What is the best way to approach someone you feel is replacing their ball ahead of their marker.

i'd say a witty remark would be the best approach.

"Did you hear where they are putting the new Wal Mart"
"No, where"?
"Between your ball and your marker"!

Ya I agree on using the witty remark, but if you aren't playing the guy for money, he is only cheating himself, and if you are playing him for money, then I would use the following:

"If you keep moving your ball fwd when you mark it, it's going to make for a long round when I break your thumbs"

I agree it only matters if you're playing a match. If you are then call him on it.

Play with a guy that does this continually. One day I just told him, stop moving your ball closer to the hole when you put it back down a__hole. This pretty much put an end to it.

I have had this happen a few times, not in matches, but in tournaments, where the group is supposed to be protecting the field. There, I just say something like, "You might not be aware of this, but there is a rule regarding marking the ball...." You always get a smile and some form of "I wasn't aware...thanks...." and then the problem is solved.

I think something like this would probably work in your case as well, but it is a touchy one for sure.

Rank

make sure your not imagining things first

Laugh at them when they still miss, then ask them if the extra inch was worth it.

I like Ace's Wal Mart comment. It's funny but has bite as well.

You could also say: "mark it one more time and you'll be in the hole"

That works as well.

Bottom Line: You have to say something. You will regret it if you stay silent. It will keep happening. Speak up and protect the integrity of the game, as well as yourself and the field (if it's a tournament).

Honestly, its not going to matter if his his ball is 1 centimeter closer. If he puts his ball 3 inches closer thats another story.
Hes only cheating himself.

It really depends on who it is. If it's your mate, just pick up their ball and put it where it belongs and put your hand out for some cash If it's a friend, make a joke (the Walmart comment is priceless). If it's a stranger, forget it - not worth it.

I've seen people mark their ball with a coin ahead of the ball and then put their ball ahead of the marker when they replce it (ie. so they get that extra inch). Is it worth complaining about? Not unless there's a whoooole lot of money involved. Let it go and watch them be embarrased by someone else down the road. Eventually it will catch up with them.

some noobs i play with brush the ball away and throw down a marker in the same motion. It is quite amusing. I just laugh and throw them a rules book after the round.

If you're playing for money, call them on it. If just a casual round, do it yourself. Make it obvious. Then when someone calls you on it, you can say, "Oh, I thought there was a local rule for alternate ball marking. [Insert cheater's name here] has been doing it all day."