Golf Rules: What Counts as a Putting Stroke?

Question
My buddy says if your putting from off of the green it does not count as a putting stroke.I say any time you stroke at the ball with a putter club it counts as a putting stroke. Who is rite?
An where can this answer be found in the golf rule book

Answer
Hi there and thank you for asking. Although I am not certain in which golf books you may find this information, I will answer the main part of your question.  A "putt" is a stroke made ON THE PUTTING SURFACE.  There is no provisional statement on the TYPE of club used.  I know that sounds more illogical, but those are the rules.

So if you use a driver on the putting greens and hit it 300 yards for fun over the houses, that is technically a putt. If you are 1cm off the putting green on the fairway fringe and strike the ball with your putter, and the ball goes in the hole, you technically had ZERO putts on that hole.

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