Marking your golf ball on the putting green is a fundamentally important, but often overlooked, skill. It may seem old hat for veteran or professional players, but new golfers are often left confused when told they have done something incorrectly. Be it they were not given a detailed explanation, or they observed someone without etiquette, every golfer will make a marking mistake in their playing life. With that in mind, here are a list of the basics to keep on hand.

What’s a Good Golf Ball Marker?

Markers are small, usually circular, dots used to take note of where your ball has landed on the green. People have used tee’s, coins, or unique markers that can be purchased. You can find markers embossed with sayings, add personal images, or simple ones with an equipment company logo. Your personal golf course may even have some made specifically for them in the shop. Really, nearly anything will do. Nearly.

These markers are used to remove the physical ball from being a barrier while putting on the green. However, they need to be stable. Due to being open to the elements, markers must be heavy enough or have teeth to grab ahold of the ground.

The marker should not be any form of paper, should not roll, should be flat to avoid obstructing others view, and should be relatively small.

For example: do not put the score card on the green as a marker. It is too large, can blow away, and creates an obvious distraction for the other player. Also, do not use a twig or trash as a marker. These items could damage the green, affecting the play through of your party. It could also affect the players behind you.

Find a sort of lucky coin or chip that you keep on you. It is also wise to have multiple markers in case of damage, a need for multiple mark points, loss, or as a back-up for other players.

How to Properly Remove a Ball

This is where many a player goes awry. First, make certain your ball is completely on the green or the darker leaf, known as the edging, of the green. If it is not, you will need to chip to move it closer. Anyone who is not on the green is to play the ball first.

Once everyone has made it to the green, walk over to your ball, kneel-down behind it, and place your marker down as close to the ball as you can. Some markers are thin enough to slide partially underneath. Then pick your ball up. From that moment on, you cannot move your marker. It must remain where you have placed it, otherwise, there is a penalty for moving the ball inappropriately.

Rules for Moving your Golf Ball

Now, there are exceptions for removing the marker from where the ball originally landed. The one exception is if it will interfere with another player’s putt.

An example would be having your marker directly in front of another player’s ball. This will, obviously, affect their play through causing the ball to change course over the marker. When this occurs, alert the other players before taking any course of action. It will be noted by the score keeper, and you will not be penalized. However, that does not mean you can simply pick up the marker and place it down in the general vicinity of where your ball landed. Instead:

• Allow the other player to mark their ball first. This allows them a chance to ensure you do not knock their ball out of its spot
• Look and see what direction the other players ball will need to go
• Then find where your marker is to the hole
• If your marker is only slightly in the way: place the toe of your foot on the marker, proceed to move the marker to the heel of your foot, press down and step away.
• If your marker is in the way for multiple players or for a player that has landed far from the hole, the marker will need to be moved further back.
• Take your putter and draw a line above the green from your ball to a spot further away: note the position of the ball to the hole. Place a second marker at the new location, ensuring the line to your original is intact. Pick up the original marker while noting the steps from your second mark. Keep that number in your mind. Once the play has been made use your putter to draw a line back towards the original location, counting your steps, and replace your marker on the green.

Eventually, you will be able to perform this with a single marker, trusting your instincts on the location of the ball. However, beginners should have two markers for this reason. It allows for coordinated putts and confidence in your play. Confidence on your ball’s location is vital when preparing a putt: removing your nerves of possible penalty from the variable.

Consequences of Incorrectly Marking Your Golf Ball

Golf, like many sports, has a means of penalty. Marking your ball incorrectly is often the cause. However, the rules have lightened slightly. The only way to achieve a penalty for marking, is if you remove your ball from the green without marking it. This could happen if you arrive on the green and simply pick up the ball prior to placing a marker behind it. This, obviously, allows for someone to cheat: hence it is considered a penalty.

More often than not, the penalty can occur when removing your ball from another player’s path. It is easy to rush through the rules in favor of etiquette. However, this should not be done in detriment to your own game.

Final Marks

In the end, marking your ball will become second nature. The skill can be both difficult and oddly simple. To get into the habit, think of marking the ball as another stroke. Even while practicing alone, mark your ball along the green. This will also allow you the opportunity to view the greens from various angles. Use your marker as a tool for reading the green. See the slopes, the way your ball will curve, and how marking can give you extra time to plan out your putt. Once you have built up the habit, the only thing to worry about will be sinking your ball in the hole.