Slightly OT for the golfers-- Phil Mickelson uses a Peace dollar as a ball marker

Longacre

I was reading the latest issue of Golf Digest. I assume that everyone has heard of Phil Mickelson, and I know of at least one board member who knows him well!

In the article it said that he uses a 1923 Peace dollar as a ball marker. The article called it a "Liberty dollar", which is guess is technically correct, but it was an interesting description. He said he used to use a SBA dollar that a firefighter sent to him from the World Trade Center, but he said the ash that was on the coin (and other charred elements), was starting to rub off, so he stopped using it.

What do you use as a ball mark? I use a 1970 Lincoln cent.

lloydmincy

Peace dollar seems a little LARGE and possibly DISTRACTING, don't you think?

coinlieutenant

Peace dollar is too big I would think.

RYK

I haven't played for a while, but when I get back to it, I have a Dahlonega quarter eagle that would be perfect!

Longacre

I agree that the Peace dollar is a little big and distracting. The problem that I have with my 1970 Lincoln (brown) is that it is too small and hard to see. Seeing that I am never very close to the hole, I tend to lose track of where I placed it! Maybe I'm just getting old and the eyesight is not there anymore.

ER

<< <i>I haven't played for a while, but when I get back to it, I have a Dahlonega quarter eagle that would be perfect! >>



Now THAT would be distracting.

ss350camaro

A Peace Dollar ??? no way............. That's way too large.

I doubt the regulations would allow something that large and thick to be placed in another players way. Ball markers are generally small and very thin so as to not impead another players line. Even at that, a player may measure off at an angle from the original spot so his marker will not be in another players line.

pharmer

I agree, I'm surprised he is allowed to use it. It could be a large advantage as well. I sometimes use a saint for grins, and replacing the ball with that as a marker allows for a lot of latitude.

D

I've got a little marker that's pinned to my glove and pops right off . It's a wee bit small though.

-Daniel

mgoodm3

I never have a ball marker when I need one.

pharmer

<< <i>I never have a ball marker when I need one. >>



I solved that problem by throwing a bunch of quarters into my ball pocket. Still never remember one until I'm trying to mark my ball on the first green, but at least then I have one for the rest of the round. Do it now, before you forget.

Longacre

<< <i>I agree, I'm surprised he is allowed to use it. It could be a large advantage as well. I sometimes use a saint for grins, and replacing the ball with that as a marker allows for a lot of latitude. >>




Here is the rule regarding markers (Rule 20-1 of the Official Rules of Golf):

20-1. Lifting and Marking
A ball to be lifted under the Rules may be lifted by the player, his partner or another person authorized by the player. In any such case, the player is responsible for any breach of the Rules.
The position of the ball must be marked before it is lifted under a Rule that requires it to be replaced. If it is not marked, the player incurs a penalty of one stroke and the ball must be replaced. If it is not replaced, the player incurs the general penalty for breach of this Rule, but there is no additional penalty under Rule 20-1.
If a ball or ball-marker is accidentally moved in the process of lifting the ball under a Rule or marking its position, the ball or ball-marker must be replaced. There is no penalty provided the movement of the ball or ball-marker is directly attributable to the specific act of marking the position of or lifting the ball. Otherwise, the player incurs a penalty of one stroke under this Rule or Rule 18-2a.
Exception: If a player incurs a penalty for failing to act in accordance with Rule 5-3 or 12-2, there is no additional penalty under Rule 20-1.
Note: 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.

RobHB

This is from an interview with PGA Tour Tournament Director Mark Russell:

Question: Are there any specifications regarding the ball marker you use like the size, material, etc.? Thank you, Anthony.

Russell: The rules recommend you use a small coin or other similar object. You could actually mark your ball with the head of your putter, pick it up, clean it and put it back down. The key is to put it back in the right place. Some people use a tee as long as it doesn’t interfere with someone else’s line. But I’d suggest a small coin or a ball marker made specifically for the task.

So theoretically he can use a Peace Dollar so long as it doesn't get in another player's line.

Geod

I don't ever need a ball marker. My approach shots are always close enough to be considered "gimmy me's"

But just on the rare chance, I use the little plastic disks with the plactic stub.

AgMe

I used a SAE last year, every now and then I would have to switch to a regular ball marker, because it would interfere with the ball's movement. I've seen quite a few plp using a walking liberty.

I think a small goin coin is an excellent idea.

-g

Cameonut

pharmer

My thought was that something as large as a peace would give a player a lot of latitiude such as this: say there's an old ball divot between you and the hole, wasn't repaired well, turned brown, a little depressed. You try to bring it up and flat, but it's still going to be problematic in your path. On a fairly short putt, say 10 feet in but even more so five feet and in, say you mark your ball with the ball at about 2 o'clock on the coin, the replace at about 10 o'clock, and the divot is not longer in your line. Same applies if your ball came to rest in a bit of a small depression, which is going to affect the beginning of the putt. A larger marker would let you replace it to the side of the small depression. And the more likely to interfere with someone's line scenario is valid enough, to me, to preclude using something that big, just out of courtesy.

