Located on the putting surface, the "line" of ones putt is the desired path a player wishes to take in order to hole out a putt. There is no actual line as the diagrams below illustrate however there is an accepted imaginary path that a golfer wishes to play the ball to. Not all putting "lines" are a straight line from the ball to the hole. Because of the variety of slopes on the putting surfaces that a golfer may have to negotiate. A golfer may choose a strategic "line" that accommodates this slope and this line will have a bending affect called "break" as illustrated in pictures "C" and "D" below.
The "line" is a very sensitive area to golfers and should always be observed and made aware when playing with others.

	A
B	C	D

When everyone in your group is on the putting surface each golfer will have their own putting "line" as indicated by the yellow lines below in picture "F". We all must use good judgement with identifying the putting "lines" of others when arriving to the putting surface. You should do everything possible to avoid stepping on someone elses "line". Stepping on a line of a putt could very well make an indentation "foot print" in the putting surface. Especially if the putting surfaces have moisture. A ball rolling through this foot print could bounce or even deflect a ball off of the desired line of the putt. Here is an example of someone stepping on another persons "line" in picture "G"..

E

F

G

Respecting possible Margins in the line of a putt

In Reality the respect for a line of a putt widens to margins to the right and left of the intentional path. From experiences we all now that when we hole out a putt it does not always fall into the center of the cup every time. In fact many of our holed putts that go in do not enter the center at all. Please take a look at the possible "in play" margins in the following pictures as indicated by the two red line on the left and the red line on the right. The ball can roll between these two red line margins and have a reasonable chance to hole out. It is impossible to know the exact margins of every ball in play because there is always the exception. However the main issue is that we need to exercise respect for this area and identify them and try to avoid them with our feet and clubs and anything else that may disturb this area. If you find yourself in a situation where you think you are not certain and need to step within another players putting line margins always ask the other player if you are interfering with their line and act accordingly.

Because the ball has a reasonable chance to hole out if it rolls between these (red) margins it is important for us to again respect this area and not to step on it or press on it with a club.

Prepared by: Caesarea Golf Club Professional Manager, Andi Santos.