Trend of Using Poker Chips As Ball Markers

[Andyinthewoods]

Can't imagine a poker chip being all that distracting unless it's real close to my line.

[Chester12]

I've been using a poker chip from my trip to Las Vegas as a ball marker for a long time now. If I'm close to the hole or near someone's line I use the ball marker on my divot tool though since it's a lot smaller.

[hbear]

or just ask him to move it like 5 clubheads out of the way.....problem solved.

[SpinMill75]

You're being over-sensitive.....sorry.

I don't use them, but they don't bother me.....

[minhjn]

[quote name='Pings2Win' timestamp='1280075670' post='2597842']
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...
[/quote]

this

[Dillinger]

[quote name='Pings2Win' timestamp='1280075670' post='2597842']
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...
[/quote]


I second this, relax who cares what someone marks there ball with.
I have been using a Dunes poker chip that my grandfather gave me for
15 yrs and not one person has ever even mentioned it. Just have fun.

[Golfwolf]

[quote name='leoh923' timestamp='1279480464' post='2583836']
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.
[/quote]


Ditto. I have a couple of poker chip markers in my golf bag but rarely use them.

[joeshmo]

[quote name='fdbrian' timestamp='1281059875' post='2621658']
I use a hub cap from a 1962 lincoln continental wrap in baby seal fur.





really.
[/quote]


Any chance you have another from the set? Getting old and can't find the 55 Chevy baby moon..

[nitram]

[quote name='fdbrian' timestamp='1281059875' post='2621658']
I use a hub cap from a 1962 lincoln continental wrap in baby seal fur.


really.
[/quote]

Nice.....

I used a manhole cover until the course supt. threatened to bar me.

[dukedsp]

I don't use a poker chip, but I don't see how it is distracting. It shouldn't be on your line of putt, it doesn't talk on your backswing and it probably doesn't move around a lot when you are getting ready to hit.

[pingman1]

I use a Marine ball marker, it is the same size as a poker chip, but much thinner. It is black on one side and white on the other. Not distracting at all.

[br61]

I carry a WRX poker chip that was given to me in Georgia. I can't see as well as I used to so I often mark my ball with that poker chip on my long putts so I can see it better. Closer to hole, I use a coin.

I've never had a complaint in 6 months but they do look at it and ask about this site. Maybe few more non-sensitive members joined here because of that poker chip?

[Cobber]

I don't have any problems with the chips.... but, here's a question. If someone did, would it be poor form to ask them to change to something smaller?

[hebron1427]

I don't like them much either. I played with a kid in a tournament who used one. I made him move it 3 putter-heads out of my line so that there was no chance i'd come close to it, even if i completely mishit it. it's distracting and it avoids the purpose of a marker, which is to take the obstruction out of a player's intended line to the hole. I'd think after being hasseled like that, the kid would just quit with it, but he kept at it.

i will say, though, my father uses a very large coin he got while in hawaii (some kind of commemorative thing). His eyesight isn't that good, so he needs something large and flashy to be able to find his mark again. just a thought.

[78blades]

Poppy

IMO you are being overly sensitive. Personally I like the poker chip sized ball marked cuz I can see where everybodys marker is. When done with a penny or anything smaller and not shinny its hard to see where the ball marker is. Due to this I have stepped on ppl's line; not a real big deal unless its a tourament or a money game. Unfortunetly that is when it usually happens to me.

[TJCDAS]

Why mark a ball if you are using a poker chip, just keep the ball on the green and save some time.

[TheBUNKY]

Seems like those who use poker chips are thinking you're being overly sensitive. Those who do not and use something smaller are saying you're spot on.

I try not to use anything larger than a quarter. Unless it's a money game, I'm giving anything inside 5 feet.

[cardoustie]

All of our regular guys do this and simply because we are all aged 40-55 ... and it is nice to see the darn thing when you are reading the greens from the opposite side of the hole - when the putt is 20 feet plus. I can't see a penny that is 60 feet away

We all carry a small coin for really close putts that end up being marked

[dlam]

I been using a green repairer as a marker

I just stick it in the ground behind the ball then remove the ball

It sticks up about 2 inches above the ground and I can see it more clearly than a large coin.

OP if a large poker chip bothers you then my two prong ball mark repair sticking up from the ground will probably bother you too.

Too bad....Is there any rule against it?

[hebron1427]

[quote name='dlam' timestamp='1316616029' post='3579758']
I been using a green repairer as a marker

I just stick it in the ground behind the ball then remove the ball

It sticks up about 2 inches above the ground and I can see it more clearly than a large coin.

OP if a large poker chip bothers you then my two prong ball mark repair sticking up from the ground will probably bother you too.

Too bad....Is there any rule against it?



