11 Creative Sharpie Golf Ball Designs A Christmas DIY Guide

Struggling to find that perfect, personal Christmas gift for the golfer in your life? It’s a common challenge. You want something more thoughtful than another sleeve of balls.

A Sharpie golf ball design is a form of personalized art where you create custom decorations on golf balls. You’re looking for a unique, handmade gift that shows you care, but you might worry you’re not artistic enough. This project is the perfect, low-cost solution.

Creating personalized golf ball designs with a Sharpie is a fantastic DIY Christmas gift for any golfer. It’s a creative project that turns a simple golf ball into a unique keepsake. This guide gives you tons of fun ideas and the simple steps to make them perfectly.

Why Is Finding the Perfect DIY Christmas Gift for a Golfer So Hard?

Finding a non-generic, handmade golfer gift can feel like searching for a lost ball in the rough. The usual options often feel impersonal or expensive. You want to give a gift that gets a genuine “wow” reaction, something that shows thought and creativity, especially for a dad or husband who seems to have everything golf-related.

This is where custom Sharpie golf ball designs for Christmas come in. It’s a heartfelt, fun, and incredibly budget-friendly DIY project. You don’t need to be an artist to transform a plain golf ball into a memorable keepsake. These creative golf ball markings make for perfect stocking stuffers or can even be turned into unique ornaments, proving that the best gifts come from the heart, not just the pro shop.

11 Creative Sharpie Golf Ball Designs to Make This Christmas

Ready for some inspiration? This list has everything from super simple doodles for beginners to more detailed art for when you’re feeling creative. We’ve tested all these sharpie golf ball ideas with the recommended materials, so you can be sure they’ll turn out great. Each design comes with easy-to-follow instructions and pro tips to help you achieve a professional-looking finish on your DIY decorated golf balls.

1. The Classic Snowman Face

Pin this adorable snowman idea for your Christmas crafts!
This diy golf ball snowman is one of the easiest and most recognizable designs, making it perfect for beginners or for creating a whole batch of golf ball snowman ornaments at once.

Materials Needed:

• White Golf Ball
• Black Sharpie Permanent Marker, Ultra-Fine Point
• Orange Sharpie Permanent Marker, Fine Point
• Rubbing alcohol and a paper towel

Step-by-Step Directions:

1. Clean the golf ball thoroughly with rubbing alcohol and let it dry completely.
2. Using the black Sharpie, draw two small, solid circles for the eyes.
3. Below the eyes, draw a smile using a series of five to seven small dots.
4. With the orange Sharpie, draw a simple triangle or carrot shape for the nose, pointing to the side.
5. Let the ink dry for 5-10 minutes before handling.

Pro-Tip: Place the golf ball on a bottle cap to hold it steady while you draw. This prevents smudging and gives you better control.

2. The Grinchy Grin

Save this Grinch-inspired idea for a fun stocking stuffer!
For a touch of holiday humor, this Grinch golf ball Sharpie design is a guaranteed winner. It’s one of those funny Sharpie golf ball ideas that everyone will instantly recognize and love.

Materials Needed:

• White Golf Ball
• Sharpie Oil-Based Paint Pen, Extra-Fine Point, in Bright Green
• Yellow Sharpie Permanent Marker, Fine Point
• Black Sharpie Permanent Marker, Ultra-Fine Point
• Red Sharpie Permanent Marker, Ultra-Fine Point

Step-by-Step Directions:

1. After cleaning the ball, use the green paint pen to draw the furry outline of the Grinch’s head. Let it dry.
2. Color in the head with the green paint pen, applying a second coat if needed for opaque coverage. Let dry completely.
3. Use the yellow marker to draw two menacing, almond-shaped eyes.
4. With the black ultra-fine marker, outline the eyes and draw his signature grin with upturned ends. Add eyebrows and nose details.
5. Use the red ultra-fine marker to add the pupils inside the yellow eyes.

Lesson Learned: Oil-based paint pens provide much better coverage for large colored areas like the Grinch’s face. Standard Sharpies can look streaky.