AgMe

Hmmmmmm, I usually try to play "friendly".

~g

KUCH

Ok "Newbie's" ... this is my expertise. I am a former tour player ...1974-1976. it is possible Phil would use a peace dollar, but only when his ball is far away from any other players ball. I'm thinking he carries several small coins also to use when he lies near another player. Pharmer, if Phil ever marked his ball at the 2 o'clock and then replaced it at the 10 o'clock he would be tarred and feathered and penalized. Currently I'm using a ball marker from the "K Club" in Ireland. / Eagles are nice when you're playing.

Boom

The player is to mark the ball in play directly behind the ball without it moving therefore it is incumbent upon said player to mark his ball very carefully.

Edited to say, per the above quoted rule, once you ball is properly "spotted", if your mark is in another player's "line" then you are to use your putter head as an instrument to measure with, and move your ball mark laterally in either direction so as to remove it from said player's line. After he or she is done you are to place it back where it originally was.

Golf is one of the few games in which you have no teamate to depend on. The closest entity that would fit that description would be your caddie ( if you have one) yet ultimately the player must swing the club and live with the results. It can be a harsh, sometimes cruel game yet all serious players must play by the same rules and are expected to know the rules of the game and have the integrity to know when to call a penalty upon themselves.

paigowjohnny

Singapore 20 cent piece

bohica268

I alternate between my 1964 Peace Dollar and 1974 Aluminum Cent.

TerrapinWill

I use a peace dollar for my card protector (1934-S) when playing poker..way to big to use as a ball marker...I use a 1958 AT Franklin Hald for a Ball marker....it's maroon, and Im not sure how it got that way.

Korona

1881-s $5 Lib; but I'm finding that it is too small.

If anyone out there has a PCGS/NGC/ANACS slabbed, common date $10 Indian in VF - XF that they want to sell for Greysheet ask, please PM me and I'll buy it to replace my $5 ball marker.

JRocco

Had the thrill of just playing Saratoga National this week, used a 35 Merc as a marker.

pharmer

KUCH might want to weight in on this, but I think slabs were outlawed quite some time ago. If you must, and it's just a friendly game, ANACS or Accugrade would, of course, be the way to go.

Korona

The slab request is solely for authenticity (I won't buy raw gold).

I'd crack it out, obviously, before using it as a ball marker.

pharmer

I used to have an austrian thaler, or whatever, that was gold and about the size of a quarter that I used for a while. My wife said not to because I was going to lose it. She was right.

Cameonut

I must have fat fingered my previous response. Anyway, here goes.

I have a buddy who uses his $20 Lib pocket piece as a ball marker. Always been an attention getter.

I use ringed bimetallic coins - I have a bunch of them. The ones I use the most are the Canadian "two-ney", the 1 and 5 peso Mexican coins, a Thai coin, a French coin, and occasionally a bunch of Russian coins. They are the right size, don't cost alot, and still get attention. If someone really admires my marker - I just give it to them.

roadrunner

I've watched the PGA tour since around 1968. I've never seen anyone mark with anything as large as a silver dollar. And if that occurred today you can bet the announcers would routinely comment on it. Lefty can use a $1 gold piece if he wants to stick with a buck.

roadrunner

DRUNNER

I tyry to combine the best of numismatics with the best of games.

At every show, a certain part of the show budget is set aside for the purchase of coins specifically designed to be ball marks. They are the unique (yup . . just picked up 3 of those Cook Island 'Marty' Specials), the strange (ICG State Quater slabs with signed inserts) . . . and the large (Peace Dollar . . . .WIMPS! . . . I present those 5" coin copies, Thalers, anything to guarantee a stymie on the green). Best ever??? Bent 'witches' pieces ground-found with a detector.

Marks are presented on the first tee. "Trip" golf gets the best markers . . . local rounds get cheesy darkside stuff. Scanning through the ball mark box now, I see . .

1.)Presidential Inaugural medals
2.)Russian coppers (those big hand-hammered Piedfort things)
3.)1787 Warwickshire token
4.)Various clad crowns
5.)Polish 10 Zlotys (neat bird on the obverse)
6.)Bank of Upper Canada tokens
7.)SAEs

Also . .I carry a nice bag of XF-AU Mercs (see "Tin Cup") for anyone we play through or meet along the course. With all the golf I play . . .I'm starting to get a local rep. Watch the papers . . . first guy to get robbed on the golf course and no one will steal my clubs! My personal mark . . . a 1912 2 1/2 Indian (the year the Titanic went down).

