blindfth
Oct 11 2008, 12:33 PM
Is there a rule for using something as a ball marker?
And should we always mark on the green?
Once I offered a coin to my playing buddy while he was using a bright red tee.
He rarely mark his ball and if he does, he's using tees.
klaymon
Oct 11 2008, 12:48 PM
You can essentially use anything to mark your ball's location.
Pinehurst1999
Oct 11 2008, 01:10 PM
Yup...you can you anything you like to mark your ball, but others can ask you to move your mark from the original location if they desire.
blindfth
Oct 11 2008, 01:34 PM
Thanks, guys.
I thought there is certain rule for markers.
I'll keep using my small, flat marker everytime.
ohcanada17
Oct 11 2008, 02:59 PM
well actually... on the green you are not suppose to use anything that penetrates the green as a mark, because that can be considered 'testing the ground' and you could be penalized...
for example, those plastic markers that proshops give away with the plastic point... well those are not legal for tournament play.
I only know this because in a local provincial qualifier... there was a guy called on it!
BDLz
Oct 11 2008, 03:36 PM
QUOTE(ohcanada17 @ Oct 11 2008, 02:59 PM)

well actually... on the green you are not suppose to use anything that penetrates the green as a mark, because that can be considered 'testing the ground' and you could be penalized...
for example, those plastic markers that proshops give away with the plastic point... well those are not legal for tournament play.
I only know this because in a local provincial qualifier... there was a guy called on it!
Actually, I'm pretty sure that's not true. I know Stewart Cink uses those to mark his balls in tournament play. If sticking a ball marker into the green is considered 'testing the ground', then what would you consider fixing a ball mark?
BDLz
frozen_rope
Oct 11 2008, 03:47 PM
Using a tee as a ball marker is poor etiquette.
QUOTE(blindfth @ Oct 11 2008, 12:33 PM)

Is there a rule for using something as a ball marker?
And should we always mark on the green?
Once I offered a coin to my playing buddy while he was using a bright red tee.
He rarely mark his ball and if he does, he's using tees.
ohcanada17
Oct 11 2008, 03:59 PM
under rule 16-1 D, During the stipulated round, a player must not test the surface of any putting green by rolling a ball or roughening or scraping the surface.
And from the interpretation I received was that a marker that breaks the surface of the green is considered to be testing! You can repair a ball mark, but if you read the rule, even if you remove a loose impedemant (rock, acorn, etc) and repair the hole or place it was in, its a penalty...
SUBPARJ
Oct 11 2008, 04:06 PM
QUOTE(ohcanada17 @ Oct 11 2008, 02:59 PM)

under rule 16-1 D, During the stipulated round, a player must not test the surface of any putting green by rolling a ball or roughening or scraping the surface.
And from the interpretation I received was that a marker that breaks the surface of the green is considered to be testing! You can repair a ball mark, but if you read the rule, even if you remove a loose impedemant (rock, acorn, etc) and repair the hole or place it was in, its a penalty...
Where did you get the interpretation? Because that doesn't sound anything close to accurate. I would say FALSE.
Maybe thats a Canadian rule?
kevcarter
Oct 11 2008, 04:20 PM
20-1/16 Method Used to Mark Position of Ball
Q. The Note to Rule 20-1 provides that the position of a ball to be lifted should be marked by placing a ball-marker, a small coin or other similar object immediately behind the ball. Is a player penalized if he uses an object that is not similar to a ball-marker or small coin to mark the position of his ball?
A. No. The provision in the Note to Rule 20-1 is a recommendation of best practice, but there is no penalty for failing to act in accordance with the Note.
Examples of methods of marking the position of a ball that are not recommended, but are permissible, are as follows:
placing the toe of a club at the side of, or behind, the ball;
using a tee;
using a loose impediment;
...
BDLz
Oct 11 2008, 04:53 PM
Thanks Kev, that's what I thought.
BDLz
Pinehurst1999
Oct 11 2008, 05:38 PM
QUOTE(frozen_rope @ Oct 11 2008, 04:47 PM)

Using a tee as a ball marker is poor etiquette.
QUOTE(blindfth @ Oct 11 2008, 12:33 PM)

Is there a rule for using something as a ball marker?
And should we always mark on the green?
Once I offered a coin to my playing buddy while he was using a bright red tee.
He rarely mark his ball and if he does, he's using tees.
It is not poor etiquette. Everyone on here has been caught without their marker on a green and had to use the only think in their pocket, usually a tee. No one really uses one for every hole, every round. Anyway, etiquette is not a rule, this was a rule question.
Pinehurst1999
Oct 11 2008, 05:39 PM
QUOTE(ohcanada17 @ Oct 11 2008, 04:59 PM)

under rule 16-1 D, During the stipulated round, a player must not test the surface of any putting green by rolling a ball or roughening or scraping the surface.
And from the interpretation I received was that a marker that breaks the surface of the green is considered to be testing! You can repair a ball mark, but if you read the rule, even if you remove a loose impedemant (rock, acorn, etc) and repair the hole or place it was in, its a penalty...
Based on that interpretation, walking on the green with spikes are testing the putting surface. EVERYONE...MAKE SURE NOT TO WALK ON THE GREEN!
hoganfan924
Oct 11 2008, 05:47 PM
QUOTE(KevCarter @ Oct 11 2008, 05:20 PM)

20-1/16 Method Used to Mark Position of Ball
Q. The Note to Rule 20-1 provides that the position of a ball to be lifted should be marked by placing a ball-marker, a small coin or other similar object immediately behind the ball. Is a player penalized if he uses an object that is not similar to a ball-marker or small coin to mark the position of his ball?
A. No. The provision in the Note to Rule 20-1 is a recommendation of best practice, but there is no penalty for failing to act in accordance with the Note.
Examples of methods of marking the position of a ball that are not recommended, but are permissible, are as follows:
placing the toe of a club at the side of, or behind, the ball;
using a tee;
using a loose impediment;
...
This clarification of the rule is a fairly recent one. I know of a player on this forum that was either penalized or DQ'd (can't remember which) in a Canadian Tour event about 20 years ago for using a tee to mark his ball!
larrybud
Oct 13 2008, 08:27 PM
Drives me nuts when people don't mark their balls when they're 2 or 3 feet from the hole. Generally happens when I'm paired up with very casual golfers.
What's so hard about throwing a couple of dimes in your pocket?
frozen_rope
Oct 13 2008, 10:47 PM
This is why using a tee (or even worse, a divot fixer) is poor etiquette.
Really, any marker larger than about the size of a quarter is discourteous to playing companions.
QUOTE(larrybud @ Oct 13 2008, 08:27 PM)

Drives me nuts when people don't mark their balls when they're 2 or 3 feet from the hole. Generally happens when I'm paired up with very casual golfers.
What's so hard about throwing a couple of dimes in your pocket?
blindfth
Oct 14 2008, 03:31 AM
I see many players who.....
do not mark their balls, don't carry divot tools and don't care for their s***.
walking around, looking at his lie angle at the opposite side of the hole while playing partner is ready to put.
"Giving away" gimme for 5 footer putt and clear your ball from his turf but takes 5 minutes to finish his 1 footer all the time.
No rules were broken but I just don't play with those people.
How do you call those "poor etiquette"?
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