The Rules of Golf recommend that the position of a ball that is to be lifted should be marked. This can be accomplished by placing a ball-marker, small coin, or other similar object, immediately behind the ball.

Rule 20-3: Placing and Replacing

A ball that is to be placed according to the Rules, must be placed by the player or his partner. An example of when a ball is placed is when the player is taking relief from interference by ground under repair when his ball lies on the putting green.

If a ball is to be replaced, the player, his partner, or the person who lifted or moved it must place it on the spot from which it was lifted or moved. For example, the fellow-competitor correctly marked the player’s ball after he played from the bunker. Either the player, his partner (if present), or the fellow-competitor must replace the ball.

In either case above, the player is responsible for any breach of the Rules.