Trend of Using Poker Chips As Ball Markers

[poppyhillsguy]

(please stop)

I played in a tournament yesterday where one of the guys used a poker chip as a way of marking his ball. This is the second time this month I've played with someone who used a poker chip to mark their ball. They are LARGE, colorful, and sit-up on the green. They are very distracting whenever marked inside 5 feet from the hole (I like to use a tarnished, old penny inside 5 feet).

Am I being overly sensitive or does this new trend in golf just have to stop?

[leoh923]

You are being over sensitive. Its no different from using a silver dollar, or half dollar, but considerate players will carry a second, smaller coin, to use when near someones line.

[JSC]

I played with a poker chip for a couple rounds. It was novel at first, but after a couple times I switched back to a "normal" marker.

And to address your question, my playing partners did comment that the poker chip was unsightly, but stopped short of complaining or saying it was a distraction.

[poppyhillsguy]

JSC...don't you think that them saying it was unsightly was a way of them saying it was a distraction and a complaint. I'm glad your back to coins.

[GAL007]

If someone wants to use a poker chip when they are 10 - 15 feet or more from the hole that's fine. However, when you get in closer to the hole it's kind of distracting and they should use a smaller coin, preferably no bigger than a quarter

[poppyhillsguy]

That was my point GAL007. I had a 3 foot slider from left to right and his poker chip was about 2 feet immediately on the high side. I wanted to say something but didn't want to be perceived as being "that guy".

[cheeser]

My buddy used a poker chip yesterday and it did not bother me one bit. He had to move his mark more than usual on the shorter putts but whatever. People complain for many different reasons and this one is not one I will complain about. Everyone will find a reason why they missed their putt. Why not the ball marker of a fellow player?

[pccasstpro]

I played a practice round a few years ago with a guy who did that. It was very annoying if he was on the same line (or close too). It was like marking a ball with a manhole cover!! The biggest thing should be a quarter, IMHO!!!

[Teetogreen86]

i'm not sure which side to take here. i use a sacagawea dollar which has tarnished quite a bit and blends in with the grass pretty often. it's somewhat large, but not near the size of a poker chip. if a miss hit putt or chip was to go over a poker chip, it would really affect the end result, aside from it being distracting. the sacagawea, while somewhat large, isn't very thick and not very distracting. i think the OP has a valid argument.

[tgsevers81]

It seems clear that marking with a poker chip is an attention getter. Why else would you? If someone I am playing with wants to use a poker chip, more power to them. If it's in my line they can move it over a head length...no skin of my back. To each their own, why get concerned with it? To me it's better than using the mark from your golf glove!

[hayzooos]

I can see it being a bit distracting, but I wouldn't complain about it. I like the idea of using something else within 5' of the hole or something like that. Nothing is worse when you mark a ball with a penny or something, and forget exactly where it is. Maybe it's just me, but this is why I usually use a quarter or one of those magnet markers with white on top. I've never herad anyone say anything about it being distracting, even when near the hole.

However, I could see a poker chip being a pain, especially with it being striped on the side. If it was all one color, then that's a bit different, but if you can see half a zebra out of the corner of your eye, I can see it being distracting! I think the coloring pattern of the chip is more distracting than the size of it.

My old man has some old school clay poker chips (different colors in the set, but each chip is one solid color) and that would make for a pretty nice ball marker I bet.

[coozapalooza]

I've seen loads of people use that poker chip that came in the Odyssey XG headcovers a few years back. I don't really like them but I probably wouldn't really say anything unless it was in my way or really just a complete distraction in a putt I was lining up. If anything, I would think it'd be annoying for the user more than me, in a way...

[monkutare]

doesn't seem to bother our regular groups when a couple of guys use them

[OldSkoolTexan]

Sounds like poker chip guy was not only CLOSER to the hole all day, but rattled the group and probably took all the skins.<br><br> Knock it closer, problem solved........

[GAL007]

I'd like to be a little more specific about my thoughts on the poker chip. It would only bother me in a tournament setting. In a casual round I couldn't care less what you use to mark your ball!

[bigred90gt]

I use an Odyssey poker chip all the time. No one has ever seemed distracted, or bothered in any way, and no one has ever said anything. If they did, I doubt I'd change just to appease them anyways. I'd say if your focus is so short lived that a ball marker such as a poker chip bothers you (if it is not directly in your line), that is your problem. So long as it is out of my line, they could use their putter head cover for all I care. Hell, throw the flag stick down if you want, just make sure it is not directly in my line.

[matpatsheehy]

[quote name='bigred90gt' date='20 July 2010 - 11:23 AM' timestamp='1279639420' post='2588083']
I use an Odyssey poker chip all the time. No one has ever seemed distracted, or bothered in any way, and no one has ever said anything. If they did, I doubt I'd change just to appease them anyways. I'd say if your focus is so short lived that a ball marker such as a poker chip bothers you (if it is not directly in your line), that is your problem. So long as it is out of my line, they could use their putter head cover for all I care. Hell, throw the flag stick down if you want, just make sure it is not directly in my line.
[/quote]

I carry several ball marks and one of them happens to be a poker chip. I like the poker chip simply because on long putts it is easy to go to the other side of the hole while one of your competitors is putting to read the putt. Sometimes a quarter or a penny is tough to see. I know, hit to six feet every time. I wish!

