The RFEG Rules Committee has prepared a series of articles to further promote and teach the Rules of Golf, ensuring that playing our sport is as enjoyable as possible while always adhering to current regulations. The first article deals with how and when to mark the position of the ball.

How and when to mark the position of the ball

During a round of play, there are several situations where a player must mark the position of their ball before lifting it. Let's look at some examples:

. When the ball is at rest on the green, the player may mark and lift the ball (R13.1b)

. To check if the ball is cut or cracked (R4.2c)

. When the ball cannot be identified as it lies (7.3)

. If the player believes that his ball is in a condition from which it can be relieved without penalty, but cannot decide this without lifting his ball.

. At the request of another player because it interferes with their play. (R15.3b)

. When the player reasonably believes that the position of his ball on the green may help another player's game (R 15.3a)

As a general rule

Before lifting a ball in accordance with a Rule that requires it to be replaced on its original spot of rest, the player must mark that spot (R 14.1a)

To avoid a penalty, the ball must be marked according to the Rules of Golf. We will use a ball marker, although the Rules also permit marking the ball by holding a club in the ground immediately behind or beside the ball (R14.1a).

We all know the classic ball markers that we have used so many times during the game, but the Rules define a Ball Marker as: "An artificial object, such as a tee, a coin, an object manufactured to be a ball marker or other small piece of equipment, when used to mark the position of rest of a ball that is to be lifted.".

So be careful! If we don't have the traditional marker at hand, we could use a tee or a coin, but not a twig or any other natural object, as this would mean having to add a penalty stroke to our score for the hole, for having marked the ball incorrectly (R14.1a).

When marking the ball, the marker must be placed immediately behind, beside, or in front of the ball. The aim is to mark the ball with sufficient accuracy to replace it on the exact spot (Intrp.14.1a/2).

There is no penalty if the ball is moved during the act of marking or removing the marker (R9.4b exception 3 and 4). However, we will have a two-stroke penalty in stroke play or loss of the hole in match play if we do not replace the ball on the exact spot (R14.7a).

It can happen that once the ball is marked, the marker interferes with another player's game, or if the marker is on the green, it helps another player's game. For example, by slowing down the ball because it is positioned too close to the hole.

In both cases, the Rules allow the marker to be moved to a new position where it no longer interferes with or aids play. The length of one or more clubheads may be used as a measurement (R 15.3c).

It is important to remember to return the ball or marker to its original position. Failure to do so will result in a two-stroke penalty in stroke play and loss of the hole in match play (R 14.7a).

Finally, the Rules of Golf state that when a ball has been marked with a marker, the marker must be removed before playing the ball. If the ball is played without the marker being removed, a penalty stroke is incurred (R 14.1a).

By Margarita Salmerón

National Referee Judge