What do the rules say about leaving your marker down while shooting?
Getty Images
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.
My opponent scored the ball and took it. He then replaced his ball and bowled without taking his marker. I told him his ball was out of play because he had left his marker in place, and so had hit a wrong ball – he had to replace his ball, with a two-stroke penalty. He said I was full of balloons. Is the ball in play if it doesn’t catch the marker? — Robert Tarbox, via email
Really, Robert, Rules Guy can’t stomach it, and sadly you’re both full of it.
Placing or removing the ball marker has no bearing on whether the ball is in or out of play. Bupkis.
In fact, it is the act of picking up or replacing the ball that would change its status. That said, Rule 14.1 prohibits playing a ball without first removing the ball marker, a violation for which your competitor deserves a penalty stroke (not two), even though it wasn’t a foul ball.
He needs to change his ways and you need to eat some crow.
For more pointers guidance from our teacher, read on…
Rules Guy: Are players required to mark their balls on the green when asked?
I played a blind shot from a deep bunker to the edge of the green, then hit the sand. Eventually, I got to my ball, missed the resulting putt, and hit it inside. Walking off the green, I noticed a loose ball marker. It turns out that one of my playing partners forgot to tell me that she marked my ball and took it off her line. Should I be allowed to replace my ball in the correct spot and play again from there? Also, any penalties and, if so, to whom? -Terry Christensen, via email
In stroke play, the other player is an outside influence and there is no penalty to anyone for moving the ball. File it under: Things happen.
Since you had no knowledge or virtual certainty that an outside influence moved your ball – see Rule 9.2b(2) if you are so inclined – you proceeded correctly, not from a wrong place, and the ball has been opened. No substitutions, no repeats, no nada.
Need help taming the greens on your home course? Get an order The Green Book by Golf Logix.
Have a question about the Rules? Ask Guy Rules! Send your questions, confusion and comments to rulesguy@golf.com. We promise he won’t throw the book at you.
Stretching ball
$39.99 (was $49.99)
Close to 20 feet of cable pulled! The layup ball will help you work the starting line easily and quickly on the putting green. Built-in voices make setup easy and efficient. Either straight shots or breakaway shots, this retractable string can do it all! Carrying case included.
View Product
