Easy Sharpie Golf Ball Designs That Wont Smudge or Fade

Tired of fun craft ideas that end in smudged, faded disappointment? It’s a common frustration for any DIY project.

This year, skip the messy dyes and try Golf Ball Decorating: a DIY craft project that turns a simple golf ball into a tiny work of art. You can create durable, vibrant designs that look amazing and last forever. It’s the perfect, less-messy alternative to decorating Easter eggs.

The secret to smudge-proof Sharpie golf ball designs is cleaning the ball with rubbing alcohol first and applying a thin coat of clear acrylic spray sealant after. This guide will show you how to create flawless designs, with plenty of fun ideas to get you started.

Why Are My Sharpie Designs Smudging? The Secret to a Perfect Finish

There’s nothing more frustrating than spending time on a creative Sharpie art project, only to have it smudge with a single touch. If your DIY golf balls end up looking faded or messy, you’re not alone. The problem isn’t your artistic skill; it’s the preparation of the golf ball’s non-porous, dimpled surface.

The secret to a perfect, permanent finish is a simple two-step process that professionals use for any craft on a non-porous surface. First, you must thoroughly clean the golf ball with rubbing alcohol. This crucial step removes invisible oils and residues that prevent the Sharpie ink from properly bonding. Second, after your design is completely dry, you must apply a thin coat of a clear acrylic spray sealant. This creates a durable, protective layer, making your Sharpie art waterproof and smudge-proof for good. This simple method transforms a frustrating craft into a successful one every time.

9 Easy Sharpie Golf Ball Designs That Look Amazing

Ready for some inspiration? We’ve gathered our favorite easy Sharpie golf ball ideas that look fantastic and are perfect for any skill level. From cute kids craft ideas to creative golf ball markings a golfer would love, there’s something here for everyone. Each of these designs comes with simple instructions to ensure your golf ball Easter eggs and other creations turn out perfectly. Let’s get drawing!

1. The Classic Ladybug

Pin this adorable ladybug idea for your next craft day!

This kid-friendly ladybug design is a fantastic beginner project. Using a bold red and a fine-tip black Sharpie, you can bring this cute character to life. The simple shapes make it easy for little hands to create something they can be proud of.

Materials Needed:

• 1 clean white golf ball
• 1 red permanent marker (chisel tip works well for filling)
• 1 ultra-fine tip black permanent marker for details

Step-by-Step Directions:

1. Using the black marker, draw a line about a third of the way down the ball to separate the head from the body. Fill in the head area with black.
2. Draw a straight line down the center of the remaining white area for the wings.
3. Color both wing sections in with the red marker. Let it dry for 2-3 minutes.
4. Use the black marker to draw several small, solid circles (spots) on the red wings.
5. Add two small white dots for eyes on the black head area using a white paint pen or leave them blank.

Pro-Tip: Before coloring the large red areas, outline them first with the fine tip of the marker. This helps prevent the color from bleeding over your lines.

2. Easter Egg Patterns

Save this fun Easter craft idea! A perfect alternative to dyeing eggs.

Embrace the holiday spirit with these beautiful golf ball Easter eggs. This family activity is a fantastic, no-mess alternative to traditional egg decorating. Using a set of pastel Sharpie markers, you can create classic Easter patterns like stripes, dots, and zig-zags that will last for years to come.

Materials Needed:

• Clean white golf balls
• A set of pastel-colored permanent markers (pinks, blues, greens, yellows)
• Optional: A metallic gold or silver permanent marker for accents

Step-by-Step Directions:

1. For a striped pattern, slowly rotate the ball while holding your marker steady to create even lines around the circumference. Alternate colors.
2. For polka dots, simply make small, solid circles all over the ball. Try using different sizes and colors for a fun look.
3. For a zig-zag (chevron) pattern, draw a series of connected ‘V’ shapes around the ball. Fill in the stripes with alternating pastel colors.
4. Let each color dry for a minute before drawing an adjacent color to prevent bleeding.

Lesson Learned: It’s much easier to draw straight lines around the ball if you can find a small cup or a roll of tape to set it on. This lets you rotate it smoothly with one hand while drawing with the other.

3. The Busy Bee

Pin this “bee-autiful” design idea for a spring craft!

This cute spring-themed design is as easy as it is charming. The simple yellow and black stripes make it a perfect project for beginners looking for things to draw on a golf ball. A fine-tip black marker is all you need for the details, and a paint pen can add the perfect finishing touch for the wings.

