Marking ball on the green

[Del]

Hi
Quick question, when marking your ball on the green, do you have to mark it from behind the ball or can you put down your marker to the side,as long as you replace it in the same place.

I ask this as yesterday I was playing with two ladys, one a low H/C and she did this on every grren ( it didn't matter to me as it was a knock about ) but was just wondering.

Cheers

Del

 

[Kellfire]

You must mark behind the ball.

 

[Kellfire]

I should the proviso that if it interferes with play, it can be moved to a side.

 

[intherough]

You must mark behind the ball.

Is this an actual rule or just etiquete?

 

[surefire]

From the R&A

Q - When marking the position of a ball, must the ball-marker be placed behind the ball, or may it also be placed to the side of or in front of the ball?


A - There is no restriction. However, if a player positions his ball-marker in front of the ball on the putting green, and in the process does something to the green which might influence the movement of the ball when played, e.g. presses down a raised tuft of grass, he is in breach of Rule 1-2.
Placing a ball-marker in front of the ball is not recommended but is not a breach of Rule 16-1a, because this Rule permits touching the line of putt in lifting a ball, and marking the position of the ball is part of the lifting process.

So marking behind is not necessary, but recommended.

 

[Del]

Thanks for the replys, so she is ok doing this then !! as i said she always has done this and puts it back in a correct and careful manner.

Cheers for the info,

Del

 

[Matty]

There are now rules that directly apply to HOW to mark a ball as far as I know. You can mark it where you like, how you like and with what you like.

There are recommendations however about how you might want to consider marking the ball so as not to risk infringing another rule.

This is covered a little above - you can mark you ball in front, on the line of your putt between ball and hole if you like, but be careful not to improve the line of the putt by pressing anything down when you do or that is a penalty.

IMO, it makes sense to mark directly behind your ball so when you place it back you know you are placing between marker and hole.

 

[CliveW]

Rule 20-1 states... "NOTE: 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. If the ball-marker interferes with the play, stance or stroke of anothr player, it should be placed one or more clubhead lengths to one side."
I think the use of the word "should" and not "must" in the ruling indicates that it is not compulsory to mark behind the ball, but recommended.