Who is allowed to mark your scorecard during a round?

Steve Carroll

Are there strict rules on who can certify your hole scores – or can you rope anyone in to do it? Our Rules of Golf expert Steve Carroll delves into the book

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.

CLICK HERE TO BUY THE OFFICIAL GUIDE TO THE RULES OF GOLF

NOW READ: What do I need to put on my scorecard?
NOW READ: Why you won’t be using scorecards for much longer

About the author

Steve Carroll

A journalist for more than 25 years, Steve has been immersed in club golf for almost as long.

A former club captain, he has passed the Level 3 Rules of Golf exam with distinction having attended the R&A’s prestigious Tournament Administrators and Referees Seminar.

Steve has officiated at a host of high-profile tournaments, including Open Regional Qualifying, PGA Fourball Championship, English Men’s Senior Amateur, and the North of England Amateur Championship. In 2023, he made his international debut as part of the team that refereed England vs Switzerland U16 girls.

A part of NCG’s Top 100s panel, Steve has a particular love of links golf and is frantically trying to restore his single-figure handicap. He’d like to tell you he floats around 10. The reality is more like 13.

Steve plays at Sandburn Hall, in York, and is a country member at Close House in Newcastle. He has served on various club committees during his time in the game, and is the current Rules Secretary at Sandburn.

Having studied history at Newcastle University, he became a journalist having passed his NCTJ exams at Darlington College of Technology. He began his career working on weekly papers in Newcastle, before joining the York Press in 2001. After five years as a news reporter, he joined the sports desk – specialising in horse racing and snooker – and was Digital Sports Editor when he joined National Club Golfer in 2016.

What’s in Steve’s bag: TaylorMade Stealth 2 driver, 3-wood, and hybrids; Caley 01T irons 4-PW; TaylorMade Hi-Toe wedges, Odyssey 2Ball Microhinge putter.

Twitter