Materials Needed:

• 1 clean white golf ball
• 1 bold yellow permanent marker
• 1 fine-tip black permanent marker
• Optional: 1 white or light blue fine-tip paint pen for the wings

Step-by-Step Directions:

1. Start by drawing two thick black stripes around the middle of the golf ball. Leave a white stripe between them.
2. Color the white stripe between the black stripes with your yellow marker.
3. Color the top and bottom sections of the ball yellow, leaving a small white circle at the very top for the face if you wish.
4. Use the fine-tip black marker to draw a simple smiley face and two antennae.
5. On the “back” of the bee, use the white paint pen to draw two small, teardrop-shaped wings.

Pro-Tip: For the most vibrant yellow, apply a second coat after the first one has dried for about 5 minutes. This helps to even out the color over the dimples.

4. Simple Personalized Monogram

Save this idea for a perfect handmade gift for the golfer in your life!

Create a truly personalized gift for the golfer you know. A simple monogram is an elegant way to customize golf balls. While it looks sophisticated, it’s surprisingly easy to do, especially with the help of a stencil or a simple tracing technique. It’s the perfect answer for what to draw on a golf ball for dad.

Materials Needed:

• 1 high-quality new golf ball
• 1 ultra-fine tip black permanent marker
• Optional: A golf ball letter stencil or a printed letter to trace

Step-by-Step Directions:

1. If you’re not confident in your lettering, print out the initial you want in a font you like, about half an inch tall.
2. Use a pencil to shade over the back of the printed letter. Place it on the golf ball and trace the letter firmly to transfer a faint pencil outline.
3. Carefully go over the pencil outline with your ultra-fine tip black Sharpie.
4. Use small, steady strokes to fill in the letter. You can make it a simple block letter or a more elegant script font.
5. Add a simple underline or a few dots on either side for a finishing touch.

Pro-Tip: For a truly professional look, place the monogram opposite the brand name on the ball. This creates a balanced, custom appearance.

5. Abstract Rainbow Dots

The easiest design ever! Pin this idea for when you need a quick and colorful craft.

This beginner-friendly abstract art is one of the easiest Sharpie designs you can make. It requires zero drawing skill—if you can make a dot, you can make this! The golf ball’s dimples actually help create perfect little circles. Just grab a multi-color pack of Sharpies and start creating your rainbow dot pattern.

Materials Needed:

• 1 clean white golf ball
• A variety of fine-tip permanent markers in many different colors

Step-by-Step Directions:

1. Pick your first color. Press the tip of the marker into one of the dimples and hold for a second to create a perfect, small dot.
2. Continue making dots with that color, scattering them around the ball.
3. Switch to a new color and add more dots, filling in some of the gaps.
4. Continue with all your colors until the ball is covered to your liking. You can overlap dots or keep them separate.
5. There’s no right or wrong way to do it—just have fun filling the space with color!

Lesson Learned: This design looks best when you use a wide variety of colors—at least 8-10. It creates a more dynamic and visually interesting “confetti” or “mosaic” look.

6. Spooky Ghost Face

Save this spooky-cute idea for a fun Halloween craft!

Get ready for Halloween with this incredibly simple ghost face design. All you need is a white golf ball and a black marker for this minimalist, spooky craft. It’s one of the easiest Halloween golf ball ideas and perfect for spooky crafts for kids.

Materials Needed:

• 1 clean white golf ball
• 1 black permanent marker (a dual-tip with fine and ultra-fine points is ideal)

Step-by-Step Directions:

1. Using the fine tip, draw two large, slightly irregular oval shapes for the eyes. Don’t worry about making them perfectly symmetrical; a little unevenness adds to the spooky character.
2. Fill in the ovals completely with the black marker.
3. Below the eyes, draw a smaller, open oval shape for a spooky, surprised mouth.
4. Fill in the mouth. Let it dry completely. That’s it!

Pro-Tip: Make a whole set of these and display them in a bowl for a super easy and cute Halloween decoration. You can vary the eye shapes and mouth expressions on each one.

7. Soccer Ball Design

Pin this sporty design! A great gift idea for soccer fans.

For the sports fan, this soccer ball golf ball is a guaranteed winner. This detailed, sports-themed craft is a bit more challenging, but the recognizable pentagon pattern makes for a really cool Sharpie design. An ultra-fine tip black marker is essential for getting the shapes just right.

Materials Needed:

• 1 clean white golf ball
• 1 ultra-fine tip black permanent marker

Step-by-Step Directions:

1. Start by drawing one small pentagon (a five-sided shape) in the center of the area you’re working on. Fill it in with the black marker.
2. From each side of the pentagon, draw a straight line outward, about the same length as the pentagon’s side.
3. Connect the ends of these lines to form hexagons (six-sided shapes) around your central pentagon. These hexagons remain white.
4. At the corners where the hexagons meet, draw new pentagons and fill them in.
5. Continue this pattern of surrounding black pentagons with white hexagons until the ball is covered.

