Is it always a playing partner who needs to mark your scorecard, or can anyone do the job? Could you rope in someone who isn’t even teeing it up?
You might have always just divvied out responsibilities among your group but, while this might not be the kind of thing that comes to the attention of a golf club every day, there is an answer in the Rules of Golf.
So what do they say about who can sort out your scores? Let’s take a look…
Golf scorecard marker rules
Rule 3.3b says a player’s score is kept on their scorecard by the marker, who is “either identified by the committee or chosen by the player in a way approved by the committee”. So if you’ve consulted the committee about a marker choice and they’ve given you the thumbs up, you’re set.
But do make sure you do consult with that committee first. This is given a bit more detail in the Committee Procedures found in the Official Guide to the Rules of Golf.
Section 5G (3) covers markers and says the committee can specify or restrict who can act as the marker for each player by “specifying that the marker must be a player in the same competition and group, a player with a handicap, or in some other way.”
They really are the arbiters, so if you’re contemplating anything unusual when it comes to who marks and signs your scorecard, take advice first.
Got a question for our expert?
Despite the changes to the Rules of Golf in 2019 and 2023, there are still some that leave us scratching our heads. I’ll try to help by featuring the best of your queries in this column.
What the strangest golf scorecard marker you’ve had? Let me know your experiences with a tweet.
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