The Rules of Golf Are Complicated! Thankfully, we have the teacher. our Rules Guy knows the book inside out. Have a question? He has all the answers.
A friend recently gave me some golf balls that don’t have markings – his brother-in-law prints them to order for special events. They are supposed to be a conforming model from a reputable brand. They are easy to identify as mine – who else plays a ball without a name and number? – but other golfing buddies say I can’t play them without some sort of ID. True? — Larry D. Ingram, via email
Rules Guy is drawing a blank here… just kidding! In the absence of a Model Local Rule requiring the use of a ball on the conforming golf ball list (MLR G-3), the Rules simply require that you play a conforming golf ball (Rule 4.2a).
Provided the MLR is not in effect, it is assumed that the ball you are playing is compliant unless there is strong evidence to the contrary, such as a ball that is clearly too small. Here’s hoping your game isn’t as anonymous as your orb.
For more guidance from our teacher, read on…
;)
Rules Guy: Is it a penalty to take an unmarked ball to avoid a collision?
Rules Guy
Are you required to score your ball when it is on the green, whether it is in another player’s path or not? I was playing with our golf pro yesterday and he got really mad at another player because he didn’t hit his ball, even though it wasn’t on the pro’s line. The pro said all balls on the green should be marked … but my internet research so far doesn’t seem to support that. —Liz Grebler, via email
This professional does not sound like a very human person – never mind that he is wrong, or at least partially wrong.
Under Rule 15.3, a ball at rest on the putting green alone must be marked and lifted if it interferes with play or assists another player; otherwise, there is no requirement to do so.
That said, a player can always request that you actually mark your ball (again, if it could reasonably be considered to be interfering with or assisting the putting green) in which case you must grant that request (making the request essentially a request, but sounding more polite on the other hand).
So yes, the pro can make everyone mark his or her ball, but that’s not the same as declaring, “All balls on the green must be marked!” He may be better suited to a less client-friendly profession.
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Have a question about the Rules? Ask Guy Rules! Send your questions, confusion and comments to rulesguy@golf.com. We promise you won’t throw the book at you.
