Creative Golf Ball Designs 11 Easy Sharpie Emoji Ideas

Ever argued over which Titleist Pro V1 is yours on the fairway? It’s a common frustration that can slow down your game.

Personalizing your golf ball with a unique mark is the easiest way to solve this. But you don’t need boring dots or messy initials to stand out.

The best way to make your golf ball easy to spot is by creating a unique personal marking. Using a fine-tip, oil-based Sharpie to draw a simple, bold emoji is a quick, durable, and creative method that is fully compliant with the USGA Rules of Golf. This guide will show you 11 easy emoji designs to bring some personality to your game.

Ever Lost Your Ball in the Fairway? Here’s How to Make Yours Unmistakable

There’s nothing worse than hitting a great drive down the middle, only to find three identical white golf balls sitting in a tight cluster. Whose is whose? This moment of confusion is all too common on a crowded course. Without a clear, unique golf ball identification mark, you risk playing the wrong ball and incurring a penalty.

This is where personalized golf balls come in. A simple, cool golf ball design drawn with a fine-tip Sharpie not only solves the identification problem but also adds a bit of your own personality to your equipment. We’ve tested these DIY golf ball methods and found that with the right marker and technique, your designs will hold up round after round. Making your ball unmistakable is about more than just rules; it’s about playing with confidence and having a little fun.

11 Easy Sharpie Emoji Ideas to Personalize Your Game

You don’t need to be an artist to create awesome, custom golf balls. We’ve selected 11 simple yet expressive emoji ideas that anyone can draw. These designs were chosen specifically for their simple lines and bold shapes, which make them perfect for the dimpled surface of a golf ball and ensure they stay recognizable.

Each idea below includes a simple step-by-step guide to guarantee a great result. Grab your markers, and let’s get started. Here are 11 easy golf ball sharpie ideas to try:
1. The Classic Smiley Face
2. The Heart Eyes Emoji
3. The Crying Laughing Emoji
4. The Sunglasses Cool Emoji
5. The Winking Face
6. The Ghost Emoji
7. The Alien Emoji
8. The Bomb Emoji
9. The Money Bag Emoji
10. The 100 Points Emoji
11. The Poo Emoji

1. The Classic Smiley Face

Pin this easy golf ball idea to your ‘DIY Golf’ board!

This classic emoji design is the perfect starting point for your golf ball art. It’s simple, recognizable, and brings a little cheer to your game.

Materials Needed:

• One clean, dry golf ball
• Black oil-based extra-fine point permanent marker
• Yellow oil-based fine point permanent marker

Step-by-Step Directions:

1. Outline: Use the black marker to draw a simple circle. Don’t worry about perfection; the dimples will hide small wobbles.
2. Draw Face: Inside the circle, draw two small oval eyes and a simple curved line for the smile.
3. Fill Color: Carefully fill in the circle with the yellow marker, staying inside the black outline.
4. Dry: Let the ball sit for at least 5 minutes to allow the ink to fully cure before touching.

• Pro-Tip: Before drawing, wipe the ball with rubbing alcohol on a cotton pad to remove any oils. This helps the ink adhere permanently and prevents smudging.

2. The Heart Eyes Emoji

Save this cute design for your next round!

Show your love for the game with this cute and expressive heart eyes emoji. This simple, two-color design is easy to execute and always gets a smile.

Materials Needed:

• One clean, dry golf ball
• Black oil-based extra-fine point permanent marker
• Red oil-based fine point permanent marker

Step-by-Step Directions:

1. Draw the Hearts: Use the red marker to draw two small, solid hearts where the eyes would be. Fill them in completely.
2. Add the Smile: Use the black extra-fine point marker to draw a wide, open-mouthed smile below the hearts.
3. Outline (Optional): For a more cartoonish look, you can draw a faint yellow circle around the entire face, but the simple version is just as effective.
4. Cure: Let the ink dry for 5 minutes. The red ink can sometimes take slightly longer to set than black.

• Lesson Learned: Drawing the colored parts (the hearts) first prevents the black ink from smearing into the color fill.

3. The Crying Laughing Emoji

Pin this funny golf ball marking for a good laugh on the course!

Perfect for when you hit a shot so bad you just have to laugh. This funny golf ball design is one of the most popular emojis and a great way to show your sense of humor.

Materials Needed:

• One clean, dry golf ball
• Black oil-based extra-fine point permanent marker
• Blue oil-based fine point permanent marker

Step-by-Step Directions:

1. Eyes and Mouth: Use the black marker to draw two curved, squinting eyes at a slight angle. Below them, draw a very large, open, laughing mouth shape.
2. Add Teeth (Optional): Draw a straight line across the mouth to indicate teeth for more detail.
3. Draw Teardrops: Use the blue marker to draw two large teardrop shapes streaming from the outer corners of each eye. Fill them in.
4. Dry Thoroughly: Give it a full 5-7 minutes to dry, as the large areas of ink need time to cure.

• Pro-Tip: Practice drawing the mouth shape on a piece of paper first. It’s the most important part of this emoji, and getting the curve right makes it instantly recognizable.

