Where to mark...what to use...and how to do it By MIKE SWEENEY, Director of Rules and Competitions Question: I was playing in a tournament and my fellow-competitor placed a tee down to mark the position of the ball. Is that allowed, I thought you had to mark the ball with a coin or ballmarker? Furthermore, every time he marked it with the tee, he placed the tee in front of the ball. I thought you had to place your ball-marker behind the ball?
		Players may mark their balls with a variety of objects, and, as seen above, in a number of places. Marking behind the ball with a small coin or marker is the recommended procedure.

Answer:
First, can the player mark the position of the ball with a tee? This is allowed. The Note under Rule 20-1 provides that “the position of a ball to be lifted should be marked by placing a ball-marker, small coin or other similar object immediately behind the ball.”This provision is a recommendation of best practice, but there is no penalty for failing to act in accordance with this Note. You never see any of the touring professionals using anything other than a coin or ball mark and us amateurs should follow their lead.

If your friends insist on not using a coin or ball-marker, here are some examples of methods of marking the position of a ball which are not recommended, but are permissible: placing the toe of a club at the side of, or behind, the ball; using a tee; using a loose impediment; or scratching a line, provided the putting green is not tested (Rule 16-1d) and a line for putting is not indicated (Rule 8- 2b). As this practice may cause damage to the putting green, it is discouraged.

However, under Rule 20-1, it is necessary to physically mark the position of the ball. Reference to an existing mark on the ground does not constitute marking the position of a ball. For example, it is not permissible to mark the position with reference to a blemish on the putting green. Second, when marking the position of a ball there is no restriction as to where the ball marker must be placed. However, if a player positions his ball-marker in front of the ball on the putting green and in the process does something to the green which might influence the movement of the ball when played, e.g., presses down a raised tuft of grass, he is in breach of Rule 1-2. Thus, placing a ball-marker in front of the ball is not recommended but it is not a breach of Rule 16-1a because this Rule permits touching the line of putt in lifting a ball, and marking the position of the ball is part of the lifting process.

The key thing to remember is that when a player lifts his ball in play, it is his responsibility to make sure he replaces the ball back in the same spot. If he marks the position of the ball by placing a ball-marker in front of the ball, he can’t replace the ball in front of the ball marker. The ball must be replaced behind the ball-marker on the original spot on the ground. If he were to replace the ball in the wrong spot and play a stroke, he would be in breach of Rule 20-7, for playing from a wrong place.

Have a Rules question? Contact foremagazine@scga.org

The SCGA is adding a new championship to it’s roster of high-quality events, and this time, it’s a family affair.

The SCGA Parent/Junior Championship will be held on July 23 at Marbella Country Club in San Juan Capistrano. For $150 per team, 60 teams (120 players) will participate in 18 holes of modified Foursomes (alternate shot). Each partner plays from the tee and then selects one ball to play thereafter. The partner whose drive was not taken plays first on the second shot. That ball is played in alternately until the ball is holed. The team will play to 40 percent of the their combined Course Handicap. The field will be divided into flights based on combined handicaps of the teams.

To be eligible, both team members must be members of the SCGA and have a numeric index as of the month of closing. Relationship with the junior must be natural, adopted or stepchild. Junior must be 17 or under as of July 23, and partners may have more than one generation between them (i.e. a grandfather may play with his grandson/granddaughter).

The first 60 teams to register (online only) will be eligible for the event. Once field is full teams will be placed on a waiting list.

Visit www.scga.org to register and for more information or contact the SCGA at 800/554-7242.

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