What happens if I lift my ball on the green without marking it?

Yes, you get a one-stroke penalty if you lift your ball on the green without marking its spot first. Rule 14.1a requires you to place a ball-marker right behind or next to the ball, or hold a club on the ground, before picking it up. The only time you can skip marking is when you're taking relief under a Rule.

The basic rule on the green

Before you pick up your ball on the putting green, you have to mark its spot. That means setting a ball-marker — a coin, a tee, whatever — right behind or right next to the ball. You can also just hold your putter on the ground right behind or next to it. If you lift the ball without doing that, or you mark it in some other way, it's a one-stroke penalty. Same penalty if you make a stroke while the marker is still down. You replace the ball on the exact spot, remove the marker, and play on. The penalty applies whether you meant to break the rule or not.

When your caddie can lift it for you

Your caddie is allowed to pick up your ball on the putting green without asking you first. That's a specific exception in Rule 14.1b. Anywhere else on the course, your caddie needs your permission each time before lifting your ball. If they lift it when they shouldn't, you still get the one-stroke penalty under Rule 9.4.

When you don't have to mark

If you're lifting the ball to take relief under a Rule — say, from an abnormal course condition or a penalty area — you don't have to mark the spot first. You just lift, take your relief, and drop. The marking requirement only kicks in when the Rule says you must replace the ball on its original spot.

Exceptions that change the answer

• You are lifting the ball to take relief under a Rule (e.g., free relief from temporary water or relief from a penalty area) → You do not need to mark the spot before lifting; you simply lift and proceed with the relief procedure.
• Your caddie lifts your ball on the putting green → No authorization is needed; the caddie may lift it without asking, and no penalty applies for the lift itself.

Frequently asked questions

What if I mark my ball with my putter head instead of a coin?

That's fine. Rule 14.1a lets you hold a club on the ground right behind or right next to the ball as a valid way to mark the spot. Just don't make a stroke with the club still there.

What if I forget to remove the ball-marker before I putt?

One-stroke penalty. The Rule says you must remove the ball-marker before making a stroke. If you putt with it still in place, add one stroke to your score for the hole.

Can my playing partner mark my ball for me?

Only if you authorize them each time before they lift it. A general "go ahead" for the round doesn't count. If they lift it without your okay, you get a one-stroke penalty.

What if I lift my ball on the green to identify it?

You still have to mark the spot first. The only time you can lift without marking is when you're taking relief under a Rule. Identifying your ball isn't a relief procedure, so mark it, lift, check, replace.

Does the penalty apply if I accidentally nudge the ball while marking it?

No. Accidentally moving the ball while marking or lifting it isn't a penalty under Rule 14.1a. You just replace it on the marked spot. The one-stroke penalty is only for lifting without marking, marking the wrong way, or putting with the marker down.