published: Dec 11, 2025

I tapped my ball-marker with my putter and it moved – is that a penalty?

It’s damp, you’ve given your marker a nudge with your putter and now it’s stuck to the bottom of the club. How do the Rules of Golf deal with this?

You have diligently marked your ball and realised the marker is still sticking up slightly in the air. Ever the keen follower of etiquette, you lean in with your putter head…

And cue this column’s latest email contribution: “When marking your ball on the green, [if you] then tap down the marker with your club and it sticks to the bottom of the club and moves away is that a penalty?”

Ball-marker rules: Accidentally moving a ball-marker on the green

Don’t worry, the Rules of Golf are not quite this picky. You’re not going to be adding strokes to your scorecard simply because the bottom of your putter has got a bit sticky.

There is no penalty for accidentally causing a ball or a ball-marker to move on the putting green. It is all laid out in Rule 13.1d. You just need to replace the ball on its original spot – if you don’t know then estimate – or place a ball-marker to mark that spot.

Remember, though, this is when a ball-marker is accidentally moved on the green. Start shifting stuff deliberately and a penalty will follow.

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 do you think of these ball marker rules? Has this happened to you on the course? Let me know by leaving a comment below, email me at s.carroll@nationalclubgolfer.com or get in touch on X.

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

NOW READ: My ball hit a marker on the green and went in – does it count?

NOW READ: Do I need to mark my ball when taking relief?

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