Marking Ball Position on Green

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

In marking his ball on the green to lift it my buddy did something I can’t recall ever seeing anyone do before. He marked the ball position with a tee - pressing it into the turf. He then placed his putter clubhead against the tee and placed a ball marker at the heel of the putter. Is this OK?

No idea why he did it that way - unless he was thinking along the lines of how we mark ball position and NPR when taking relief elsewhere on the course (we use a tee) - and have never seen anyone do it like that before.

 

[rosecott]

From the definitions in the rules:

To show the spot where a ball is at rest by either:

• Placing a ball-marker right behind or right next to the ball, or
• Holding a club on the ground right behind or right next to the ball.

This is done to show the spot where the ball must be replaced after it is lifted.

Your player's procedure does not comply.

 

[bobmac]

In marking his ball on the green to lift it my buddy did something I can’t recall ever seeing anyone do before. He marked the ball position with a tee - pressing it into the turf. He then placed his putter clubhead against the tee and placed a ball marker at the heel of the putter. Is this OK?

No idea why he did it that way - unless he was thinking along the lines of how we mark ball position and NPR when taking relief elsewhere on the course (we use a tee) - and have never seen anyone do it like that before.

If I read that properly, he marked the ball with a tee, then put a marker down a putter head length to the side. I can only guess he's moved the marker off someone's line?

 

[wjemather]

In marking his ball on the green to lift it my buddy did something I can’t recall ever seeing anyone do before. He marked the ball position with a tee - pressing it into the turf. He then placed his putter clubhead against the tee and placed a ball marker at the heel of the putter. Is this OK?

No idea why he did it that way - unless he was thinking along the lines of how we mark ball position and NPR when taking relief elsewhere on the course (we use a tee) - and have never seen anyone do it like that before.

Using a tee is perfectly ok (it's specifically mentioned in the definitions). Assuming he was then moving his marker out of the way of someone else's line everything seems fine, as long as the procedure was reversed correctly and the ball was replaced on and played from its original spot.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

If I read that properly, he marked the ball with a tee, then put a marker down a putter head length to the side. I can only guess he's moved the marker off someone's line?

That is correct - his ball was on my line.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Using a tee is perfectly ok (it's specifically mentioned in the definitions). Assuming he was then moving his marker out of the way of someone else's line everything seems fine, as long as the procedure was reversed correctly and the ball was replaced on and played from its original spot.

He marked his ball position with the tee. Then placed a ball marker one clubhead length from the tee. Then picked the tee. I stopped him at that point as I wasn’t sure. But if I had just let it go I think he would have moved his ball marker back - he wouldn’t have used the tee to reverse his procedure.

Aside - I am assuming from previous response that there is no issue about testing the green by pushing a tee into it?

 

[wjemather]

Aside - I am assuming from previous response that there is no issue about testing the green by pushing a tee into it?

There is only an issue if his intention was testing the green. If he was just marking his ball, then it's fine. It's the same as cleaning your ball by wiping it on the surface of the green. Unless you are deliberately testing the green, there is no penalty.

 

[Colin L]

I normally use a tee to mark my ball unless it's close to someone's line, mainly because I don't have to bend quite so far as when putting down a ball marker. Ok, it's not much of a difference, but at my age, every millimetre counts.

 

[rulie]

There is only an issue if his intention was testing the green. If he was just marking his ball, then it's fine. It's the same as cleaning your ball by wiping it on the surface of the green. Unless you are deliberately testing the green, there is no penalty.

Rule 13.1e is about testing of greens and only prohibits deliberately rubbing the surface or rolling a ball. No other actions are included as testing.

 

[jim8flog]

I normally use a tee to mark my ball unless it's close to someone's line, mainly because I don't have to bend quite so far as when putting down a ball marker. Ok, it's not much of a difference, but at my age, every millimetre counts.

I do often do the same but for me it is because at my age I forget where I put my ball marker

 

[bobmac]

A good tip is if you always mark your ball with a coin heads up, if you have to move the marker turn the coin over tails up to remind you to move it back

 

[Colin L]

I do often do the same but for me it is because at my age I forget where I put my ball marker

And I need a system for finding my car in a supermarket carpark. But never mind. I'm still able, as this morning, to get out on a golf course and play round a golf course. Mustn't grumble, as they say. I'm still here.

 

[mikejohnchapman]

I normally use a tee to mark my ball unless it's close to someone's line, mainly because I don't have to bend quite so far as when putting down a ball marker. Ok, it's not much of a difference, but at my age, every millimetre counts.

I often use a tee when marking a long putt as I can't see the marker from behind the hole.

 

[salfordlad]

Rule 13.1e is about testing of greens and only prohibits deliberately rubbing the surface or rolling a ball. No other actions are included as testing.

Interpretation 13.1e/1 goes even further, stating the rule does not prohibit the player taking other actions even when done for the purpose of testing the putting green.

 

[Kennysarmy]

A good tip is if you always mark your ball with a coin heads up, if you have to move the marker turn the coin over tails up to remind you to move it back

I'd have to remember to put it heads up in the first place :/

 

[3offTheTee]

A good tip is if you always mark your ball with a coin heads up, if you have to move the marker turn the coin over tails up to remind you to move it back

Something similar but I turn the putter upside down. I then wonder why have I done that!