Penalty for Ball marker interference

[Cahal]

A question arose today about whether or not a penalty shot is incurred if you tap down another players ball marker after they have placed it on the green?

[GolfSpy_APH]

Why not just ask them to move it?

[Josh Parker]

Why would someone tap down somebody else's ball marker?  I agree with @GolfSpy_APH, why not just ask them to move it over?

Not sure that it's necessarily a penalty but I'm sure @DaveP043 knows for sure.

[BigMacQue]

Pistols at dawn!!!

[Preeway]

I may be mistaken but I do think there is a rule that states the person to move a marker has to be the person to replace it. Not sure what the penalty is though. 

[cnosil]

USGA Rule 9.7.  The OP did not indicate that the marker was intentionally moved.   The tapping of an opponents marker is not a penalty. 

9.7  Ball-Marker Lifted or Moved

This Rule covers what to do if a ball-marker that is marking the spot of a lifted ball is lifted or moved before the ball is replaced.

a. Ball or Ball-Marker Must Be Replaced

If it is known or virtually certain that a player’s ball-marker is lifted or moved in any way (including by natural forces) before the ball is replaced, the player must either:

Replace the ball on its original spot (which if not known must be estimated) (see Rule 14.2), or

Place a ball-marker to mark that original spot.

b. Penalty for Lifting Ball-Marker or Causing It to Move

If the player, or their opponent in match play, lifts the player’s ball-marker or causes it to move, (when the ball is lifted and not yet replaced), the player or opponent gets one penalty stroke.

Exception - Rule 9.4b and 9.5b Exceptions Apply to Lifting or Moving Ball-Marker or Causing It to Move: In all cases where the player or opponent gets no penalty for lifting the player’s ball or accidentally causing it to move, there is also no penalty for lifting or accidentally moving the player’s ball-marker.

[taylorjonasher]

Rule 13.1.d.1 states there is no penalty for accidentally touching or moving a ball or ball marker, but if intentional, see 9.4 or 9.5 (match play) for penalties assessed.

Rule 9.4b assesses a one stroke penalty for deliberately touching a ball or ball marker during stoke play.

[DaveP043]

There's no penalty for tapping down a ball marker.  In fact, if its stroke play, you can pick up another player's ball without penalty.  As @cnosil has pointed out, its a little different in match play, but accidental movement is not penalized.  But a better course of action is to ask (require, actually) the marker be moved if you think it might be in your way.  

46 minutes ago, Preeway said:

I may be mistaken but I do think there is a rule that states the person to move a marker has to be the person to replace it. Not sure what the penalty is though. 

Not quite, the ball may always be replaced by the Player, or by the person who moved or lifted the ball.

1 minute ago, taylorjonasher said:

Rule 9.4b assesses a one stroke penalty for deliberately touching a ball or ball marker during stoke play.

9.4 applies to your own ball, not to any other ball on the course.  In stroke play, any other player is an Outside Influence, and ball other than your own is a Wrong Ball as well as a Moveable Obstruction, and there's no penalty for moving either.

[taylorjonasher]

15 minutes ago, cnosil said:

USGA Rule 9.7.  The OP did not indicate that the marker was intentionally moved.   The tapping of an opponents marker is not a penalty. 

9.7  Ball-Marker Lifted or Moved

This Rule covers what to do if a ball-marker that is marking the spot of a lifted ball is lifted or moved before the ball is replaced.

a. Ball or Ball-Marker Must Be Replaced

If it is known or virtually certain that a player’s ball-marker is lifted or moved in any way (including by natural forces) before the ball is replaced, the player must either:

Replace the ball on its original spot (which if not known must be estimated) (see Rule 14.2), or

Place a ball-marker to mark that original spot.

b. Penalty for Lifting Ball-Marker or Causing It to Move

If the player, or their opponent in match play, lifts the player’s ball-marker or causes it to move, (when the ball is lifted and not yet replaced), the player or opponent gets one penalty stroke.

Exception - Rule 9.4b and 9.5b Exceptions Apply to Lifting or Moving Ball-Marker or Causing It to Move: In all cases where the player or opponent gets no penalty for lifting the player’s ball or accidentally causing it to move, there is also no penalty for lifting or accidentally moving the player’s ball-marker.

@cnosil beat me to it!

[taylorjonasher]

13 minutes ago, DaveP043 said:

There's no penalty for tapping down a ball marker.  In fact, if its stroke play, you can pick up another player's ball without penalty.  As @cnosil has pointed out, its a little different in match play, but accidental movement is not penalized.  But a better course of action is to ask (require, actually) the marker be moved if you think it might be in your way.  

Not quite, the ball may always be replaced by the Player, or by the person who moved or lifted the ball.

9.4 applies to your own ball, not to any other ball on the course.  In stroke play, any other player is an Outside Influence, and ball other than your own is a Wrong Ball as well as a Moveable Obstruction, and there's no penalty for moving either.

I guess it would have to be lifted for a penalty? 13.1 states that any ball or marker lifted by a player or opponent to be considered for penalty? I initially read deliberately touched...

[DaveP043]

1 minute ago, taylorjonasher said:

13.1 states that any ball or marker lifted by a player or opponent to be considered for penalty?

If the Player or the Opponent (in Match Play) lift the Player's ball, look at 9.4 (Player moves own ball) or 9.5 (Opponent lifts Player's ball) to see if there's a penalty.  Also notice that 9.7 discusses a ball marker which has been moved. 

But in Stroke Play, you don't have an Opponent.  Each and every other player is an Outside Influence.  Look at 9.6 to see what happens if an Outside Influence moves your ball, or ball marker.  You put it back.  And look if you like, but you'll never find any restriction on moving or picking up a Moveable Obstruction or a Wrong Ball.