What are the rules about leaving your marker on the ground while placing?
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The Rules of Golf are tricky! Thank you, we have a guru. Our Rules Guy knows the book from front to back. Have a question? You have all the answers.
One of my competitors marked his ball and picked it up. He then replaced the ball and placed it without picking up his marker. I told him that his ball was out of play because he left his marker in the area, and therefore hit the wrong ball – he needed to change his ball, with a two-stroke penalty. He said I was full of balloons. Is the ball in play if you don’t raise your marker? —Robert Tarbox, via email
Really, Robert, the Laws Guy can’t stomach baloney, and alas you are both full of it.
The placement or removal of a ball marker has nothing to do with whether or not the ball is in play. Bupkis.
In fact, the act of lifting or changing the ball can change its shape. That said, Law 14.1 prohibits playing the ball without first removing the ball marker, a violation that earns the opponent one penalty (not two), even if it wasn’t a foul ball.
He needs to change his ways, and he needs to eat less crow.
For tag-related guidance from our guru, read on…
Rules Guy: Are players required to mark their green balls when asked?
Rules Guy
I played a blind shot from the fairway into the green, then hit the sand. Finally, I got to my ball, missed the resulting putt and went inside. Walking off the green, I saw a missing ball marker. It turns out that one of my teammates forgot to tell me that he marked my ball and moved it off his line. Should I have been allowed to replace my ball in the correct position and play again from there? And, what are the penalties and, if so, to whom? —Terry Christensen, via email
In stroke play, the other player is the outside influence, and there is no penalty to anyone if the ball is moved. File it under: Things happen.
Since you had no knowledge or apparent certainty that an outside influence moved your ball—see Rule 9.2b(2) if you are inclined—you made a good drive, misplaced, and the ball is holed. No more, no replays, no nada.
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