What happens if I putt with my ball-marker still down?

Yes, it's a one-stroke penalty. If you replace your ball on the green but forget to pick up your ball-marker before putting, you add one stroke to your score for that hole (Rule 14.1a). The ball is played as it lies.

What the rule actually says

Rule 14.1a is clear: after you mark and lift your ball on the green, you have to remove the marker before you make your next stroke. If you don't, it's one penalty stroke. The ball stays where it ends up — you don't get to redo the putt.

Why this happens and how to avoid it

It's usually a brain-fart: you mark, clean, replace, line up the putt, and just forget the little coin is still sitting there. Pros do it too. Build a tiny habit — marker goes in your pocket the instant the ball is back on its spot — and it stops happening.

What if the marker moves the ball?

If your marker (or you picking it up) accidentally moves the ball after you've replaced it, that's different. No penalty — just put the ball back on its original spot (Rule 9.7b). But the stroke-with-marker penalty still applies if you already hit the putt.

Exceptions that change the answer

• Your caddie lifts your ball on the green without you asking → No penalty — caddies are allowed to do that on the putting green (Rule 14.1b Exception). But if they lift it off the green without permission, that's a one-stroke penalty under Rule 9.4.

Frequently asked questions

Do I get a penalty if my ball hits the marker after I putt?

No. The penalty is only for making the stroke while the marker is still in place. If the ball hits the marker after you've struck it, play the ball as it lies with no extra penalty.

Can I just pick up the marker and re-putt without penalty?

No. Once you've made the stroke with the marker down, the penalty applies. You cannot cancel the stroke or redo it — you play on with the one-stroke penalty added.

What if I mark with a tee instead of a coin?

Same rule. Any object used to mark the spot — coin, tee, poker chip — counts as a ball-marker. Leave it there when you stroke and it's one penalty stroke.

Does this apply off the green too?

Yes. Any time a Rule requires you to replace a ball on its original spot, you must mark it first and remove the marker before your next stroke. The penalty is the same: one stroke.

What if someone else's marker is in my line?

You can ask them to move it (Rule 15.3). If they don't and you hit it, no penalty to you — but they should have moved it when asked.