Golf Rules

Get to know the basic rules that are necessary if you want to play golf, as well as the basic terms that will facilitate communication with other players on the field.

Rules

Learn to play golf.

We have divided the golf rules into units, so that future golfers can learn the essentials as quickly and easily as possible. After the rules, there is a list of important terms.

I Fundamentals (rules 1 - 4)

Rule 1. Game, player behavior and Rules
1.1 The game of golf
1.2 Standards of player behavior
1.3 Playing by the Rules

Rule 2. Playground
2.1. Playground boundaries and space outside the boundaries (aut)
2.2. Certain parts of the playground
2.3. Items or conditions that may affect gameplay
2.4. No Play Areas (No Play Zones)

Rule 3. Competition
3.1. Essential elements of every competition
3.2. Match play
3.3. Stroke play

Rule 4. Equipment
4.1. Sticks
4.2. Balls
4.3. Use of equipment

II Playing the circle and playing the hole (rules 5 - 6)

Rule 5. Playing a round
5.1. What is a circle? 5.2. Practicing on the court before playing a round or between playing rounds
5.3. Starting and ending a round
5.4. Playing in groups
5.5. Practice while playing a round or when the game is stopped
5.6. Unjustified slowing down; fast game pace
5.7. Stopping the game; continuation of the game

Rule 6. Playing the hole
6.1. Starting play on a hole
6.2. Playing with the ball from the starting point
6.3. Balls used when playing on a hole
6.4. Order when playing a hole
6.5. Completion of playing the hole

III Playing with the ball (rules 7 - 11)

Rule 7. Searching for the ball
7.1. How to look for the ball correctly
7.2. How to identify the ball
7.3. Picking up the ball to identify
7.4. Unintentionally moved ball when finding or identifying it

Rule 8. It is played on the playing field as it is found
8.1. Actions by the player to improve the conditions affecting the shot
8.2. Deliberate actions by a player to alter other physical conditions affecting his ball at rest or the shot to be made
8.3. Deliberate actions by a player to alter the physical conditions affecting the ball at rest of another player or the shot another player is preparing to make

Rule 9. The ball is played from the position in which it is caught; lifting or moving a ball that is at rest
9.1. It is played with the ball from the position in which it is found
9.2. Deciding whether the ball moved and what caused it to move
9.3. Natural forces moved the ball
9.4. A ball picked up or moved by a player
9.5. The opponent in match play has picked up or moved the ball
9.6. External factors affected the lift or movement of the ball
9.7. Raising or moving the ball position marker

Rule 10. Preparation for the shot and its execution, advice and assistance, caddies
10.1. Taking a shot
10.2. Advice and other types of help
10.3. Caddies

Rule 11. Ball in motion accidentally hits a person, animal or object, intentional actions affecting the ball in motion
11.1. The ball in motion accidentally hits a person or is exposed to external influence
11.2. A person intentionally deflects or stops the ball in motion
11.3. Deliberately moving objects or changing conditions to affect the ball in motion

IV Special rules for bankers and greens (rules 12 - 13)

Rule 12. Bankers
12.1. When the ball is in the banker
12.2. Playing with a ball that is in the banker
12.3. Specific rules for banker ball relief

Rule 13. Greens
13.1. Permitted or required operations on greens
13.2. Flagstaff
13.3. Ball on the edge of the hole

V Picking up the ball and putting it back into play (Rule 14)

Rule 14 Procedures relating to the ball: marking its position, lifting and cleaning; putting the ball back into place; discharge into relief area; playing from the wrong place
14.1. Marking the position of the ball, its lifting and cleaning
14.2. Putting the ball back in place
14.3. Dropping the ball into the relief area
14.4. When a player's ball is put back into play after the original ball is out of play
14.5. Correcting an error made when changing a ball, re-laying it, dropping it or placing it
14.6. Executing the next kick from the place from which the previous kick was taken
14.7. Playing from the wrong place

VI Allowed reliefs (rules 15 - 16)

Rule 15. Relief due to unfixed objects and movable obstructions (including a ball or ball marker assisting or hindering play)
15.1. Unfixed items
15.2. Moving obstacles
15.3. A ball or ball marker that aids or hinders play

Rule 16. Relief in relation to abnormal condition of the playing field (including immovable obstacles); conditions caused by the presence of a dangerous animal; buried ball
16.1. Abnormal condition of the playground (including immovable obstacles)
16.2. The condition is caused by the presence of a dangerous animal
16.3. Buried ball
16.4. Lifting the ball to see if it is lying under conditions that allow relief

VII Relief with penalty (rules 17 - 19)

Rule 17. Penalty Areas
17.1. Options related to the ball in the penalty area
17.2. Options since the ball was played from the penalty area
17.3. No relief by applying other rules for the ball in the penalty area

Rule 18. Stroke-and-Distance Relief, Lost Ball or Ball Out, Provisional Ball
18.1. Relief with a stroke and distance penalty is allowed at all times
18.2. Ball lost or out; strike-and-distance relief must be taken
18.3. Makeshift ball