3. Simple Santa Hat

Love this festive design? Pin it for later!
Nothing says Christmas quite like a Santa hat. This minimalist design is one of the most classic Christmas golf ball designs and requires no complex drawing skills, making it a perfect Santa golf ball project.

Materials Needed:

• White Golf Ball
• Red Sharpie Permanent Marker, Fine Point
• Black Sharpie Permanent Marker, Ultra-Fine Point
• White Sharpie Oil-Based Paint Pen, Extra-Fine Point (optional, for bright white)

Step-by-Step Directions:

1. Clean the golf ball and let it dry.
2. Using the black Sharpie, draw the outline of the hat’s fluffy white trim near the “top” of the ball.
3. Draw the main triangular shape of the hat coming up from the trim, flopping over to one side with a circle for the pom-pom.
4. Color in the main part of the hat with the red Sharpie.
5. If desired, use the white paint pen to fill in the trim and pom-pom for a brighter, more opaque white. Let dry completely.

Pro-Tip: Leaving the trim and pom-pom as the natural white of the golf ball is the easiest way to do this design. Only use a white paint pen if you want a textured, snowy look.

4. Festive Christmas Lights

Save this bright idea to your DIY gift board!
This colorful golf ball design is a cheerful way to cover the entire surface of the ball. Drawing on a golf ball with a wrapping pattern is easier than it looks and results in beautiful Sharpie art on golf balls.

Materials Needed:

• White Golf Ball
• Black Sharpie Permanent Marker, Ultra-Fine Point
• Sharpie Color Burst Permanent Markers, Fine Point (pack with red, green, blue, yellow)

Step-by-Step Directions:

1. After cleaning the ball, use the black ultra-fine Sharpie to draw a single, looping line that wraps around the entire golf ball.
2. Along this line, draw small squares at the base of where each light bulb will be.
3. Choose your first color (e.g., red) and draw the classic teardrop shape of a Christmas light bulb extending from a black square. Color it in.
4. Move to the next square and use a different color (e.g., green). Repeat this process, alternating colors around the entire ball.
5. Let dry completely.

Pro-Tip: To make the lights “shine,” leave a tiny uncolored sliver of white on the side of each bulb to act as a highlight.

5. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Pin this cute Rudolph design for a handmade gift!
This reindeer golf ball is one of the cutest golf ball drawings you can make. It’s a sweet, nostalgic design that works wonderfully as a handmade golfer gift or a Sharpie golf ball idea for a boyfriend.

Materials Needed:

• White Golf Ball
• Brown Sharpie Permanent Marker, Fine Point
• Black Sharpie Permanent Marker, Ultra-Fine Point
• Red Sharpie Oil-Based Paint Pen, Extra-Fine Point

Step-by-Step Directions:

1. Clean the golf ball and let it dry.
2. Use the black marker to draw two simple dots for the eyes in the middle of the ball.
3. With the brown marker, draw two antlers coming up from the “forehead” area above the eyes.
4. Use the red oil-based paint pen to draw a large, round, vibrant nose directly below the eyes. The paint pen will make the nose opaque and really stand out.
5. Let the red paint dry completely, as it can smudge more easily than the standard ink.

Pro-Tip: Draw the antlers with simple, branching lines. Don’t worry about making them perfectly symmetrical; a little crookedness adds to the charm.

6. Candy Cane Stripes

Save this classic candy cane pattern for an easy DIY!
For an easy Sharpie golf ball idea that looks instantly festive, you can’t go wrong with this candy cane pattern. This is one of the best simple golf ball designs for beginners who want a clean, graphic look.

Materials Needed:

• White Golf Ball
• Red Sharpie Permanent Marker, Fine Point or Chisel Tip
• A roll of thin masking tape or washi tape (optional, for clean lines)

Step-by-Step Directions:

1. Clean the golf ball and let it dry.
2. For the easy method: Simply use the red Sharpie to draw diagonal stripes around the ball. Try to keep them evenly spaced.
3. For the precise method: Wrap thin strips of masking tape diagonally around the ball, creating the white stripes.
4. Color in the exposed sections with the red Sharpie.
5. Let the ink dry for a minute, then carefully peel off the tape to reveal crisp white lines.

