2008 #1 Can You Lift and Mark Your Ball?

The Scene:
You are playing hole #4 with Nancy. Your approach shot stops just short of the green. Nancy’s ball is about 20 yards behind yours, at the bottom of the hill. The flag is up front. Nancy asks you to mark your ball. But your ball is not on the green.

What would you do?
A. Since your ball is not on the green you are not allowed to move it. So you refuse.
B. You mark your ball and lift it carefully so that you don’t clean it.

B is correct
If another player thinks your ball might interfere with her play and asks you to mark and lift your ball, you are not only allowed to lift your ball, you are required to. But be careful. Don’t lift your ball because you think it might interfere with her play. Wait until you are asked. Otherwise you will incur a one stroke penalty. Open your Rules of Golf. See Rule 22-2

22-2 Ball Interfering with Play
Except when a ball is in motion, if a player considers that the ball of another player might interfere with his play, he may have it lifted. …The ball must not be cleaned unless it lies on the putting green.
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.

Incidentally, you are allowed to mark your ball without a request if you think it might help her play. (Rule 22-1)

REMEMBER: If someone asks you to mark and lift your ball anywhere on the course, do so. But unless your ball is on the putting green, don’t clean it.