Rule 19. Unplayable ball
19.1. A player may choose to take relief for an unplayable ball anywhere except in the penalty area
19.2. Relief options for an unplayable ball in general areas or on the putting green
19.3. Relief options for an unplayable ball in the banker

VIII Procedures of the players and the Competition Commission when problems arise in the application of the rules (rule 20)

Rule 20. Resolving Rules-Related Problems During Round Play; the referee's decision and the decision of the Competition Commission
20.1. Solving rules issues while playing a round
20.2. Resolving Rules Issues
20.3. Situations not covered by the rules

IX Other forms of play (rules 21 - 24)

Rule 21. Other forms of individual stroke play and individual match play 21.1. Stableford
21.2. Maximum score game
21.3. Couple/Gods
21.4 Match-play "three balls"
21.5. Other forms of playing golf

Rule 22. - The game of four (also known as the game of "alternating strokes") 22.1. Overview of the game four
22.2. Any of the partners can act for the party
22.3. Within a side, shots must be taken alternately
22.4. Starting a round
22.5. Partners can use sticks together

Rule 23. Game with four balls
23.1. Overview of the four ball game
23.2. Scoring in the four-ball game
23.3. When does the round start and end; when the hole is finished playing
23.4. One or both partners may represent a party
23.5. Player actions that affect partner play
23.6. Order of playing sides
23.7. Partners can share sticks
23.8. When the penalty is applied only to one partner or when it is applied to both

Rule 24. Team competition
24.1. Overview of team competitions
24.2. Terms related to team competitions
24.3. Team captain
24.4. Tips allowed in team competition

Definitions

Out of Bounds

All areas outside the boundary of the course as defined by the Committee. All areas inside the boundary are in-bounds.The boundary of the course extends both up above the ground and down below the ground:

this means all ground and all other things (such as any natural or artificial object) inside the boundary are in-bounds, whether they are on, above, or below the surface of the ground;
if an object is both in-bounds and out of bounds (such as stairs attached to a boundary fence, or a tree with its roots out of bounds and branches that are in-bounds or vice versa), only the part of the object that is out of bounds is out of bounds.

The boundary should be defined by objects that mark the boundary of the course or by lines:

Objects that mark the boundary of the course: when defined by stakes or a fence, the boundary is defined by the line between the points on the stakes or on the fence posts that are at ground level and facing the course (except for corner braces), and the stakes and fence posts themselves are out of bounds.

When the boundary is defined by other objects, such as a wall, or when the Committee wishes to treat a boundary fence differently, the boundary should be defined by the Committee.

Lines: when the boundary is defined by a line drawn on the ground, the boundary is the side of the line that faces the course, and the line itself is out of bounds.

When a line on the ground defines the boundary, stakes may be used to mark where the boundary is, but they have no other meaning.

Bunker

this means all ground and all other things (such as any natural or artificial object) inside the boundary are in-bounds, whether they are on, above, or below the surface of the ground;
if an object is both in-bounds and out of bounds (such as stairs attached to a boundary fence, or a tree with its roots out of bounds and branches that are in-bounds or vice versa), only the part of the object that is out of bounds is out of bounds.

The boundary should be defined by objects that mark the boundary of the course or by lines:

Objects that mark the boundary of the course: when defined by stakes or a fence, the boundary is defined by the line between the points on the stakes or on the fence posts that are at ground level and facing the course (except for corner braces), and the stakes and fence posts themselves are out of bounds.

When the boundary is defined by other objects, such as a wall, or when the Committee wishes to treat a boundary fence differently, the boundary should be defined by the Committee.

Lines: when the boundary is defined by a line drawn on the ground, the boundary is the side of the line that faces the course, and the line itself is out of bounds.

When a line on the ground defines the boundary, stakes may be used to mark where the boundary is, but they have no other meaning.

Honour

A player’s right to play first from the tee (see Rule 6.4).

Club Length

The length of the longest club of 14 (or fewer) clubs a player has during the course of the round (permitted by Rule 4.1b [1]), excluding putters.For example, if the longest club (other than a putter) a player has during a round is a 109.22 cm (43 inch) driver, the club length is 109.22 cm for that player for that round.Club lengths are used in defining the player’s starting point on each hole and in determining the size of the player’s relief area when taking relief under a rule.

Putting Green

The area on the hole where the player is playing:

which is specially prepared for hitting the ball or
defined by the Competition Commission as a green (for example, when a temporary green is used)

The green is on a hole, and it has a hole into which the player tries to put the ball.The green is one of the five defined areas of the playing field. Greens on all other holes (not currently played by the player) are false greens and represent part of the general area.The boundary of the green is defined by a line from which a specially prepared area can be seen to begin (for example, a line from which the grass has been sharply cut to show the boundary), unless the Competition Committee defines the boundary in a different way (for example, on the ground marked by a line or dots).If a double green is used for two different holes:

the entire prepared area on which there are two holes is treated as a green when playing on both holes;
but, the Competition Committee may determine a boundary that divides a double green into two separate greens so that, when a player plays one of the holes, the part of the double green intended for the other hole is the wrong green.

