Can mark or cannot mark my ball for this...

Hi All,
Recently I had a game and my ball landed on apron 6inches short of the green. One of my kaki's ball is 2 feet behind me.
He choose to putt his ball (instead of chipping as grass was short) and he requested that I mark my ball as its in his line of putt.
I asked if this is allowed as my ball is not on putting green yet.
He said golf rule permits this.
If he correct ?

Yes, I think so. He can request u to mark your ball. And if I am not wrong, u cannot clean your ball.

I think you are allowed to lift and mark your ball if your ball is in the way of your opponent next shot. But not sure which rule

Yes since your partner asked, you can do so without cleaning the ball.


22-2. Ball Interfering with Play
Except when a ball is in motion, if a player considers that another ball might interfere with his play, he may have it lifted.

A ball lifted under this Rule must be replaced (see Rule 20-3). The ball must not be cleaned, unless it lies on the putting green (see Rule 21).

In stroke play, a player required to lift his ball may play first rather than lift the ball.

Note: Except on the putting green, a player may not lift his ball solely because he considers that it might interfere with the play of another player. If a player lifts his ball without being asked to do so, he incurs a penalty of one stroke for a breach of Rule 18-2a, but there is no additional penalty under Rule 22. 

Penalty for Breach of Rule:
Match play - Loss of hole; Stroke play - Two strokes.

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You must put it back in the same place it was, and if that lie has been altered, this part of rule 20 comes into play:

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b. Lie of Ball to Be Placed or Replaced Altered

If the original lie of a ball to be placed or replaced has been altered:


(i) except in a hazard, the ball must be placed in the nearest lie most similar to the original lie that is not more than one club-length from the original lie, not nearer the hole and not in a hazard; 

(ii) in a water hazard, the ball must be placed in accordance with Clause(i)above, except that the ball must be placed in the water hazard; 

(iii) in a bunker, the original lie must be re-created as nearly as possible and the ball must be placed in that lie.

Great info! Thanks flashpacker!

Thanks man. Good stuff!

Just like to add on to say since you may not clean the ball, it is recommended that you lift the ball with your thumb and forefinger. Its a no no to put your ball in your pocket or wrap the ball in your palm as that would inevitably result in the ball being "cleaned".

There is such a thing as prefer the lie in PGA Tour rule. Read below:

Q. So how do I prefer the lie?

"Preferred lie" has to be announced by the organizer and normally it happens when there was recent rain and wet ground, if ball lands likely be mud and grass.
If I am not wrong, you can only pick and clean the ball provided ball is on the fairway but not in rough.

Streamer2 wrote:

"Preferred lie" has to be announced by the organizer and normally it happens when there was recent rain and wet ground, if ball lands likely be mud and grass.
If I am not wrong, you can only pick and clean the ball provided ball is on the fairway but not in rough.

U are correct partly ... But u must mark the ball ... When you place the ball back to the ground, it must be further away from the hole and not more than a score card length or a club length depending on the club rules ...

nice info!

good info. But the player can play first instead of lifting the ball.

In most parts of the world, its called "Preferred Lie" and in US, its called "Pick and Clean".
Both are the same thing.
If it's been declared for the round due to wet condition on fairways due to heavy rain, you can mark the ball, clean it and hand-place ball on a good lie (no need to drop shoulder height) within one club length but not nearer to the pin.

Sometimes me and my kakis play public courses and if fairways in terrible condition, we will declared "preferred lie" even on dry condition so we can enjoy our game.