The Rules of Golf are tricky! Thankfully, we’ve got the guru. Our Rules Guy knows the book front to back. Got a question? He’s got all the answers.
I bought an Odyssey Ai-ONE putter last year; this year’s model added a white half-circle on top for alignment. Rather than plunk down my credit card again, I bought white circle stickers, cut one in half, affixed it to my “old” putter and — voilà! — I have the new putter, or a reasonable approximation. But is it a Rules violation? — Thomas Kapp, Hartsdale, NY
Thomas, we have a name for your putter: the Kapp Sticky Half-Moon DIY. All we ask for is a 10 percent cut of future sales….
For definitive word, the USGA would certainly want to view at least an image of your modification; essentially, however, it depends upon the nature of the adhesive used to affix the sticker to the top of the clubhead.
Let us introduce you to the applicable Equipment Rule — Part 2, 1a, the external attachment clause. Historically, the Equipment Rules prohibited any external attachment to the club other than a few exceptions based on traditional use. Two well-known examples were lead tape for weighting and fixing a suction cup to the butt of the grip to facilitate lifting the ball from the hole. (These exceptions, and a couple of others, still apply.) The exceptions were all regarded as temporary in nature — that is, they weren’t bonded to the club and, if so, they were considered a part of the club such that the club would have to confirm to all provisions in its altered form.
Still with us? We’re proud of you. In the 2000s, the Equipment Rules were modified to allow for other forms of adjustment on all clubs upon review by the governing bodies. (Yes, weight adjustability had been permitted as far back at the 1980s, and other forms expanded to putters later.) A guideline was created to provide guardrails around what could be permitted.
And breathe…. So, why all this background? Provided that the sticker you affixed doesn’t encroach into the face and is considered in nature either permanent or semi-permanent (durable, not easily removable, and not reusable and/or must be essentially destroyed upon removable), the application of such a sticker would be permissible.
You got that? Permissible.
Had enough? No? Okay, see Equipment Rules, Interpretation 1.a(5). Its most relevant part: “Attachments to the clubhead (other than the face), such as protective coverings, decorative items or alignment aids, provided the item is semi-permanent. However, such items must not excessively protrude from the clubhead and must conform to the shape of the clubhead. Permanent additions to a clubhead would be considered part of the head and, therefore, the head, in its modified state, would have to conform to Part 2, Section 4 of the Equipment Rules (i.e. for dimensions and “plain in shape”).”
And with that, Rules Guy is off for a long nap.
For more club-modification guidance from our guru, read on …
I’m a player who can’t wait to see the ball go in (or miss) the hole when putting, so I tend to look up too early. To cure this habit, I wrote “Don’t look” up on top of the putterhead as a reminder. A buddy hinted that I may be violating a rule. Am I? —Romy Dionisius, Tempe, Ariz.
In a word, no … assuming that you’re using, say, a Sharpie. Engraving is also legal. (Rules Guy has “Make this…or else!” tattooed on his own flatstick.)
You could run into issues that might render the club nonconforming by taping or otherwise fastening instructions to old Billy Baroo. So, please, no Post-It notes or dry-erase boards.
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