Demasiado cansado para traducir... quizás mañana:
De las FAQ's de R&A:
1. Why can't spike marks be repaired?
The repair of spike marks which might assist the player in his subsequent play of the hole would constitute a breach of Rule 16-1c. Since it is not always possible to distinguish spike marks from other damage or irregularities of surface, allowing the repair of spike marks would, in effect, entail permitting any damage or irregularity of surface on the putting green to be repaired. This is contrary to the fundamental principle of "playing the course as you find it" and it would undoubtedly lead to an increase of slow play as players attempt to perfect their line of putt.
De leith:
I found a confirmation in an article by WILLIAM J. WILLIAMS, then JR.Vice President of the USGA and former Chairman of the USGA’s Rules of Golf Committee in an official USGA periodical:
(...) There is no relief for spike marks on
a putting green. For a while the European
Tour and the South African Tour
had local rules permitting repair of
spike marks, but no more. (...)
Al parecer, esta regla local existió en los años 60, pero no llegó a durar ni siquiera una temporada completa.
Ýo diría que se trata de una falsa regla local. Estoy convencido de que el PGA Tour no tiene tal regla local. Aunque no tengo las reglas locales del PGATour del 2008, existe un acuerdo con el European Tour de que las reglas locales sean las mismas, para evitar confundir a los jugadores que juegan ambos circuitos. Y en las del ET de 2008, desde luego que no está.