Strict rules govern all aspects of golf, ensuring a fair, balanced round for competitors. Golfers must know the game's rules or risk incurring penalty strokes, particularly on the greens, where marking your ball comes with its own specific guidelines. Knowing the rules will help navigate numerous sticky situations, like when one golfer's putt hits an opponent's ball marker.
Identification
Golfers may use any small, flat object placed on the green to mark their ball's place. They typically place coins or small plastic discs as markers. The plastic versions often come customized with club logos or other signature designs.
Function
Golfers use markers to lift and clean their ball or remove it from another golfer's line of play, so the ball doesn't serve as a distraction or interfere with other putts. When marking your golf ball, place your marker directly behind the ball and then lift your ball off the green.
Ruling
The rules of golf consider a ball marker to be a moveable obstruction, meaning it can be moved out of the way to clear a path toward the hole. The player taking the putt must ask his opponent to move the ball marker before putting. Striking the marker results in no penalty to the player who has marked, or the player who has putt.
Considerations
If a player believes a ball marker rests in his putting line and requests the marker moved, the player who owns the marker must move it one or two clubhead lengths to either side of the putting line. When moving his marker, the player must align his clubhead with some fixed object around the green to make certain he doesn't lose his position. Following the ensuing putt, the opponent then returns his marker to its original spot.
Warnings
Never place your ball marker in front of your ball. Doing so might cause an indentation in the green, creating an uneven line for your putt and hindering accuracy. Also, never lift your ball until you've already placed your marker. Lifting the ball first results in a one-stroke penalty, according to the official rules of the United States Golf Association.
Posted in: Golf