DRUNNER
7 Handicap (but also a handicap of terminal numismatics)

BigD5

I use any odd sized foreign coins I can dig out of the kids "pile". Caribbean coins seem to find their way into my pocket most often. You really want to make sure you don't have the same ballmarker as anyone else in your group either. I've had it happen (not to me, but two members of the group I was playing with), and it was interesting, to say the least.

I can't imagine Phil using a Peace dollar. First, do you really think he's going to have that thing clanging around in his pocket all day? I don't think so. Maybe in casual rounds, not while on the clock though.

zenny

<< <i> Watch the papers . . . first guy to get robbed on the golf course and no one will steal my clubs! >>




i was using a no date error cent for a while (95% off center strike) and a guy noticed and flipped. said that it must be worth all kinds of money what was i nuts.

i like trimes and half dimes unless i'm playing with the old guys then i pull out something they can see, but i too have a bag full o' change that could possibly be worth more than all the stupid old sticks i carrry around.....

TUMUSS

My dad uses half cents. I gave him a few...and he loves them.

TayTay

Nothing too special here, because I figure I'll lose it eventually. I have, however, used the same dateless SLQ for about five years now.

morgannut2

After paying the price of the new balls, sometimes I have a dime left over--

rmoss

I have an 1893 Columbian commem half in XF I use. I am asked what it is a lot, but then again I was asked the same about a Standing Liberty half. At one time I used a nickel 3¢ piece.

AgMe

<< <i>I must have fat fingered my previous response. Anyway, here goes.

I have a buddy who uses his $20 Lib pocket piece as a ball marker. Always been an attention getter.

I use ringed bimetallic coins - I have a bunch of them. The ones I use the most are the Canadian "two-ney", the 1 and 5 peso Mexican coins, a Thai coin, a French coin, and occasionally a bunch of Russian coins. They are the right size, don't cost alot, and still get attention. If someone really admires my marker - I just give it to them. >>



That's a good idea, I usually carry a crown size coin as a pocket piece & will give it away if someone really likes it, I think I'll start using a $5 coin as a marker & if a client really likes it, I'll give it to him/her.

ALTHOUGH a $20 Lib would have a higher coolness factor...

~g

ss350camaro

I use this one, (it's about the size of a Cent) or the snap off my Glove most of the time.

Longacre

<< <i>I use this one, (it's about the size of a Cent) or the snap off my Glove most of the time.

>>





SS-- I was told very early in my golfing career to never, ever, ever, under any circumstances, use that little snap on your golf glove to mark the ball. I was told it is a sign of a "rookie" and I never used it since.

Another piece of advice-- if you meet someone on the first tee who is dressed very sloppily, but has squinty eyes, a deep tan, and carries a 1 iron, and he asks you to play for money... don't.

ss350camaro

<< <i>

<< <i>I use this one, (it's about the size of a Cent) or the snap off my Glove most of the time.

>>





SS-- I was told very early in my golfing career to never, ever, ever, under any circumstances, use that little snap on your golf glove to mark the ball. I was told it is a sign of a "rookie" >>

<-------------- Yep, That's me The only time i'm ever the "low score" on a score card is if i'm the only one Golfing




<< <i>Another piece of advice-- if you meet someone on the first tee who is dressed very sloppily, but has squinty eyes, a deep tan, and carries a 1 iron, and he asks you to play for money... don't. >>

Good advice, altho my best friend seems to be my 7 iron

gyocomgd

How refreshing to be amid newbies on this subject, as I once was a newbie here.
-- On the PGA Tour, a local rule (which supercedes the Rules of Golf) requires a player to use a small coin or other similar object. By small, that means a dime. Nobody uses anything larger than a penny. You cannot mark your ball with the toe of the putter, a hotel room key, etc.
-- Phil did not use the Peace dollar in competition. He used it in casual play only.
-- Tour players do not seek an "advantage," a concept that is very difficult for many coin enthusiasts to understand. The player in large part is his own referee. If you cheat, you have no game at all.
-- When you replace your ball you are required only to place it in the spot where it was originally. You can place the coin to the side of the ball if you wish, or behind it, doesn't matter.
-- Good point about the snap on your glove. It is the equivalent of coming here and using the term "MS53."

pharmer

Thanks for the info, gyocomgd. Are you a former tour player also? That's neat we have some real sticks around here.

swhuck

I'm not a golfer but at my last job, the guy in the next office had a selection of half dimes that he used for ball markers. I hope they were bent or worn 1853s!

swhuck

I'm not a golfer but at my last job, the guy in the next office had a selection of half dimes that he used for ball markers. I hope they were bent or worn 1853s!

swhuck

I'm not a golfer but at my last job, the guy in the next office had a selection of half dimes that he used for ball markers. I hope they were bent or worn 1853s!