Ask Linda #121-picking up ball to ID

Linda, when can I pick up my ball (if ever) on the fairway to make sure it is mine and not the other players’? What about on the green?
Lulu

Dear Lulu,

You may pick up your ball to identify it anywhere on the golf course, including bunkers and water hazards. There is no penalty for lifting your ball to identify it as long as you follow the correct procedure. Here is what you must do [Rule 12-2]:

1. Before you touch the ball, tell another player in your group that you will need to lift it to identify it. This player must be on hand to observe every step of the identification process.

2. Carefully mark the position of your ball.

3. Lift the ball and identify it. If there is so much mud or other gooey substance clinging to the ball that you need to clean it to identify it, then you are only permitted to clean off the bare minimum necessary to identify the ball.

4. If the ball is yours, replace it exactly where you found it.

Note that if you violate all or any part of this procedure you will incur a one-stroke penalty. For example, if you should fail to mark the ball before lifting and clean it more than necessary, your total penalty is still only one stroke.

I am somewhat puzzled by the need to lift a ball on a fairway for identification purposes. I suspect, Lulu, that you have neglected to place a personal identification mark on your ball. I would strongly recommend that every ball in your golf bag bear your preferred design, whether it be your initials, a smiley face, a circle around the logo, or multi-colored dots in a specific pattern. Use your imagination, and mark every ball the same. Don’t be shy – draw on at least two sides of the ball so you will be able to identify it without the need to lift it. While marking your ball is not specifically required by the rules, the rule book states unequivocally that every player “should” mark his ball. This is good advice – take it!

Linda

Copyright © 2009 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.