If you are that good you don't "need" two balls "in case" you should already know the benefits of having an extra ball with you.

IMHO, the correct action is to have two balls in your pocket when you tee up. Always have an extra ball in your pocket. Think about it next time you are in the woods and it ricochets out of bounds and you have to go allllll the way back to the cart because it was a cartpath-only rule course, or you are just too far to walk WITHOUT SLOWING EVERYTHING UP. Sheesh.

This reply has nothing to do with the etiquette of carrying two balls but I want to point out that, from carring an extra ball in my pocket, all of my light colored pants have a dimple-patterned stain at the lower right pocket area that WILL NEVER come out.

Frankie C
http://overthetopgolf.com
http://iwantcharlesbarkley.blogspot.com

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.

Let's see....what do I have in my pockets...

First of all, I never have change. I use my debit card 99.9% of the time, and I get peeved when some place I want to take my business doesn't take them. That said, I keep a bunch of nickels in my golf bag just to use as ball markers. They are cheaper than actual ball markers, and plus, I thoroughly enjoyed the ensuing conversation with the bank teller when I went to go withdraw $10 worth of nickels. That should do me for...forever.

There are always a handful of tees (enough so that I can break or lose on on every hole and not slow up play). I actually use two different kinds of tees. The tall ones with a tiny spot for the ball to sit on is for my driver, and the short ones with a big spot for the ball to sit on are for everything else. It has nothing to do with how easy it is to hit off of them. It has everything to do with how easy they are to push into the ground.

I always carry a total of four balls. My philosophy is this: I count my mulligans, water balls, provisionals, and OOB's. That, for me, is enough incentive to not drive the ball into the woods.

Nasal spray is a must. I have terrible allergies, and one of the substances I'm most allergic to is grass...particularly grass clippings. This is probably my biggest hazard on the golf course.

The divot tool stays in the bag. If I hit it on the green, I'll remove it from the bag while approaching the green. I tend to fix more ball marks than I make on a typical day.

Wallet goes in my back pocket. No way I'm going to leave that in my bag.

Yikes!

Frankie C wrote:

This reply has nothing to do with the etiquette of carrying two balls but I want to point out that, from carring an extra ball in my pocket, all of my light colored pants have a dimple-patterned stain at the lower right pocket area that WILL NEVER come out. Frankie C http://overthetopgolf.com http://iwantcharlesbarkley.blogspot.com

What is causing this stain? Grass from the ball causing a grass stain? How could the dimples of a ball cause a stain unless there is some color on them? Or do you wash your pants with the balls still in them? I highly recommend you cease that practice if that is the case.

There are always a handful of tees (enough so that I can break or lose on on every hole and not slow up play). I actually use two different kinds of tees. The tall ones with a tiny spot for the ball to sit on is for my driver, and the short ones with a big spot for the ball to sit on are for everything else. It has nothing to do with how easy it is to hit off of them. It has everything to do with how easy they are to push into the ground.

I have started using the three-prong plastic tee with good results. Through months I have only snapped (broke) one, and since the plastic rarely breaks I only have to use one per round, max!

Enviroman, only an idiot would wash his pants with the golf ball still in the pocket but since you don't know me I guess it was a fair comment. Funny, though.

The stain comes from the casual contact that my dirty hand or golf glove (or other object) makes with my pants. The golf ball in the pocket protrudes somewhat. Hence, the dimple marks.

Frankie C
http://overthetopgolf.com
http://iwantcharlesbarkley.blogspot.com

I knew you didn't wash them that way. I was trying to be funny; always take your balls out of your pants before you wash them? Bwahahahaha! get it(?) Jk.

...but I really did only think that a grass-stain from a golf ball could stain pants. But that would be on the inside. You must golf a lot, or have very nice pants. I have never had such an incident from carrying an extra ball. Of course, I am a wearer of the "cargo-pant" whenever possible. However then the balls hurt when in the cargo pants they bang about into my knees. You just can't win.

To carry one extra ball is the advice I would give anyways to keep the round moving smoothly.

Oddly enough, I've now golfed two straight rounds with the same ball. That's somewhat of a rare occurence for me...as in, I think I've now done it twice. I even had a water shot tonight, but I was able to fish it out.

over a month since I posted here, and I thought I'd mention that my pocket contents have changed dramatically.

I've cleared out everything that is unnecessary, and now I just keep the following:

Right pocket:
One extra golf ball
One long tee
One short tee
Pitch-mark tool
Putter-cover (if I'm putting)

Left pocket:
GPS

I highly recommend the hat-clip ball marker. I also have an external tee holder on my golf-bag that saves me a lot of time digging through my pockets for a tee. If I break my tee, I'll grab another before heading down the fairway.

I'm left-handed, but golf right-handed. My left pocket contains my ball mark repair tool and ball marker, and one long tee for easier access. I look around on the tee box for broken tees wherever I need a short one (other than driver). My right pocket contains my "extra ball" and my back left pocket is where I keep my scorecard. I keep a pencil tucked behind my left ear.

niblick265 wrote:

A tip for beginners(and many of the regular duffers I see on public courses): when you arrive at the first tee have the following items in your pocket: 1. TWO balls - don't crush one into the trees and then have the nerve to ask me for a ball, 2. TEES - same reasoning as No.1, 3. BALL MARKERS - are you kidding me? you actually have No change in your pocket? 4. A DIVOT REPAIR TOOL - public courses take a major beating throughout the season and I'm tired of putting on greens that look like a relief map of D-day. Nuff said, for now...................

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if you hit into the woods you either take a Mulligan - not part of golf rules or you are hitting 3. Either way, is it not correct courtesy and etiquette to allow the rest of the group to hit prior to taking your next shot?

David B wrote:

niblick265 wrote: A tip for beginners(and many of the regular duffers I see on public courses): when you arrive at the first tee have the following items in your pocket: 1. TWO balls - don't crush one into the trees and then have the nerve to ask me for a ball, 2. TEES - same reasoning as No.1, 3. BALL MARKERS - are you kidding me? you actually have No change in your pocket? 4. A DIVOT REPAIR TOOL - public courses take a major beating throughout the season and I'm tired of putting on greens that look like a relief map of D-day. Nuff said, for now................... Correct me if I'm wrong, but if you hit into the woods you either take a Mulligan - not part of golf rules or you are hitting 3. Either way, is it not correct courtesy and etiquette to allow the rest of the group to hit prior to taking your next shot?

He who tends to hit his ball into the trees
Is he who also tends to be hitting last off the tees.

I think I just coined a proverb.

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

In my left pocket, I have a handful of long tees for my driver.

In my right pocket, an extra ball.

My right back pocket has my ball marker/divot tool.

My left back pocket is left open for my glove.

I use short tees on par 3's, or layup/hard dogleg holes when I don't use the driver. I either have keep them in the cart, or tucked under my sunglasses/hat on the right side.