There is disclosed a golf putter having a unique shape that improves putting performance. The putter has a more or less conventional head with a flat, ball-striking surface. The shaft of the putter has a rectangular cross section and is formed of a visibly opaque material. A highly visible marker is located on the shaft band to be shielded from the player's view by the shaft when the club is properly oriented, and visible to the player when the club head is open or closed, thereby indicating to the user whether the putter face is open, closed, or properly aligned. The shaft can be tapered and is rectangular in cross section and terminates with a handle which is also rectangular in cross section. The preferred putter has front surfaces for the handle, shaft and putter face which are parallel. Most preferably, the rear surfaces of the handle, shaft and putter face are also parallel and, most preferably, are also co-planar, thereby permitting reversal of the putter between left and right handed players. In the preferred embodiment, the surfaces of the handle are flush with the mating surfaces of the shaft and both of the front and rear surfaces of the handle have a highly visible band to indicate to the user whether the putter face is open, closed, or properly aligned.