When you mark your ball on the green, are you allowed to temporarily allowed to put..

[Chi_Chi]

it in your pocket while you read the green and such? Like in a tournament or match...

[Long_Ball_Bogey]

Yes, you are allowed. Is there any particular reason you ask? --LBB

[Chi_Chi]

I thought so. Well the reason is I was playing in a hs golf match this week and none of my partners ever did, and when I put my ball in my pocket he gave me a look. Didn't bother me though because i knew i was right but just confirming it.

[martin00015]

I thought so. Well the reason is I was playing in a hs golf match this week and none of my partners ever did, and when I put my ball in my pocket he gave me a look. Didn't bother me though because i knew i was right but just confirming it.

I think there's a couple of things you should be aware of. If you normally carry a second ball in your pocket (as I do), be sure you are replacing the same ball on the green rather than putting the other ball out.

Secondly, if you are required to lift a ball under one of the circumstances where you are not allowed to clean it, putting it in your pocket is tantamount to cleaning.

[Chris Grady]

Hi does anyone know the penalty in MATCH PLay for marking the ball off the green and accidently cleaning it??

[Harry Longshanks]

Hi does anyone know the penalty in MATCH PLay for marking the ball off the green and accidently cleaning it??

When you say "marking the ball

off the green", do you mean the ball is not on the green when you mark it? If so, why are you marking the ball when it is through the green? (The reason matters). Or do you mean that the ball is on the green, you mark it, and pick it up "off" of (i.e. from) the green?

Definitions All defined terms are in italics and are listed alphabetically in the Definitions section. A ball on the putting green may be cleaned when lifted under Rule 16-1b. Elsewhere, a ball may be cleaned when lifted, except when it has been lifted: a. To determine if it is unfit for play (Rule 5-3); b. For identification (Rule 12-2), in which case it may be cleaned only to the extent necessary for identification; or c. Because it is assisting or interfering with play (Rule 22). If a player cleans his ball during play of a hole except as provided in this Rule, he incurs a penalty of one stroke and the ball, if lifted, must be replaced. If a player who is required to replace a ball fails to do so, he incurs the general penalty under the applicable Rule, but there is no additional penalty under Rule 21. Exception: If a player incurs a penalty for failing to act in accordance with Rule 5-3, 12-2 or 22, there is no additional penalty under Rule 21.

If I am reading the rule correctly, the penalty for unauthorized cleaning of a ball is the same in both stroke and match play.

Whether the cleaning was authorized is a different matter.

[iacas]

Whether the cleaning was authorized is a different matter.

I think you mean whether marking the ball and picking it up at all is allowed is a different matter. You answered the question in regards to cleaning.

[Chris Grady]

We both hit our drives next to each othar in Match play he asked me to mark in fairway i did and stupidly cleaned my ball... then I Said i think i was not supposed to clean it. one stroke?? or lose of hole? i won the tourny 3&1 after it was decided i should lose the hole...but....for future should i have been given just one stroke bc i admitted cleaning my ball???? thanks to all

my opponent asked me to mark it in the fairway...

[RemyM]

We both hit our drives next to each othar in Match play he asked me to mark in fairway i did and stupidly cleaned my ball... then I Said i think i was not supposed to clean it. one stroke?? or lose of hole? i won the tourny 3&1 after it was decided i should lose the hole...but....for future should i have been given just one stroke bc i admitted cleaning my ball???? thanks to all

It's a one shot penalty. Most of the time penalties that are one shot in stroke play are the same in match play. Two shot penalties in stroke play are the ones that are usually loss of hole in match play.

[Chris Grady]

Thanks.. Are you sure??? Any rule #'s ... to back that up. Not that i don't trust you but i want to be positive before i go back to my pro to tell him he made the wrong call in our club championship... Thanks again

[RemyM]

Rule 21. Cleaning Ball
http://www.usga.org/playing/rules/pdf/2008ROG.pdf

[martin00015]

Thanks.. Are you sure??? Any rule #'s ... to back that up. Not that i don't trust you but i want to be positive before i go back to my pro to tell him he made the wrong call in our club championship... Thanks again

Rule 21 is what you are looking for. It details three of the five instances when you are not allowed to clean a lifted ball (the others are not relevant to your question).

The penalty is one stroke in either form of play. Note that if you were to clean an illegally lifted ball, there is no further penalty for cleaning.

[Chris Grady]

THANKS for rule 21!! That is what I was loking for!!

[powerfade]

Now, as to the procedure, I've been told to mark the ball, pick it up with two fingers, and carefully place it back on the ground out of the way. This removes the question as to whether the player cleaned the ball.

When it's time to replace it, do the opposite. One thing to keep in mind is while you cannot clean it, you may rotate it to any position before placing it back in play on the exact same spot. If there's a little dirt clod on the ball, you'd be sure to rotate the ball to where it doesn't come into play.

Is this how you all understand the procedure?

[martin00015]

Now, as to the procedure, I've been told to mark the ball, pick it up with two fingers, and carefully place it back on the ground out of the way. This removes the question as to whether the player cleaned the ball.

Exactly that.