There have been a few comments abour marking the ball recently, so here is what the rule book says. Marking the ball and placing it back should be looked at through the genral rule of golf when marking the position of the ball. The full rules are available from the R&A and can be downloaded from thier web site if required. Link: R&A
A copy of our Clubs By Rules (If applicable) can be made available to those members requesting them.


16-1 Repairing Damage on Greens

Players are often confused as to what damage they can repair to the course. Let’s try and clarify this, starting with the putting green. Rule 16-1c states;

 “The player may repair an old hole plug or damage to the putting green caused by the impact of a ball, whether or not the player's ball lies on the putting green.” 

This is the only damage that a player may repair on the putting green without incurring a penalty and note that the player’s ball does not have to be on the green for the player to repair the damage. The same Rule goes on to say;

 “If a ball or ball-marker is accidentally moved in the process of the repair, the ball or ball-marker must be replaced. There is no penalty, provided the movement of the ball or ball-marker is directly attributable to the specific act of repairing an old hole plug or damage to the putting green caused by the impact of a ball. Otherwise, Rule 18 applies. Any other damage to the putting green must not be repaired if it might assist the player in his subsequent play of the hole.” 

The last sentence is very important. It implies that providing the damage is nowhere near your line of putt you may repair it, no matter how it was caused. However, remember that when making a stroke most players stray from their intended line of putt from time to time and the ball often passes quickly by the hole leaving a second or even third putt from a different angle. Best not to take chances and not repair any other type of damage, which includes:

spike marks, heel prints, animal scrapes, flagstick dents at the lip of the hole, or score marks caused by dragging a flagstick over the surface of the green.

Many players have made the mistake of tapping down a spike mark in the vicinity of the hole, whether purposely or absent-mindedly. Decision 16-1c/4 confirms that this is not permitted as it might assist the player in his subsequent play of the hole. So, damage made by the impact of a ball (pitch marks) and old hole plugs should be repaired as soon as the players arrive at the putting green, whereas all other damage should be repaired by players as they leave the green after finishing their play of the hole. There is nothing in the Rules requiring players to repair this other damage to the putting surfaces before they leave the green but it is good etiquette and a courtesy to other players to do so. 

What about repairing course damage off the putting green? Really, the only thing that you have to be careful about is Rule 13-2, which states;

“A player must not improve or allow to be improved: • the position or lie of his ball, • the area of his intended stance or swing, • his line of play or a reasonable extension of that line beyond the hole, or • the area in which he is to drop or place a ball…” 

A good example of how you may fall foul of this Rule is if you replace a divot that lies in front of your ball. This may seem unreasonable if you are playing into the putting green with a pitching wedge, which means that your ball will immediately rise several metres above the ground before passing over where the divot has been replaced, but this is the Rule and you are liable to be penalised if you do so.


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20-1. Lifting and Marking

A ball to be lifted under the Rules may be lifted by the player, his partner or another person authorized by the player. In any such case, the player is responsible for any breach of the Rules. The position of the ball must be marked before it is lifted under a Rule that requires it to be replaced. If it is not marked, the player incurs a penalty of one stroke and the ball must be replaced. If it is not replaced, the player incurs the general penalty for breach of this Rule, but there is no additional penalty under Rule 20-1. 

If a ball or ball-marker is accidentally moved in the process of lifting the ball under a Rule or marking its position, the ball or ball-marker must be replaced.There is no penalty provided the movement of the ball or ball-marker is directly attributable to the specific act of marking the position of or lifting the ball. Otherwise, the player incurs a penalty of one stroke under this Rule or Rule 18-2a. Exception: If a player incurs a penalty for failing to act in accordance with Rule 5-3 or 12-2, there is no additional penalty under Rule 20-1.

Note: 

The position of a ball to be lifted should be marked by placing a ball-marker, a small coin or other similar object immediately behind the ball. If the ball-marker interferes with the play, stance or stroke of another player, it should be placed one or more clubhead-lengths to one side. 

Any breaches of the rules of golf should be reported to a commitee or club reprasentative in writing. Seriouse breaches of the rules will be dealt with in accordance with the Clubs Bye Laws.