What is the penalty for not marking your golf ball?

If, however, you lift your ball without marking its spot, mark its spot in the wrong location prior to making a stroke or even make a stroke with the ball marker in place, you will receive a one stroke penalty.
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What is the penalty for not marking your ball?

It is a one-stroke penalty to mark a ball by placing the marker more than an inch behind the ball. If a player fails to employ a marker and instead decides to use a certain blemish or distinguishable spot on the green as a reference point, then a one-stroke penalty is the result of such action.
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Do you have to mark your ball in golf?

There is no obligation for a player to mark unless asked, and it's only been in modern times that players were required to mark even if their ball is dead in the line of another putting player. Not that long ago, the “stymie” was very much a part of match play and golf strategy.
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Can you touch your ball on the green without marking it?

You can mark, lift and clean a ball on the green, but it's a violation to do so when another ball is in motion, as your ball might influence the outcome of that stroke. You can also mark and clean your ball in some instances when it's off the green: cleaning it, for example, just to the point where you can identify it.
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Is marking a line on a golf ball legal?

Yes, drawing an arrow/line on your golf ball is 100% legal and used by some of the best golfers in the world. Players across the world draw lines, add their initials, and other signature markings to their golf balls.
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Rules of Golf: Marking Your Ball



Can you clean your golf ball on the green?

When a golf ball is on the putting surface, a golfer is allowed to clean the ball. The golfer must first mark their ball, pick it up off the ground and then clean it before replacing it to hit their next shot. If a golfer doesn't mark their ball before cleaning it, it's a penalty.
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Can you mark your ball before everyone is on the green?

So, yes, the pro can make everyone mark his or her ball, but that's not the same thing as declaring, “All balls on the green must be marked!” He might be better suited to a less customer-facing profession.
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Can you brush sand off the green?

Yes. Sand and loose soil may be removed on the putting green (see Rule 13.1c(1)).
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Can you pick up your golf ball to clean it?

When you lift your ball from the putting green. it may always be cleaned. When you lift your ball from anywhere else it may always be cleaned except when you lift it: To see if it is cut or cracked – cleaning is not allowed.
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Can you clean your ball on the fringe?

The ball must not be cleaned, unless it lies on the putting green (see Rule 21). In stroke play, a player required to lift his ball may play first rather than lift the ball.
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Can you mark your ball with a tee?

Ball-markers must be artificial, such as a tee, coin, the toe of your putter, or other small piece of equipment. A natural object like a leaf or twig may not be used as a ball-marker. The ball-marker must be placed next to the ball, which includes behind, in front, or left and right of the ball.
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Can another player Mark your golf ball?

It is worth noting that all of the above is true on the putting green as well, where there is one anomaly: Per Exception 2 Rule 9.5b, in match play the opponent gets no penalty if he marks and lifts your ball in the mistaken belief that it is his own ball.
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Does Tiger Woods use a line on his ball?

There are legends on either side of the aisle that swear by it. Tiger Woods, for instance, is a line-user. Jon Rahm, Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy, among others, are not. Cam Smith, who won the 2022 Sentry Tournament of Champions by shooting a million under par, does use a line on his golf ball.
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Can you brush the green with your hand?

You may repair damage on the putting green. without penalty by taking reasonable actions to restore the putting green. as nearly as possible to its original condition, but only: By using your hand, foot or other part of your body or a normal ball-mark repair tool, tee.
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What happens if your golf ball hits another golf ball on the green?

There is no penalty when a ball played from off the putting green (chipping) moves another ball. However, in stroke play, when a ball played from the putting green hits another ball on the putting green the person making the stroke incurs a penalty of two strokes.
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Can you have two putters in your golf bag?

According to the USGA and R&A rules, you can have two putters in your bag when playing a professional round of golf provided the total number doesn't exceed 14. The same thing applies when you're playing a normal golf round.
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Is a lost ball a 2 stroke penalty?

Local rule for out of bounds, lost ball

If a player hits a ball out of bounds or loses a ball, the general rules still require the player to return to the spot of the previous stroke and take a one-stroke penalty - a standard stroke-and-distance scenario.
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What color golf ball is easiest?

Simply put, yellow golf balls are a lot easier to see. This is especially true with the fluorescent or neon yellow hue found on many balls, including the Srixon Q-Star and Q-Star Tour.
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Can you stand behind a golfer when he is putting?

When it comes to reading a putt's break, members of a four-ball team may stand nearly anywhere on the green to watch a partner putt, with one exception: They're not allowed to stand on or close to an extension of the player's line of putt behind the ball (Rule 14-2b).
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Can you switch golf balls on the green?

You can also substitute a different ball any time you are taking relief, including both free and penalty relief. Unless the one-ball Local Rule is in effect, the substituted ball could be any brand. On the putting green however, when you mark and lift your ball, you must replace that same ball to finish out the hole.
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Can caddies remove ball from hole?

The player's caddie is allowed to mark and lift the player's ball on the putting green any time the player is allowed to do so, without needing authorization. The caddie continues to be allowed to replace the player's ball only if the caddie was the one who had lifted or moved the ball.
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Can you put a tee in the green?

Officially, no. Under the Rules of Golf, any number of artificial objects — a coin, the toe of your putter, the tab of a beer can — may be used to mark your ball. The key word being “artificial.” Using a natural object, such as a leaf or a twig, is a violation.
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Can you touch the putting green?

There is no longer a penalty for merely touching the line of play on the putting green (the term “line of play” applies everywhere on the course including the putting green, and the term “line of putt” is no longer used).
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How long can you play the same golf ball?

When To Change Your Ball. Without visible damage, a golf ball can last up to seven 18-hole rounds without any loss of performance. In fact, you are more likely to lose a golf ball on the course before it just wears out. But as soon as the ball feels rough, you should replace it.
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Can you move sticks in golf?

Loose impediments and movable obstructions can be moved anywhere on the golf course, including in bunkers and penalty areas, even when your ball also lies in the bunker or penalty area. If your ball moves when moving a movable obstruction, there is not penalty and you simply replace the ball.
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