Lesson Learned: A chisel tip Sharpie can make filling in the stripes faster, but a fine point gives you more control around the edges if you’re not using tape.

7. Cozy Fair Isle Pattern

Pin this cozy sweater pattern for a unique golf ball design!
If you’re feeling patient, this intricate golf ball art makes for a truly unique golf ball marking. The detailed Sharpie design mimics a cozy Christmas sweater pattern.

Materials Needed:

• White Golf Ball
• Red Sharpie Permanent Marker, Ultra-Fine Point
• Green Sharpie Permanent Marker, Ultra-Fine Point

Step-by-Step Directions:

1. Clean the ball thoroughly. Decide on a simple repeating pattern, like X’s, dots, and small diamonds.
2. Using the red ultra-fine marker, draw a single band of your first pattern element (e.g., a line of X’s) around the equator of the ball.
3. Above that, use the green marker to draw a band of your second element (e.g., a line of dots).
4. Continue creating bands of alternating colors and simple shapes until you have a wide “sweater” pattern around the middle of the ball.
5. Take your time and keep the elements small and neat.

Pro-Tip: Look up “simple Fair Isle patterns” on Pinterest for easy-to-copy ideas. The key is repeating simple geometric shapes, not drawing complex images.

8. Holly & Berries

Save this elegant holly design for a classic Christmas look!
For a touch of elegance, this festive golf ball art is a beautiful option. Decorating golf balls with a classic botanical like holly creates a sophisticated, artistic golf ball design.

Materials Needed:

• White Golf Ball
• Green Sharpie Permanent Marker, Fine Point
• Red Sharpie Permanent Marker, Fine Point
• Black Sharpie Permanent Marker, Ultra-Fine Point (optional, for outlines)

Step-by-Step Directions:

1. Clean the golf ball.
2. Using the green marker, draw two or three holly leaves. A holly leaf is an oval shape with pointy, spiky edges.
3. Color in the leaves with the green Sharpie.
4. In a small cluster where the leaves meet, draw three small circles with the red marker for the berries. Color them in.
5. (Optional) Once the colors are dry, use the black ultra-fine marker to add a simple outline to the leaves and a center vein for more definition.

Lesson Learned: Don’t try to draw the outline first. Color the shapes first, then add the black outline after. It’s more forgiving if your colored shape isn’t perfect.

9. “Ho Ho Ho” Typography

Pin this fun typography idea for a quick and easy gift!
You don’t need drawing skills to create festive golfer gifts. This text-based golf ball drawing idea is perfect for creating personalized golf balls DIY style.

Materials Needed:

• White Golf Ball
• Red or Green Sharpie Permanent Marker, Fine Point
• Pencil (optional, for sketching)

Step-by-Step Directions:

1. Clean the golf ball and let it dry.
2. (Optional) Lightly sketch the letters “Ho Ho Ho” with a pencil to get the spacing right before using the permanent marker.
3. Carefully trace over your pencil lines with the Sharpie. Use a fun, bubbly, or script-style font.
4. You can make the letters thicker by going over them a second time.
5. Add small dots or stars around the words for extra flair.

Pro-Tip: For a fancier look, use a metallic silver or gold Sharpie to add a “drop shadow” to one side of each letter.

10. Christmas Tree Silhouette

Save this minimalist tree design for a simple, modern gift!
This minimalist golf ball art is one of the easiest Christmas designs to draw. It’s a modern, simple approach to decorating golf balls for the holidays.

Materials Needed:

• White Golf Ball
• Green Sharpie Permanent Marker, Fine Point
• Yellow or Gold Metallic Sharpie Permanent Marker, Fine Point

Step-by-Step Directions:

1. Clean the golf ball.
2. Using the green marker, draw a simple triangle shape for the tree. You can make the sides slightly jagged to look like pine needles.
3. Color in the triangle completely with the green Sharpie.
4. Let the green ink dry for a minute.
5. Use the yellow or gold marker to draw a small star on the very top of the tree.