I have gotten into the habit of carrying a smaller coin when I am in someones line because several people have made comments about the poker chip but I always love when someone asks me to move my mark and then they roll their ball right over it and then blame my poker chip or my other mark for some reason. How about, you missed your line by a foot?

I could care less what someone marks their ball with. I think others will constantly find something to complain about.

[MarkCPA]

I use an orange and white poker chip with the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail - Oxmoor Valley logo on it. I've had it for over two years. I've never had one person complain about it. The feedback I get is people asking what it is, where it came from, what it cost, etc.

They have to be gaining in popularity. I can't think of a golf course I've been to this season that wasn't selling them.

[t_m_harris]

[quote name='GAL007' date='19 July 2010 - 09:02 PM' timestamp='1279591364' post='2587090']
I'd like to be a little more specific about my thoughts on the poker chip. It would only bother me in a tournament setting. In a casual round I couldn't care less what you use to mark your ball!
[/quote]

My thoughts as well, marking with a poker chip during any type of tournament round would be poor judgement, casual round with your buddies at a muni not so much. I have a few in my bag and use them a few times a year. Any type of serious round I use something small. Even on the PGA tour they have recommendation to use a "small coin".

[KSI]

[quote name='poppyhillsguy' date='18 July 2010 - 12:09 PM' timestamp='1279480149' post='2583822']
I played in a tournament yesterday where one of the guys used a poker chip as a way of marking his ball. This is the second time this month I've played with someone who used a poker chip to mark their ball. They are LARGE, colorful, and sit-up on the green. They are very distracting whenever marked inside 5 feet from the hole (I like to use a tarnished, old penny inside 5 feet).

Am I being overly sensitive or does this new trend in golf just have to stop?
[/quote]


The trend should stop. Even the rules of golf indicate that a ball should be marked by a ball-marker, small coin or other similar object. Why even bother to mark the ball if someone is going to use a marker as big and distracting as a ball?

[Radagast]

[quote name='KSI' date='20 July 2010 - 10:42 PM' timestamp='1279690967' post='2589715']
Why even bother to mark the ball if someone is going to use a marker as big and distracting as a ball?
[/quote]

+1

A good ball marker should be small and lay flush with the ground. If a ball in motion does happen to run over top the marker the effect on the speed and direction of the ball should be as little as possible.

[JSC]

[quote name='poppyhillsguy' date='18 July 2010 - 07:37 PM' timestamp='1279496226' post='2584354']
JSC...don't you think that them saying it was unsightly was a way of them saying it was a distraction and a complaint. I'm glad your back to coins.
[/quote]

Well, 98% of the time I play with my wife and/or close friends, who are all brutally honest. So, if they wanted to complain, they would be very direct. Mostly, they were making fun of me for using it. Also, I've never played in any tournaments, so that's a non-issue for me. However, if I were to play in a competitive tournament, I would go the more traditional route, in every way.

These days, I use a magnetic hatclip marker, basically because I find it more convenient. No need to fish around my pocket for anything except a tee or divot tool.

[LPSISCO]

A guy I played with last week had a poker chip size gold coin that he used for his ball mark. It didn't distract me at all. I asked him if I could see it, and upon exaimination saw that it was a medal from the US government for bravery on 9/11. Turns out he is an FBI guy who was at Ground Zero and helped rescue others that horrible day. At first I was a bit surprised he'd use it for a marker, but then I thought about it - it obviously meant much more to him as something he used all the time than something he just stuck in a drawer in his desk.

[marshvegas]

There is nothing wrong with using a poker chip to mark a golf ball. If it is in your way, ask the other player to move it. If you are too focused on a poker chip and "other distractions" than the putt has no chance of going in to begin with.

I use them all the time and people that I play with want to know what course or casino it is from and if there is a story behind it.

Relax and enjoy your round...

[BENNYSUPREME]

I see no issue with it. I know a lot of military guys who use R.M.O.s (round metal objects), and there is no way your ball is rolling over some of them. Like some said about poker chips, they are a convo starter.

[drewski24]

[quote name='poppyhillsguy' timestamp='1279480149' post='2583822']
I played in a tournament yesterday where one of the guys used a poker chip as a way of marking his ball. This is the second time this month I've played with someone who used a poker chip to mark their ball. They are LARGE, colorful, and sit-up on the green. They are very distracting whenever marked inside 5 feet from the hole (I like to use a tarnished, old penny inside 5 feet).

Am I being overly sensitive or does this new trend in golf just have to stop?
[/quote]

better than a chew can... i've seen this many-a-time... but hell- I'm from montana HAHAHAHA

[Obsessotron]

I think it should stop just because it seems kind of douchey.

[fdbrian]

I use a hub cap from a 1962 lincoln continental wrap in baby seal fur.





really.

[Openwater22]

Ok, I'll stop using my poker chip marker close to the hole

[wrmiller]

I carry two markers: a poker chip from Tucson National, and a gold colored one dollar coin. If I'm outside everyone else, or not near anyone's line and outside 10', I'll use the chip as it's easier to see from the other side of the hole. If I'm near someone's line, or inside 10', I'll use the dollar coin.

I don't mark near the hole, as I seldom leave anything outside 3' and normally just clean up before the next person putts.