4. The Sunglasses Cool Emoji

Save this cool golf ball design for your next sunny day on the links!

This minimalist golf ball design is effortlessly cool and incredibly easy to draw. All you need is a black marker to give your ball some serious attitude.

Materials Needed:

• One clean, dry golf ball
• Black oil-based fine point permanent marker

Step-by-Step Directions:

1. Draw the Frame: Carefully draw the outline of a pair of sunglasses. Think of two trapezoid shapes connected by a small bridge over the nose.
2. Fill In: Use the same black marker to completely fill in the sunglasses, creating a solid black shape.
3. Add the Smile: Below the sunglasses and slightly to one side, draw a small, simple smirk or a straight line for the mouth.
4. Dry: Since this uses a lot of black ink, let it dry for at least 5 minutes to avoid any smearing.

• Pro-Tip: Using a “fine point” (not “extra-fine”) Sharpie makes filling in the sunglasses much quicker and more uniform.

5. The Winking Face

Pin this cheeky design idea for a bit of fun!

A little more detailed, this playful winking emoji adds a cheeky bit of personality to your golf ball. It’s perfect for a lighthearted round with friends.

Materials Needed:

• One clean, dry golf ball
• Black oil-based extra-fine point permanent marker
• Pink or Red oil-based extra-fine point permanent marker

Step-by-Step Directions:

1. Draw the Eyes: Use the black marker to draw one simple round, open eye. For the other eye, draw a simple downward curve to represent the wink.
2. Create the Mouth: Below the eyes, draw an open mouth shape.
3. Add the Tongue: Use the pink or red marker to draw a small “U” shape coming out of the mouth for the tongue.
4. Final Touches: Add a small eyebrow over the winking eye for extra expression. Let dry completely.

• Lesson Learned: An extra-fine point marker is essential for this design to keep the lines for the tongue and winking eye clean and crisp.

6. The Ghost Emoji

Save this spooky-cute idea for a Halloween round!

This clever design uses the white surface of the golf ball as the ghost’s body, making it one of the easiest and most creative options. It’s spooky, cute, and requires minimal effort.

Materials Needed:

• One clean, dry golf ball
• Black oil-based extra-fine point permanent marker

Step-by-Step Directions:

1. No Outline Needed: This design is brilliant because the white golf ball is the ghost’s body.
2. Draw the Eyes: Use the black marker to draw two large, slightly irregular oval eyes. Fill them in completely.
3. Add the Mouth: Below the eyes, draw a smaller, simple open mouth, like a little “o”.
4. Let It Dry: Since it’s only a few simple marks, this design dries very quickly in about 2-3 minutes.

• Pro-Tip: Position the ghost’s face slightly off-center from the ball’s brand name or number for a cleaner, more intentional look.

7. The Alien Emoji

Pin this out-of-this-world design for your golf bag!

For a unique golf ball marking that’s truly out of this world, the alien emoji is a fantastic choice. This quirky, two-color design is sure to stand out in the fairway.

Materials Needed:

• One clean, dry golf ball
• Black oil-based fine point permanent marker
• Gray oil-based fine point permanent marker

Step-by-Step Directions:

1. Outline the Head: Use the black marker to draw the classic alien head shape: a large, rounded top that tapers down to a small, pointed chin.
2. Fill with Gray: Carefully fill in the entire head shape with the gray marker.
3. Draw the Eyes: Once the gray is slightly dry, use the black marker to draw two large, almond-shaped eyes. Fill them in completely with black.
4. Cure Time: This design has layers of ink. Give it a solid 7-10 minutes to dry completely to prevent the black and gray from mixing.

• Pro-Tip: To get a more uniform gray color, apply the ink in one direction (e.g., all horizontal strokes) to minimize streaking.

8. The Bomb Emoji

Save this explosive idea for when you’re hitting bombs off the tee!

This is the perfect design for long hitters. If you love hitting “bombs” off the tee, this funny and powerful design is the ideal way to mark your ball.

Materials Needed:

• One clean, dry golf ball
• Black oil-based fine point permanent marker
• Yellow and/or Red extra-fine point marker (optional, for the spark)

Step-by-Step Directions:

1. Draw the Bomb: Use the black marker to draw a large, solid black circle. This will be the body of the bomb.
2. Add the Fuse: Draw a short, thick line coming out of the top of the circle for the fuse.
3. Create the Spark: Use the yellow or red extra-fine marker to draw a small, starburst-like spark at the end of the fuse.
4. Dry: The large black circle needs about 5-7 minutes to fully cure so it doesn’t leave residue in your golf bag.

• Lesson Learned: Fill in the black circle completely and let it dry before adding the colored spark. This prevents the colors from bleeding into the wet black ink.

9. The Money Bag Emoji

Pin this design for your next money game!

Whether you’re in a weekend tournament or have a friendly wager on the line, the money bag emoji is the perfect marking. Let everyone know you mean business.

