Backstopping

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is Backstopping? (Rule 15.3) Backstopping refers to a ball or ball marker on the putting green that could potentially help another player in making a stroke. For instance, a player hits their ball to two feet from the hole and would potentially serve as an extra obstacle to stop and slow down another player's ball as it nears the hole. Aside from the flagstick, there is generally not supposed to be anything that would help another ball slow up as it nears the hole.

 

 

Protecting the Field. When you are playing in a stroke play event, you are playing against every other player in the field. So if a player were to "help" another player out, they are negatively impacting the rest of the field involved. The Rules outline that a player is not to use another player's ball (when reasonable) to help them in their play of the hole. If a player ever thinks that another ball may help another player when it is on the putting green and near the hole, that player may request that the ball be marked and lifted to not serve as a backstop. This is true even if it is not your ball that is next to the hole or a ball about to be played. It can be two other players in your group and if you request that a ball be lifted to avoid backstopping, those other two players must comply or they will each get the general penalty.

 

For instance, Player C may ask Player B to mark his ball that is next to the hole if he (Player C) thinks that Player B's ball would help serve as a backstop for Player A's chip shot just about to be played from just off the putting green.

 

 

When is it not Backstopping. This Rule is not applicable when it is clearly unreasonable that a ball would serve as a backstop. There is no hard and fast line, but if a player is 150-yards away it would be unreasonable (and bad for pace of play) if another player requested a ball that is near the hole be marked and lifted to avoid backstopping before the 150-yard shot.

 

Agreement to Backstop. (Rule 15.3a) If two players in stroke play (especially partners in a team event), agree to backstop during a round, each player that is part of the agreement will be penalized two penalty strokes, even if there is no contact. If a stroke is made the penalty will apply no matter what. There is also no room for ignorance when applying this Rule. 

 

Match Play. (Interpretation 15.3a/2) In match play, backstopping is actually not an action that will draw penalty. Since stroke play is every competitor playing against every competitor, an undue advantage between two specific players must carry a penalty. In match play, you are only playing your opponent and any advantage given to an opponent only affects you and nobody else. So, if you want to let your ball serve as a backstop to help you opponent, that is purely up to how nice you want to be during your match.