Repairing Ball Marks and Spike Marks
Also known as: repair ball marks, repairing ball marks, fix ball marks, fixing ball marks, repair pitch marks, fix pitch marks, spike marks, fix spike marks, repair spike marks, repairing the green
Yes, you may repair spike marks, ball marks and almost any other damage on the putting green, even on your putting line. That includes shoe damage, old hole plugs, turf seams, scrapes from equipment or the flagstick, and animal tracks. You may not repair natural imperfections, such as aeration holes, uneven growth or weeds, or the natural wear of the hole.
Rule 13.1c lets you repair damage on the putting green without penalty. Repairable damage includes ball marks, spike marks and other shoe damage, and scrapes from equipment or a flagstick. It also covers old hole plugs, turf plugs, seams of cut turf, animal tracks and hoof marks. Embedded objects and the dents they leave count too. You may use your hand, foot, a tee, a club, a ball-mark repair tool or similar normal equipment. You may also remove sand and loose soil from the green.
Some things are not damage and must be left as they are. These include aeration holes and grooves from vertical mowing. They also include the effects of irrigation, rain or other natural forces. Natural surface imperfections, such as weeds or uneven growth, and the natural wear of the hole are not damage either. Repairs must not go beyond restoring the green to its original condition. Pressing down a path to the hole, for example, brings the general penalty. Repairs also must not unreasonably delay play.
This permission applies only on the putting green. Fixing your own ball mark and any others you see on the green is good etiquette. It helps everyone's putts roll truer.
Tips by skill level
Carry a ball-mark repair tool. Fix your own ball mark every time you reach the green, and fix any damage on your line before you putt.
Repair damage as part of your green-reading routine, so it doesn't add time. Don't try to repair aeration holes or natural imperfections; read them into the putt instead.
Example
Lining up a 12-foot putt, a golfer sees a raised spike mark and an unrepaired ball mark on her line. She fixes both with her repair tool, then putts. There is no penalty, because both are damage the Rules let her repair.
Why it matters
Many golfers still think spike marks on their line can't be fixed. Knowing what you may repair gives your putt a fairer roll and keeps greens in good shape for everyone.
Common mistakes
- Thinking spike marks on your line still can't be repaired
- Pressing down aeration holes or patchy grass, which are not damage
- Tapping down more of the line than the damage needs
- Leaving your own ball mark unrepaired
Frequently asked questions
Can I fix spike marks on my line?
Yes. Rule 13.1c lets you repair spike marks and other shoe damage anywhere on the putting green, including on your line of putt.
Can I repair a ball mark on my putting line?
Yes. Ball marks are damage you may repair on the putting green. The repair must not go beyond restoring the green or unreasonably delay play.
Can I repair aeration holes on the green?
No. Aeration holes are not damage under the Rules, along with natural imperfections like weeds or uneven growth and the natural wear of the hole.
Sources
Related terms
- Marking Your Ball on the GreenOnce your ball is on the putting green, you may mark, lift and clean it whenever you like. First place a ball-marker, or hold a club on the ground, right behind or right next to the ball. Replace the ball on exactly the same spot, and remove the marker before you putt. Lifting a ball without marking it first costs one penalty stroke.
- Golf EtiquetteGolf etiquette comes down to safety, pace and care of the course. Wait until the group ahead is out of range, shout 'fore' if your ball heads toward anyone, and keep up with the group in front. Repair ball marks, replace or fill divots and rake bunkers after you play from them.
- PuttingPutting is rolling the ball along the ground toward the hole using a flat-faced club (putter). A round of 90 with 36 putts spends 40% of its strokes on the green, so putting adds up fast.
- Reading BreakReading break is predicting how much, and which way, a putt will curve based on slope. It is a separate skill from the putting stroke: a well-struck putt on a misread line still misses.
- Flagstick In or Out When PuttingUnder the Rules of Golf you choose before each stroke: leave the flagstick in, have it removed, or have someone attend it. This applies even when putting from on the green. If your ball hits a flagstick left in the hole, there is no penalty and you play it as it lies. A ball resting against the flagstick counts as holed if any part of it is below the surface of the green.
- DivotA divot is the strip of turf taken after impact with an iron. Its location and direction reveal your low point and club path — a free, visible feedback tool.
Related guides & benchmarks
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