My pockets are usually as follows:

Front left: nothing

Back left: Scorecard/pencil - glove when it's not on my hand

Back Right: wallet (in case the beer girl comes when i'm not at the cart)

Front Right: Small handful of tees (maybe 6). Possibly some change. Divot tool.

That's it. I don't put golf balls in my pocket because my shorts are usually light golf shorts and the ball actually weighs them down and creates a pendulum when i'm swinging. I MIGHT put a ball in there if i have heavier cargo shorts during the coldish months. If i feel that there is trouble enough to warrant an extra shot, i'll bring a ball with me and drop it next to the tee box or behind me on the fairway. I'm also with the guy who said there's a dimple marked stain on his shorts. having the ball in there catches all sorts of dirt on it and scuffs across things easier.

Let's face it. If you're playing in a foursome and you put one OB off the tee, you have ample time to walk back to the cart, and get another couple balls before it's your turn again. It helps you let go of the shot you just hit and allows you to breathe a little.

In my pockets:

Right front ~ Tees and Divot Tool
Left Front ~ I keep 1 extra ball. if I lose one, another goes in.
Back Left ~ glove when I am putting
back right ~ nothing

I keep a ball marker on my hat and also one is on my divot tool.

Left handed

Front right: one golf ball, one tee and divot tool
Front left: gps
nothing in the back pockets

I saw somewhere that its not good to keep things in your front ( back) pocket as your arm should be brushing it on the downswing. One of the older great players said that somewhere.

Hot, muggy, foggy day today. Everything was wet, so I had to arrange my pockets somewhat to compensate.

Front right...extra ball, a few tees, pitch mark fixer.

Front left...glove

Back right....wallet

Back left...towel.

I normally don't play with a glove because it kills my hand (I'm allergic to grass), but when it's as hot and wet as it was today, the glove is a necessity. I was, however, absolutely amazed at how handy it was to have a towel handy at all times. I think I'm going to make it a habit.

I don't feel right with stuff in my pockets. Only thing that might be in there is a Tee. Phones wallets keys smokes lighter extra balls, etc... All in the cart/bag. Sometimes a marker, but I always end up losing them. If I need to Mark and don't have a marker handy, I'll lift and stare at the position I lifted from until the other player hits, then replace the ball at my stare point.

Zepo1a wrote:

If I need to Mark and don't have a marker handy, I'll lift and stare at the position I lifted from until the other player hits, then replace the ball at my stare point.

So, you don't mark the ball. That's not okay according to the rules... but I guess you don't care

Zepo1a wrote:

I don't feel right with stuff in my pockets. Only thing that might be in there is a Tee. Phones wallets keys smokes lighter extra balls, etc... All in the cart/bag. Sometimes a marker, but I always end up losing them. If I need to Mark and don't have a marker handy, I'll lift and stare at the position I lifted from until the other player hits, then replace the ball at my stare point.

I use a magnetic hat-clip ball marker. I also clip my phone/gps/scorecard (blackberry) to my hip. It keeps my pockets free:)

But those damn markers! Where do they disappear too, it's like the left sock making an escape from the dryer! Never to be seen again. If I manage to keep a marker an entire round it will be a miracle!

If there is something handy on the green, a small dirt clump, leave, stick I'll mark with that. sometimes I'll have a cigarette butt in my pocket (i don't throw them out on the course) and I'll use that.

A lot of gloves (if you use one) have a small marker attached to it. I've got a marker that magnetically attaches to a pitchfork (you carry one of these onto the green hopefully!) - that worked for me (I used to loose markers all the time too ).

Or, indeed, use what is readily available. The use of a ball marker or a coin is recommended but not a requirement. You said you always do have a couple of tees in your pocket - you could always use one of those!

that's why the magnetic hat clips are so ingenious! I just keep them on my hat brims all the time so they are always there. They cost a couple of bucks each. I bought a bulk load of ten of 'em for about ten bucks. give it a try:)

I tend to keep a chew in my pocket and lip.

Bryan Kautzman wrote:

this is kind of an old topic, but I just wanted to point out that I wear cargo pants and shorts on the golf course because all of the extra pockets come in handy.

PRECISELY what I was going to post. I'm glad I read through, so I could find that someone else suggested it. I wear cargo shorts when playing in the summer, and bought a couple of pairs of cargo pants to wear while playing in cooler weather.

Left pocket: Car keys
Left cargo pocket: Dip (yeah .. gross)
Right pocket: Two balls & a handful of tees
Right cargo pocket: Phone, /w golf GPS turned on

None of the pockets are stuffed, and I have everything I need! I leave my repair tool in the bag, and get it out before I walk to the green. I may start clipping it to my belt loop though. Sometimes I forget it.

SteveMM wrote:

Bryan Kautzman wrote: this is kind of an old topic, but I just wanted to point out that I wear cargo pants and shorts on the golf course because all of the extra pockets come in handy. PRECISELY what I was going to post. I'm glad I read through, so I could find that someone else suggested it. I wear cargo shorts when playing in the summer, and bought a couple of pairs of cargo pants to wear while playing in cooler weather. Left pocket: Car keys Left cargo pocket: Dip (yeah .. gross) Right pocket: Two balls & a handful of tees Right cargo pocket: Phone, /w golf GPS turned on None of the pockets are stuffed, and I have everything I need! I leave my repair tool in the bag, and get it out before I walk to the green. I may start clipping it to my belt loop though. Sometimes I forget it.

Just an FYI...but I've played at a couple of courses where cargo pants/shorts are against the dress code.

Bryan Kautzman wrote:

Just an FYI...but I've played at a couple of courses where cargo pants/shorts are against the dress code.

Thankfully I haven't come across any of those courses yet. It would suck to get to the course and be told I had to go home and change, or buy something from the pro shop. The cargo shorts I wear have pockets that are flat against the thigh, so they don't look sloppy or anything. I doubt there are many courses that would give me a hard time. I could see there potentially being an issue with the long pants, though ... they definitely look like cargo pants.

BME_Badger wrote:

Funny to read the one ball/two ball discussion. Ever since I started playing as a kid I've carried 3 balls (1 in play, 2 in reserve...you lose more when you're young) but it's become a habit and I feel off if I don't have 2 extra in my pocket. I've played the last 27 holes with the same ball, but I still have 2 in reserve

Sweet