[/quote]

i wouldn't do it in a tournament. i'm pretty sure it's not legal for tournament play. however, if you're out there by yourself, there's no problem. i've done it before.it keeps things moving.

[Bunker2Bunker]

I think it is tacky, but people can do what they like. I usually just have them move it a lot. Most of the time, a penny will show up later in the round.

[kekoa]

I don't think they should be used when marking the ball within 10 ft. outside of that, I could care less.

I personally don't use them because they are so 'bulky. I'm used to a nickel or flat marker. I tried a poker chip once and hit the ball when marking. luckily it was just a casual round.

[acquadiice]

you missed the putt didnt you?

[churnd]

Rule 20-1:

[quote][size="2"]"The position of a ball to be lifted should be marked by placing a ball-marker, a small coin or other similar object immediately behind the ball. If the ball-marker interferes with the play, stance or stroke of another player, it should be placed one or more clubhead-lengths to one side."[/size][/quote]


I take it to read it is the player's discretion of what to use to mark their ball. A similar decision rule 20-1/17:

[quote]Q. In a match, B used a wooden tee to mark the position of his ball. A's ball was deflected by the tee. What is the ruling?

A. The tee was not B's equipment — see Definition of "Equipment." There is no penalty. A must play his ball as it lies.[/quote]

So, even using a tee is to mark a ball is not against the rules. A player has the right to request an opposing player to move the marker out of their line at the most.


I will say though, that the rule seems to be geared towards the "gentlemanly" golfer type, who wouldn't dream of embarrassing him/herself with a tacky ball marker. Golf today is attracting it's fair share of athletic jock types who will do anything to get a competitive advantage. Golf's "classiness" is slowly eroding away.

[geesecougar2]

I also think it's tacky. The chip itself is very gaudy, and totally impractical and cumbersome. I don't understand why anyone would go through the trouble of having multiple ball markers for different distances from the hole; just get a quarter and call it a day.

Also, as an avid poker player, the idea of paying money for a chip that is worth nothing seems retarded to me. You know you can go to any poker room and get a chip in denominations as low as $0.50, and when you realize you don't want to use a silly poker chip any more, you can actually get back what you paid for it?

Not that there's anything wrong with using a poker chip....

[avgjoe]

it will not stop... it is something (else) a club/course/shop can sell you

[trendingdown]

If it's a round with some buddies and there is some money being wagered I'd probably use it for anything outside 5' and not near another players line. If it's just a casual round no problems, I can see it actually helping with reading putts. If I'm paired up with a group, again probably use it only for longer putts when not near another players line. It could be a conversation starter and a way to break the ice but near the hole I'd switch to something more common such as a dime. Golf is a game of respect and courtesy for your playing partners and the game, if there's a chance it may bother someone I'd just keep it in my pocket. Just another sign I'm getting old.

[wvularc11]

I think it's all personal preference, I have a few I use I have picked up from courses I like and have traveled to, if I am playing with someone else I use them on longer putts and carry one of my other markers for closer ones. Though my smallest markers are half dollars, or foreign coins that are equal to the same size. I like to use half dollars or silver dollars that pre 1960, less people use them and it's easier to see on the green, also foregn coins are nice because they are even less likely to be used by a fellow competitor.

I started using silver & half dollars in highschool tournaments 10 years ago because it annoyed people I played with and I just like to get in peoples heads i find it amusing, obviously I move it out of their line if it is in it, but if it bothers you just to have it within your sight then you need to work on your mental strength...similar to someone who gets upset if the greenskeeper idles the mower instead of turning it off when the putt but then are fine with planes flying above which make 10 times more noise.

overall no problem with them as long as they mark them to the side of your line.

[churnd]

[size="2"]This topic discussed in detail:

[url="http://golf.about.com/od/rulesofgolf/f/ball-markers-rules.htm"]http://golf.about.co...rkers-rules.htm[/url]

Basically boils down to:

[quote][left][font="inherit"][font="inherit"][font="inherit"][font="inherit"]And if you're someone who is bothered by a playing companion's unorthodox or large ball marker, note that they aren't violating the [url="http://golf.about.com/od/rulesofgolf/a/golfrules.htm"]Rules of Golf[/url], but feel free to (politely) appeal to their sense of etiquette. If they decline to change, you have two options:

[/font][/font][/font][/left][/font][left][font="inherit"][font="inherit"][font="inherit"][list][*]Learn to deal with it;[*]Require the other golfer to move his ball marker (one clubhead-length at time to the side) to a position in which it no longer bothers you.[/quote][/list][/font][/font][/left][/font][/size]

[Fetch07]

i use a cracker, good for marking a ball and you can eat it afterwards, 2 birds!