This ball-marker is legal (photo: Florida State Golf Association)
In January 2020, we received a clarification concerning ball-markers with alignment aids (lines, arrows, etc.).
1. Less than one-inch height
2. Less than two inches in any horizontal direction
3. Must not measure or gauge slope, green speed, or other conditions.
Answers
14.1 Can a player mark his ball with a small tree branch found on the ground? Or with the head of his putter?
Answer 14.1: No, the ball marker must be artificial. But it is possible to use the head of the putter to mark the ball.
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14.2 A player always puts his ball marker in front of the ball instead of immediately behind the ball. If there a penalty?
Answer 14.2: No penalty. Under Interpretation 14.1a/2, a ball may be marked in any position around the ball so long as it is marked right next to it and includes placing a ball-marker in front of or to the side of the ball. This way of marking the ball is not recommended. A player could my mistake put the ball back in play in front of the ball-marker. (wrong place)
14.3 May a caddie mark and lift the player’s ball?
Answer 14.3: Yes, the caddie or any person could mark and lift the ball anywhere on the course under the express authorization from the player. The caddie does not need his player’s approval to mark and lift a ball on the putting green.
14.4 The player marks his ball and picks up the ball with his putter instead of his hand, what is the ruling?
Answer 14.4: A ball may be lifted in any manner so long as the ball is not lifted in a way that deliberately tests the putting green.
14.5 The player’s ball lies on the fringe of the green. When we have the preferred lie rule in effect, may the player align the ball in order to put the lines toward the line of putt?
Answer 14.5: The player may position the line in the proper direction. The player must be very careful because under the Preferred Lie Local Rule, When the player puts the ball on the ground and his hand is not anymore in contact wilt the ball, the ball is in play and the player may not touch it again even if the ball marker is still on the ground. On the green, it is possible to do it as long as the ball stays marked. Outside the green you may place it only ONCE.
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14.6 The player puts his ball back on the green besides his marker and makes his putt without removing the ball marker. What is the ruling?
Answer 14.6: If the player lifts the ball without marking its spot, marks its spot in a wrong way or makes a stroke with the ball-marker left in place, the player gets one stroke penalty.
QUESTIONS ON RULE 14 (Part 2)
14.7 The player identifies correctly the relief area. Before dropping the ball, he removes loose impediments. What is the ruling?
14.8 The player drops the ball at shoulder height. The ball stays in the relief area and he makes his stroke. Is there a penalty?
14.9 The player drops the ball at shoulder height. The ball rolls outside the relief area and he makes his stroke. He also makes a stroke on the next tee. What is the decision?
14.10 The player drops the ball at knee height. The ball touched the ground and is deflected by the player’s foot. The ball stays in the relief area. What should the player do?
14.11 The player’s ball lies in the rough near the fairway. His next stroke goes Out of Bounds. The player takes the relief for stroke and distance but instead of dropping the ball in the rough he drops the ball on the fairway at approximately 2 feet from the original position of the original ball, and he makes his next stroke. What is the decision?
14.12 The player’s ball lies in a No-Play Zone. He makes 3 strokes at his ball. What is the penalty?
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