Pro-Tip: Draw several small trees of different sizes around the ball to create a mini forest scene.

11. Penguin Pal

Pin this adorable penguin craft idea!
This cute golf ball drawing is a clever way to use the ball’s natural color in the design. It’s a fun Sharpie golf ball idea for kids and adults alike, perfect for winter golf ball designs.

Materials Needed:

• White Golf Ball
• Black Sharpie Permanent Marker, Fine Point
• Orange Sharpie Permanent Marker, Fine Point

Step-by-Step Directions:

1. Clean the golf ball.
2. Draw a heart shape on the front of the ball, with the point of the heart facing down. This will be the penguin’s white face and belly.
3. Using the black marker, color in the entire area of the ball outside of the heart shape. This creates the penguin’s black back and head.
4. Inside the white heart area, draw two small dots for eyes with the black marker.
5. Use the orange marker to draw a small, downward-pointing triangle for the beak, right between the eyes.

Lesson Learned: It’s much easier to draw the outline of the white part first and then color in the black around it, rather than trying to color the whole ball black and add white on top.

Key Takeaways: Your Quick Guide to Perfect Sharpie Golf Balls

Before you start drawing, here’s a quick checklist of the most important best practices to ensure your creative golf ball markings turn out perfectly.
* Always Prep the Surface: The most crucial step is cleaning the golf ball with rubbing alcohol to remove oils and ensure the ink sticks permanently.
* Choose the Right Tool: Use oil-based Sharpie paint pens for vibrant, opaque colors over large areas. Use standard ultra-fine tip Sharpies for details and outlines.
* Use a Ball Holder: A simple bottle cap or roll of tape prevents your ball from rolling and your design from smudging while you work.
* Seal Your Masterpiece: For durability, apply 2-3 light mist coats of a clear acrylic sealant spray. This is the secret to preventing the design from rubbing off.
* Start Simple: If you’re a beginner, master simple patterns like stripes or polka dots before attempting complex characters.

FAQs About golf ball designs sharpie christmas

Will Sharpie rub off a golf ball?

Yes, standard Sharpie ink can rub off a golf ball with handling or moisture if not prepared and sealed correctly. To make the design permanent, you must clean the ball with rubbing alcohol before drawing and, most importantly, apply 2-3 light coats of a clear acrylic sealant spray after the ink is completely dry.

What is the best marker to use on golf balls?

For the best results, use oil-based Sharpie paint pens. They provide opaque, vibrant, paint-like coverage that looks less streaky than standard markers. For very fine lines and details, a regular ultra-fine tip Sharpie is still an excellent tool to use in combination with the paint pens.

How do you seal Sharpie on a golf ball so it doesn’t smudge?

The best way to seal Sharpie ink is with a spray-on clear acrylic sealant, like Krylon Crystal Clear. Work in a well-ventilated area. Hold the can 8-10 inches from the ball and apply a very light mist. Let it dry for 15-20 minutes before applying a second or third light coat. Avoid heavy coats, which can make the ink run.

Can you play golf with a decorated golf ball?

It’s not recommended for serious play. While a sealed design is durable for handling, the force of a golf club strike will likely scuff, scratch, or completely remove the artwork. These decorated golf balls are best used as personalized gifts, stocking stuffers, or unique Christmas ornaments.

Final Thoughts

Now you have everything you need to create a truly unique and memorable gift for the golfer in your life. This fun DIY project is all about creativity and adding a personal touch to the holiday season. The simple art of decorating a golf ball with a Sharpie can become a cherished Christmas gift or ornament.

Remember to start by cleaning the ball, use the right markers for your design, and seal your masterpiece for a lasting finish. Which design are you excited to try first? Let us know in the comments below

Last update on 2025-12-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API