Why oh why oh why....

[HomerJSimpson]

HID got me a couple of dozen Pro V for my birthday with Homer printed on them. If someone else is playing the same number and marking then I'll take my chances of being penalised. Only used them new for forum meets so far and then carried on with them at Ascot. One guy came up and said he'd found one and he'd give it back at the end of the round. Turns out he needed another for a reload, grabbed the first one to hand and lost that. No prizes for guessing which one that was. Hawkeye I know uses his initials. I've found one of his (not the one he lost on 17 on Saturday). Has to be his as its Brdigestone withthe first and last letter in blue and the middle in red. Think there is a bit of OCD in there somewhere

 

[HawkeyeMS]

When I byt a few boxes of balls I always mark them all when I get home. I also then checck that none of the people I am playing with mark their ball in a similar fashion or even play the same ball. If they do then I add another distinctive mark with one of the 4 sharpies I have in the bag. Lesson was learned when I played a matchplay comp and didn't mark my ball, which my opponent knew. Smashed a 3 wood into the middle of the first fairway and set off after it. I waited for him to hack out of the rough just short of the green and then lined up to play. He shouted for me to stop and asked me to identify my ball. He had seen me hit to where I was, I knew it, the whole friggiong world knew it but as I hadn't marked my ball I couldn't claim it to be mine and I forfeited the hole. 1 down! The barsteward wouldn't even lend me a marker to ensure this didn't happen again. I had to get a marker off the group in front and marked all my balls. I was steaming! Played out of mys kin and beat the guy 8 and 6. I then ensured everyone knew what a poor sport he was (not lending me a marker) and refused to play with him again. He is not a popular man.

I'd have told him what make and number it was and if he wasn't happy with that I would have walked off the course.

I always mark my balls with my initials in blue and red and colour in the 'o' of Bridgestone on both sides just in case my initials happen to be on the bottom. There's no excuse for playing the wrong ball, it doesn't take long to mark them and check they're yours before you hit it.

 

[rosecott]

This is something Iv'e not heard of before as I thought marking your ball wasn't a rule,just something you do yourself so you can identify your ball,so you take away any chance of playing a wrong ball.

Is this a rule for matchplay or any form of golf?

No, it's not a rule per se, but you can fall foul of the rules if you cannot positively identify your ball.

 

[evahakool]

No, it's not a rule per se, but you can fall foul of the rules if you cannot positively identify your ball.

Just had a look in the rules book,under rule 6-5 it says "The responsibility for playing the proper ball rests with the player. Each player should put an identification mark on his ball"

 

[Imurg]

It's a pretty grey area.
It's not a rule that you mark your ball. You don't have to.
But if you don't, how can you identify it as yours?

Fragger played CVG's ball last Friday - wasn't too chuffed with the penalty but it's a lesson learned....

Was thinking about it and from memory this is one thing I've never done. I've had most other penalties down the years but I don't ever recall playing a wrong ball. Probably just dumb luck....

 

[rosecott]

Just had a look in the rules book,under rule 6-5 it says "The responsibility for playing the proper ball rests with the player. Each player should put an identification mark on his ball"

Yes, it says "should" and not "must". There is no penalty for not marking your ball.

 

[MashieNiblick]

Couple of interesting Decisions

Decision 12-2/1 Identifying Ball by Brand, Model and Number Only

"Q. In the area in which his ball presumably came to rest, a player finds a ball of the same brand, model and identification number as the ball he is playing. The player assumes it is his ball, even though it does not carry an identification mark as suggested in Rule 12-2, and plays it. Should the player be considered to have played a wrong ball?

"A. No, unless (1) there is clear evidence that, because of the ball's condition, it is not the player's ball or (2) subsequently it is established that another ball of the same brand, model and identification number was lying in the area at the time the player played and either ball, from a condition standpoint, could be the player's ball."

Which reflects what a lot of golfers do most of the time. But...

Decision 27/10 Player Unable to Distinguish His Ball from Another Ball

"Q. A and B hit their tee shots into the same area. Both balls were found but, because A and B were playing identical balls and neither had put an identification mark on his ball, they could not determine which ball was A's and which was B's. What is the ruling?

"A. Since neither player could identify a ball as his ball, both balls were lost – see Definition of “Lost Ball”. This incident underlines the advisability of the player putting an identification mark on his ball – see Rules 6-5 and 12-2."

Which shows it's far better to mark your ball to avoid any dispute.

 

[evahakool]

Couple of interesting Decisions

Decision 12-2/1 Identifying Ball by Brand, Model and Number Only

"Q. In the area in which his ball presumably came to rest, a player finds a ball of the same brand, model and identification number as the ball he is playing. The player assumes it is his ball, even though it does not carry an identification mark as suggested in Rule 12-2, and plays it. Should the player be considered to have played a wrong ball?

"A. No, unless (1) there is clear evidence that, because of the ball's condition, it is not the player's ball or (2) subsequently it is established that another ball of the same brand, model and identification number was lying in the area at the time the player played and either ball, from a condition standpoint, could be the player's ball"

Thanks thats interesting, so going by this ruleing Captainron should not have lost the hole to his opponent.

You would have thought it would be better to change the wording from should mark his ball to must mark his ball.

Glad you beat him Captainron as that was a shocking thing to be pulled up on,guess that guy is not very popular now.