your horses. as you can see on the title of my post it has a "?" i should have bolded that character. i did NOT say he is a jerk that is why there was a question mark. pardon me for that ignorance but i've never experience the way i was asked to move on the course. and yes i admit that i did not know that i wasnt supposed to be there. although i know some basic stuff like don't move when somebody was making a shot. i played almost once a week with groups i never played before and have been standing behind them and not a single one told me not to but yes i dont think thats an excuse. no harm done anyways since i never said anything to the guy and just we moved on. im glad i posted this though otherwise it could have been worst the next time out. so thank you all.

oh thats not me. i rather keep my mouth open and know things i should have known. imagine if i never posted this and then we were both in the same group and stood 2 feet behind you

Gandor, credit to you for learning from this incident and our responses.

Kevin

NO because i don't asked/approach somebody to move and point him to where he should go. after all, it was a nice day without any $ involved or life and death situation.

I guess that's the problem, you were assuming the other guy was being the jerk without taking into consideration that it could have ben YOU.
So perhaps you should have left the "jerk" bit out of your post entirely.

Many of us learn the game, and its rules and nuances, from a more experienced friend or family member that usually sets us straight on what to do and what not to do.....while perhaps many more learn the game by showing up at the course and playing - and unfortunately miss a LOT.


There are several websites, including the USGA site, that have a list of the Rules Of Golf - including an etiquette section - that's probably worth your while to do some studying up, and that way you won't find yourself in a quandry again quite so quickly.

thanks man! i never take anything negatively especially if it makes me better.

it would be nice if we all have all the time to do so but if thats the case i think forums wouldnt have much topic to discuss btw, i think if i "assumed" then there would not be a question mark.

Wel ... I mean, the OP was in the wrong (as he now probably knows - in spades) ... but some of the responses seem a tad over the top.

I don't know how old he is, or how long he's been playing, but really, it takes a long time to learn all the nuances of rules and etiquette. No one is aware of all of them after just a few years, in fact, weekenders that have been playing for decades don't always seem to know even some seemingly basic rules, or etiquette.

Probably the average Saturday foursome in the US does have awareness of things like raking sand traps and replacing divots ... but as far as standing behind someone (either on the tee box, or during putting), goodness, half the foursomes I play with when I walk on as a single (even relatively good golfers) seem to have no awareness of it.

So now, presumably the OP does, and he won't do it again. But that's how people learn. Pummeling the poor fellow in a rugby scrum probably wasn't entirely necessary ...

Forget etiquette.... it's against the rules.

Agree. Lots of guys wouldn't take some of these comments so well. Good on ya dude.

im glad you asked. im 32 yrs old but i've been playing for 1 yr now you maybe right other people i played it probably didnt know too or they are just too nice and didnt want to hurt my feelings.

True - but as a relatively "new" golfer it would be my advice to always consider yourself in the wrong. You could have even asked one of the other members of your 4-some that day, "hey, what's up with that?" and they likely would have filled you in - and then your day on the course wouldn't have been as stressful and you could have had the time to apologize to the guy you offended with your little "etiquette faux pas"..... if you know what I mean

thanks man! i'll post this again even if i knew this would be the outcome. at least now i know and probably other newbies like me would know now too.

it would have been nice if i can at least understand koreans with the other twosome i dont think sign launguage would help in that type of situation to get some insight but your point is taken

I learned from this post. Normally I stand sufficiently far from the person putting, but not because I knew it was the right thing to do.

Gandor,
The reason why no one has ever said anything to you before for standing behind their line is because you've probably played with really polite/nice people who just ignored you doing this. I assume you don't play much tournament golf. If you were in a USGA tourney then I can almost gurantee that your competitor would say something to you. In a casual game most people won't care if someone in their group was reading their line throughout the shot (at least I wouldn't). The person who told you to move off your line was probably someone who gets easily bothered with someone standing there or plays a lot of tournament golf and was just in tournament mode. He should have been more polite about it though.

During a practice round I have no problems with my playing competitor standing behind me however during a tourney I'd say something (politely of course) because it is common courtesy and a breech of rules.

The guy actually was a jerk like you said as he should have showed some courtesy to you and been nice about it. If he took the time to explain this rule to you, you wouldn't even have to post a thread here and get flamed by other people as well.

Just my $.02.

