X doesn't always mark the spot

Can someone satisfy my curiosity�

As a high handicapper, I often find myself in the rough looking for my ball. Very often as well as finding my own ball, I usually find at least one other. I know golf balls can come with various custom markings, but there is one I often see and has me a little puzzled by its purpose: The manufacturer�s name and ball identification number has a line of large X�s stamped through them, as if trying to cross the markings out. They are properly stamped X�s, hot hand-drawn with a marker pen.

Any ideas?

Cheers Keith