What do the rules say about marking a ball when it is not on the green?
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I was about five feet from the green on my approach shot and the grass was short enough that I decided to putt. The problem: My partner also came up short, three feet from my ball and directly on the line of my putt. I asked him to mark his ball. He refused, saying you couldn't mark your ball anywhere but the green. I asked him to play first. He refused again, claiming the rules dictated hitting the farther ball first, while also admitting he didn't want to read it to me. I ended up chipping away at his balls. But is he marked correctly? – Anonymously, via email
Please let me introduce you and your rather ruthless partner (maybe a lawyer?) to Rule 15.3b, which states that if the ball interferes with someone's play, you have the right to lift it from anywhere on the field.
Once you make this request, the other player is obligated to lift the ball; in stroke play, he or she may choose to hit the ball first instead of lifting. However, he or she may not defend the fifth point.
For more ball marking guidance from our masters, keep reading…
Rules Guy: After marking a ball, can you ask your caddy to put it back?
Ruler
My competitor marked his ball and picked it up. Then he put the ball back and putt without picking up the marker. I told him that his ball was not in play because he had left the marker in place and therefore hit the wrong ball – he would need to change the ball and receive a two-stroke penalty. He said I was full of nonsense. If you don't pick up the marker, is the ball still in play? – Robert Tarbox, via email
Indeed, Robert, conformists cannot stand nonsense, and alas, you are both full of it.
Ball markers are placed or removed regardless of whether the ball is in play or not. Bupkiss.
In fact, the act of lifting or releasing the ball changes its state. That said, Rule 14.1 does prohibit playing the ball without first removing the ball mark, an infraction in which your partner should receive a one-stroke penalty (instead of two) even though it was not a faulty ball.
He needs to change his ways and you need to eat some crow.
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