Golf, a game steeped in tradition and precise rules, demands that players mark their balls to avoid confusion and penalties.
According to Rule 6.3 of the official Rules of Golf, a player must put an identification mark on their ball, ensuring they don’t mistakenly play someone else’s.
Failing to do so can result in a two-stroke penalty in stroke play or the loss of a hole in match play. However, not all markings are created equal. While marking your ball is essential, certain types of markings can cross the line into illegality.
For instance, using alignment aids like lines drawn specifically to assist with putting setup can be considered a breach of the rules.