EXACTLY. like you i really dont mind small stuff like this espcially playing casually. i played a few times where some guys actually stepping on my line but didnt bother to say anything but the more i think about it now i should have said something so he would know the next time he play with other groups.

Actually, it's NOT against the rules, as he was not the other players partner or caddie nor was he pointing out the line of the putt. If he were the other players partner or caddie, and he were pointing out the line, the penalty would have been assessed to the player that is putting. That said, it is a breach of etiquette, as the OP now knows.

I have had other players do this on occasion (stand on an extension of my line to read their putt). It has always been relatively new players. I usually let it pass and then explain to them after the fact (maybe on the next tee) that it is considered poor etiquette to stand behind a player to read their putt.

^^^ So true, so true. I couldn't have stated it any better

My own golfing buddies are not aware of this.

In golf rules terminology, a "partner" is part of a team competition, so in this case the OP is not the player's partner but rather a "fellow competitor," so it is not a violation of the ROG.

You are not supposed to stand behind somebodies line and read the putt when he is playing.

You are the one out of order.

He had every right to ask you to move.

Some people would not be bothered at all, while others are. In my opinion the guy may have been able to ask you in a nicer way or perhaps let you putt first. Did you notice if he praticed what he preached?

i didnt notice coz i guess im one of the few that dont care. u can even stand behind me as long as we dont touch skin, i have no problem. LOL

Moral of the story is it's not against the rules but proper etiquette is nearly as important in this "gentlemen's" sport. Then again so is helping people understand the rules and etiquette without berating them.

If we were all better ambassadors the game of golf wouldn't have such an elitist reputation.

Maybe some would argue your tact in asking the question, but at least you asked...it's supposed to be a gentleman's game (in the non sexist sense for CYA) and you've learned something. I wish more folks would take the time to ask and learn v. showing up in cutoffs, muscle shirts and attitudes.

Golf is a game that places a great deal of importance in behavior that reflects good sportsmanship and gentility. That means that one treats a competitor in the way one would like to be treated. While your competitor was in the right, he or she might have violated the spirit of the game if he treated you rudely. Being right is important but so is being a gentleman or woman. Taking a competitor aside and asking politely if he or she would mind stepping away from the line of vision is much more likely to accomplish the necessary behavior than barking at him or her. No one likes to be embarrassed. There is really no good outcome that can come from humiliation. Your opponent was right - but ultimately wrong. I will certainly remember this the next time I am the object of a breach of etiquette. I hope you will remember how bad you felt in this case and not repeat your competitors churlish behavior.

This same spirit of good fellowship should also extend to a website dedicated to golf. Those who speak without gentility, about the need for good sportsmanship and observance of proper etiquette, are at best being disingenuous. JMHO

This is correct. If he wasn't YOUR partner you did not break a rule.

It's also good that you had the concern to ASK what the deal was. Honestly, it would be nice if more new golfers would be as interested in the "what to do's" rather than just bow up and make it uncomfortable for the entire group.

Take some of these harsher criticisms with a grain of salt, because I bet EVERYONE on this site has, at one time or another, ignorantly broke a rule or breached some etiquette. We all have done something, and it's the uncomfortable lessons that usually last the longest

Sounds like you've got the right attitude about it, but don't hesitate to ask the others in your group if something doesn't seem right. Something that may not have been mentioned is that you would also not want to be reading your putt (from the same line) as the other guy while he was making his final read. You can't go wrong if you give the guy who's playing the whole stage

Exactly. I've been sitting here trying to type up a reply of this nature, but this is spot on.

Standing in ones sightline is the same if not worse than standing in their through-line.
Have you noticed that the newer golfers in the past 5 years have NO clue to what this is? <-- This drives me crazy!

How about the guy that pulls the flag for you while you are looking at a putt that breaks 4-feet and he does the little "jump over the direct line to the hole" and lands with his 230lb-a** dead in the middle of your line. <---- when this happens it is the start of a long day!

He was right, you were wrong.

According to the original post, the player noticed the OP in his line, stepped away, and said "Can you move". Doesn't seem rude to me, and it certainly wasn't the least bit humiliating. His opponent was okay as far as I'm concerned, it seems a stretch to say that he was barking. What more should he have done? Are you upset because he didn't say please?

Bottom line is the OP was somewhere he shouldn't have been, the other player asked him to move, and the OP somehow got all offended by it. The OP was clearly in the wrong.