"I've asked at least a dozen times (plus two more since I first posed this question to you) what the reasoning behind Decision 20-3a/2 and the USGA position that the cheater line is legal, despite Rule 8-2b, despite rule 14-3, despite Decision 14-2/4, despite the tee definition, despite the fundamental skill of aligning yourself from an address position, despite the fact that they banned croquet-style putting ....
The question is "why?" What is the reasoning? The only reasoning on this topic from the USGA is in Decision 14-2/4 and it actually argues against the cheater line. So what's the principle in that golf bible that they all keep under their pillows at night that is soooooo powerful that it overrules all this other stuff?"
David:
And I've answered you a number of times and I've given you the reasons why the Rules interpret this situation as they do. Apparently you either don't want to hear the reasons why or you are just being ridiculously intransigent for whatever reason.
Furthermore, you've now taken to referring to Tufts "Principles Behind the Rules of Golf" as some on-going oracle kept under select Rules people's pillows that answers any Rules situation extant with some carefully crafted "principle" that directly addresses any and every situation that may happen on a golf course.
Tuft's book does nothing of the kind. It's a very small book that addresses the basic and fundamental principles behind the Rules of the game. His listed "Principles" include what he refers to as the "Two Great Principles" and he lists ten others he calls "The Working Principles". There is a short chapter in the book on "advice" but nothing to be found about a line to indicate the line for putting.
So Tuft's book is not going to be much help in this discussion.
What will be of help is an explanation of why the Rules makers today and the Rules makers who wrote and interpreted these Rules we are discussing in this situation you call a "cheater line" on a golf ball made and make the interpretations they do regarding that identification line on a golf ball when used to align a golf ball to indicate the line of putting.
And I've explained that to you a number of times---eg--
They do not feel an "indentification" line on a golf ball (or a line created by a manufacturer's trademark constitutes a violation of Rule 14 when used in this way and in Rule 8-2b they are only referring to a line on the putting green and not a line on a golf ball, although admittedly their use of the word "anywhere" in the last sentence of Rule 8-2b is misleading to some such as yourself and it is admittedly not as clearly written as it might be or even should be.
But again, and despite that, I can absolutely guarantee you what they do mean in these Rules and Decisions we've been discussing here in this context of what you referred to as a "cheater line" on a golf ball. I mean that David---I can guarantee it and you can too if you'd just bother to ask the USGA or R&A Rules of Golf Committees or any other competent Rules official.
That's what they are there for, David, to interpret and explain the Rules of Golf. It's not for you to interpret them contrary to their interpretation, and it's certainly not for you to apply them contrary to their interpretations. Your responsibility in playing golf is to apply them as THEY interpret them. Our responsibility as Rules officials is to apply them as THEY write and interpret them.
Now go back to work---and if and when you do, God help your clients and opposing counselors.
Furthermore, David, I know what you're really up to here, and I'm sure most others do too. It's the same thing you always try to do and imply in these types of threads. You're simply trying to make it look like you are capable of writing the Rules of Golf and interpreting them better than the USGA and R&A and those who are actually responsible for doing those things.
Maybe you're right that you are more capable of writing the language within the Rules of Golf book but the fact is you aren't doing that and you're probably not likely to be doing that any time soon.
They do that and we only need to know what they mean in those Rules and how to apply what they mean. We can do both by simply applying what they really do mean and if something is confusing just ask them for clarification. That's what they're there for.
Again, just like us, you need to do no more than that.