Materials Needed:

• One clean, dry golf ball
• Green oil-based fine point permanent marker
• Black oil-based extra-fine point permanent marker

Step-by-Step Directions:

1. Outline the Bag: Use the black marker to draw the outline of a simple bag, cinched at the top.
2. Draw the Dollar Sign: Inside the bag outline, draw a bold dollar sign ($) with the black marker.
3. Fill with Green: Carefully fill in the area of the bag around the dollar sign with the green marker.
4. Dry: Allow 5 minutes for the colors to set without smudging.

• Pro-Tip: For a cleaner look, draw the black dollar sign first and let it dry for a minute before filling in the green around it.

10. The 100 Points Emoji

Save this design for when you’re feeling confident!

This bold, text-based design is all about confidence. The “100” emoji is a simple and powerful way to signify a perfect shot or a perfect day on the course.

Materials Needed:

• One clean, dry golf ball
• Red oil-based fine point permanent marker

Step-by-Step Directions:

1. Write the Number: Carefully write “100” on the golf ball. Take your time, as drawing numbers on a curved surface can be tricky.
2. Add Underlines: Draw two straight, parallel lines directly underneath the “100”. Use the ball’s own equator line as a guide if possible.
3. Bold the Lines: Go over the numbers and lines a second time to make them thicker and bolder.
4. Dry: Red ink is very stable. A 3-5 minute drying time is plenty.

• Lesson Learned: Rotating the ball as you draw the underlines, rather than moving the pen, helps create straighter lines.

11. The Poo Emoji

Pin this hilarious design for when your game goes… south.

For the golfer who doesn’t take themselves too seriously. This humorous design is a hilarious gag gift or the perfect marking for a ball you don’t mind losing in the woods.

Materials Needed:

• One clean, dry golf ball
• Brown oil-based fine point permanent marker
• White oil-based extra-fine point permanent marker
• Black oil-based extra-fine point permanent marker

Step-by-Step Directions:

1. Draw the Swirl: Use the brown marker to draw the iconic swirling poo shape. Fill it in completely with brown.
2. Let it Dry: Let the large brown area dry for a solid 5 minutes before adding details on top.
3. Add White Eyes: Use the white paint marker to add two oval eyes on top of the brown shape.
4. Add Pupils: Once the white is dry to the touch (2-3 minutes), use the black extra-fine marker to add a tiny dot in each white eye for the pupils.

• Pro-Tip: A white paint marker (not just a standard marker) is crucial here. It has the opacity needed to show up clearly on top of the dark brown ink.

Key Takeaways: Your Quick Guide to Perfect Golf Ball Designs

Feeling inspired? Before you start drawing, keep these crucial tips in mind to ensure your custom designs look great and last long.

• Always Use Oil-Based Markers: They are far more durable and smudge-proof on a golf ball’s surface than standard alcohol-based Sharpies.
• Clean the Ball First: Wipe the ball with rubbing alcohol to remove any oils or dirt for the best ink adhesion.
• Let It Cure: Give your design at least 5-10 minutes to dry completely before touching it or putting it in play.
• Simple is Best: Bold, simple designs are easier to draw, more recognizable, and last longer than intricate, detailed art.
• Use Extra-Fine Tips for Details: For small eyes, mouths, or outlines, an extra-fine point marker is your best friend.

People Also Ask About Marking Golf Balls

Here are answers to a few common questions golfers have about creating their own custom golf ball markings.

Is it legal to draw on your golf ball?

Yes, it is 100% legal to draw on your golf ball. The USGA Rules of Golf actually encourage players to put an “identifying mark” on their ball (Rule 6.3a) to avoid playing the wrong one. As long as the marking doesn’t affect the ball’s flight, any Sharpie design is perfectly fine for casual and tournament play.

What is the best pen to use on golf balls?

The best pen for golf balls is an oil-based permanent marker, often sold as a “paint marker.” Brands like Sharpie make industrial-grade or oil-based versions that are far more durable and resistant to smudging on the non-porous urethane cover of a golf ball compared to standard alcohol-based Sharpies.

How do you keep Sharpie from rubbing off a golf ball?

To prevent Sharpie from rubbing off, use an oil-based marker on a clean, dry surface and allow it to cure for 5-10 minutes. Wiping the ball with rubbing alcohol before drawing removes surface oils and ensures the ink bonds properly. For ultimate durability, you can apply a very thin coat of clear nail polish over the dried design.

What do pro golfers use to mark their balls?

Most pro golfers use a very simple, consistent mark with a standard permanent marker. This is usually something quick and easy to replicate, like two dots of a specific color, their initials, or a short line for putting alignment. They prioritize quick identification over elaborate creative designs.

Final Thoughts

Personalizing your golf ball is about more than just telling it apart from your playing partner’s. It’s a simple, fun way to bring your own personality to the game, express your creativity, and maybe even give yourself a little confidence boost on the first tee. Whether you choose a classic smiley face or a hilarious poo emoji, you’re making the game your own.

What’s your signature emoji or design? Share your go-to golf ball marking in the comments below

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