Ball Marking on Greens

Question
can you use the toe of your putter to mark the position of your ball while you lift and clean it?

Is it against the rules?

Answer
LC:
My answer is no.  As we look at the USGA Rule book, Rule 20-1:  Lifting and Marking, it states:  The position of the ball to be lifted should be marked by placing a ball-marker, a small coin or other similar object immediately behind the ball.  

Notice it says "should" be marked by......it does not say "the toe of the putter"

Under the rules of golf written the way they are, and as PGA Golf Professionals, the rules are to be taken "EXACTLY AS WRITTEN".  There always seems to be some gray area for your question, but notice the rule also states "immediately behind the ball".  As far as I'm concerned, there is no gray area there.  

So if I am in charge of the tournament, you CANNOT mark the spot of the ball with the toe of the putter and to lift it.  Get a rule book, read it, and interpret it word for word.  Then you decide what's right and what's wrong.  I know most golfers state "This isn't the US Open, who cares?", however, our great game is still goverened by the rules and the rules are strictly adhered to in competition.  There are no "so whats and who cares" when it comes down to competition.  

For more info on this subject, go to www.rulesofgolf.com and look for all your answers.  It's a USGA site.  

Eddie Kilthau
PGA Member