ballmarker

The term ballmarker refers to a small marker used in the sport of golf to indicate the original position of a ball on a putting green. When a player deflects a ball, is ball at rest, or plays a ball from a rough, a ballmarker is placed on the ball to show the spot where the ball was left. This prevents confusion among players about where the ball was originally. The marker is usually a small plastic or metal disc or cylinder, often embossed with the logo of a golf brand or sporting organization. In most competitive settings, collaboration with the governing body of the sport dictates specific size, color and shape requirements that players must observe. Even recreational players normally keep their ballmarkers in a small pocket in their clothing. A ballmarker is also used during plucking a ball from a cutting or a grass patch that has a small puttee. Though the ballmarker might hold a small amount of puttees or arrange the puttee from many codes.

Ballmarkers were introduced in the nineteenth century as an essential piece of equipment. Golf spot marker were previously carved from bone or carved from wood. In 1920 the United States Golf Association (USGA) adopted a formal specification allowing plastic and metal ballmarkers to improve comfort, durability, and ease of use. This model changed the design of ballmarkers, enabling them to be more robust and cannot inflated.

In modern golf tournaments, participants register their ballmarkers with the committee before play. The use of any foreign or disallowed marker, especially one that holds a putter or small golf ball, can be considered a technical violation. As a result, many tournaments have toolboxes where only official or approved ballmarkers are stocked. A modern ballmarker is a small, portable, and inexpensive item that proves essential for fair play on a challenging green.