In order to avoid having to mark your ball are you allowed instead to rotate your golf ball, in order to identify it or to line it up on the putting green?
Answer – No Clarification 9.4b/1 When the ball in play is deliberately touched by the player, even if does not move, the player gets one penalty stroke e.g.
- Without first marking the ball’s spot, rotate the ball to line up a trademark with the hole, even if the ball remains on the same spot.
- Without first marking the ball’s spot, rotate the ball anywhere on the course to identify it and the ball is the players ball.
- Hold the ball steady with their hand OR position a pine cone or stick against the ball to prevent the ball from moving while they remove some loose impediments or brush something off the ball.