Lesson Learned: Don’t stress about making the shapes perfect. The dimples make it hard! As long as you follow the basic pattern of a black shape surrounded by white shapes, it will look like a soccer ball.

8. Minimalist Alignment Lines

A practical and cool idea for the golfer! Pin this for your next round.

Not all designs have to be purely decorative. These minimalist alignment lines are a functional and popular way of marking golf balls. A simple line drawing tool helps create perfectly parallel lines, which golfers use to line up their putts. This is a great example of practical personalization for any golfer.

Materials Needed:

• 1 clean white golf ball
• 2-3 different colored ultra-fine tip permanent markers (e.g., red, blue, black)
• A golf ball line drawing tool (a plastic stencil that clips onto the ball)

Step-by-Step Directions:

1. Clip the line drawing tool securely onto the golf ball.
2. Choose your first color and trace a line along one of the stencil guides.
3. You can draw a single line, three parallel lines, or create a unique color pattern. A popular choice is two thin outer lines and one thick inner line.
4. Let the ink dry for a moment before unclipping the tool to avoid smudges.
5. This simple mark makes it easy to identify your ball and line up your putts.

Pro-Tip: For the straightest possible lines, pull the marker through the stencil in one smooth, continuous motion rather than short, sketchy strokes.

9. Funny Emoji Faces

Express yourself on the course! Pin this fun emoji craft idea.

Bring some personality to the green with funny golf ball designs. Recreating your favorite emoji faces is a simple, expressive, and fun way to practice your Sharpie art. Use a yellow ball as a base, or color a white one yellow first, then add the iconic expressions with black, red, and blue markers.

Materials Needed:

• Clean white or yellow golf balls
• Black ultra-fine tip permanent marker
• Yellow permanent marker (if using white balls)
• Red and blue fine-tip permanent markers

Step-by-Step Directions:

1. If using a white ball, color the entire thing with the yellow marker first and let it dry. This is your base.
2. Use the black ultra-fine marker to draw the main face outlines (eyes and mouth).
3. For the heart-eyes emoji, draw two red hearts instead of regular eyes.
4. For the laughing-crying emoji, draw the laughing mouth and then add two blue teardrops coming from the eyes.
5. For the winking emoji, draw one regular eye and one eye as a simple upward curve for the wink. Add a red tongue sticking out of the mouth.

Pro-Tip: Keep your phone open to your emoji keyboard for easy reference! It helps to have a clear picture of the expression you want to draw.

Key Takeaways: Your Quick Guide to Flawless Golf Ball Art

• Always Clean First: Wipe every golf ball with rubbing alcohol before you start. This is the single most important step to prevent smudging and ensure the ink sticks permanently.
• Use the Right Tools: Ultra-fine tip permanent markers like Sharpies are best for details. For larger areas of color, a chisel tip works well.
• Let It Dry: Allow each color to air dry for a minute or two before touching it or adding an adjacent color. Patience prevents smearing.
• Seal Your Work: For a truly durable, smudge-proof, and fade-proof finish, apply 1-2 very light coats of clear acrylic spray sealant in a well-ventilated area.

People Also Ask About Decorating Golf Balls

What kind of markers are best for decorating golf balls?

Fine-tip permanent markers, like Sharpies, are the best choice for decorating golf balls. Their ink adheres well to the non-porous surface once cleaned. For a more opaque, paint-like effect, oil-based paint pens are also an excellent option. Avoid washable markers, gel pens, or whiteboard markers as they will smudge and wipe off easily.

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

To permanently seal Sharpie on a golf ball, use a clear acrylic spray sealant. Once your design is completely dry, hold the can 8-10 inches away and apply a very light, even coat. Let it dry for 15-20 minutes, then apply a second light coat for maximum durability and a waterproof finish.

Can you erase Sharpie from a golf ball if you make a mistake?

You can sometimes erase a fresh Sharpie mistake using rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab. Act quickly before the ink sets. For dried ink, you can try drawing over the mistake with a dry-erase marker and then wiping both away, but this method is not always successful. It’s best to work carefully.

Is it legal to use a hand-decorated golf ball in a real game?

Yes, it is perfectly legal to use a golf ball with Sharpie markings in a game or tournament. The official Rules of Golf encourage players to put a personal identification mark on their ball. As long as the layer of ink is thin and doesn’t affect the ball’s aerodynamics, it is completely acceptable for play.

Final Thoughts

Now you have everything you need to turn a simple golf ball into a tiny work of art that will last. It’s the perfect rainy-day activity, a thoughtful handmade gift, and a fun new tradition for Easter. This simple craft proves that with the right preparation and a splash of creativity, you can make something truly unique and special.

Which design are you excited to try first?

Last update on 2025-12-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API