Maximum Score

A form of stroke play in which a player’s or side’s score for a hole is limited by a maximum number of strokes (including putts and any penalty strokes) determined by the Competition Committee, such as double par, fixed number or net double bogey.

Four-Ball

A form of the game in which sides of two partners compete: each player plays with his own ball. One side’s score for a hole is the lower of the two partners’ scores on that hole.

Four-ball can be played as a match-play competition between one side played by two partners and another side played by another two partners, or as a stroke-play competition between multiple sides of two partners each.

Foursomes

Foursomes [also known as “Alternate Shot”]

A form of the game in which two partners compete as a side, playing one ball alternately on each hole.

Foursomes can be played as match play competitions between one side of two partners and another side of two partners or as stroke play competitions between multiple sides of two partners each.

Course

The entire playing area within the edges of any boundaries set by the Competition Committee:

all surfaces within the boundary edge are in the playing field and are part of it;
all surfaces beyond the boundary edge are out and are not part of the playing field;
the boundary edge extends above the ground and down below the ground surface.

The playground consists of five defined areas of the playground.

Drop

Holding the ball and letting it fall through the air with the intention of putting the ball into play.If the player drops the ball without intending to put it in play, the ball is not dropped and is not in play (see Rule 14.4).Each relief rule specifies a specific relief area in which the ball must be dropped and rested.When taking relief, the player must drop the ball from a knee height position so that the ball:

drops straight down without the player throwing it, giving it spin or rolling it, or using any other motion that might affect where the ball will land,
not touch any part of the player’s body or equipment before hitting the ground (see Rule 14.3b).

Lost

The status of a ball that has not been found within three minutes after the player or his caddy (or the player’s partner or the partner’s caddy) starts looking for it.If a search begins and is temporarily interrupted for a valid reason (such as when a player stops searching because play is interrupted or needs to stand aside to wait for another player to take a shot) or when a player has incorrectly identified the wrong ball:

the time elapsed from the interruption of the search to its continuation is not counted i

the time allowed for the search is a total of three minutes, including the time before the interruption and the time after the continuation of the search.

Caddie

A person who assists a player during a round in the following ways:

carrying, transporting sticks or handling sticks: a person who carries, transports (in a buggy or cart) a player’s sticks or handles a player’s sticks during play is the player’s caddy even if the player does not refer to him as a caddy, except when this is done to move the player’s sticks, bag or cart out of the way or as a courtesy (such as fetching a stick left behind by a player);
giving advice: the player’s caddy is the only person (other than a partner or partner’s caddy) from whom a player may ask for advice.

A caddy may also assist a player in other ways permitted by the rules (see Rule 10.3b).

Round

Eighteen or fewer holes played in the order determined by the Competition Committee.Line of PlayThe line along which the player wishes his ball to travel after the stroke, including the area on that line which is reasonably above the ground and on either side of that line.The line of play is not necessarily a straight line between two points (for example, it may be a curved line based on where the player intends to direct the ball).

Match Play

A form of play in which a player or side plays directly against an opponent or opposing side in a one-round or multiple-round head-to-head match:

a player or side wins a hole in a match by finishing play on the hole with fewer strokes (including putts and penalty strokes) and
victory is achieved in a match when a player or side has more holes won from the opponent or opposing side than there are holes left to play.

Match play can be played as a single match (in which one player plays directly against one opponent), as a three-ball match, or as a four-ball or four-ball match between sides consisting of two partners each.

Nearest Point of Complete Relief

A reference point at which relief may be taken for an abnormal ground condition (Rule 16.1), dangerous animal (Rule 16.2), wrong green (Rule 13.1f) or no-play zone (Rules 16.1f and 17.1e), or where relief is taken under certain local rules.It is the estimated point where the ball should lie, which is:

closest to the ball’s original location, but not closer to the hole than that location
in the area of the playground where it should be, and
at a place where the conditions do not interfere with the shot that the player would take from the original place if those conditions were not there.

Evaluating that reference point requires the player to make a decision regarding the choice of club, stance, swing and line of play to use for that shot.It is not necessary for the player to simulate that stroke by actually taking the stance and swinging the chosen club (but it is recommended that the player usually does so to aid in accurate estimation).The nearest point of full relief relates exclusively to the specific condition for which the relief is being taken and may be at the point where there is interference from something else:

if a player is taking a relief and then an interference occurs due to some other condition that allows relief to be taken, the player may take the relief again and determine a new closest point of full relief based on the new condition;
relief must be taken separately for each condition causing interference, except that the player may simultaneously take relief for both conditions (based on determining the nearest point of full relief from both) when, already taking relief separately for each of the conditions, it becomes reasonable to conclude that the continuation of such a procedure will result in a continuous mixing of the effects of one or the other interference.

Abnormal Course Condition

Any of the following four defined conditions:

a hole made by animals,
soil under repair,
immovable obstacles, or
temporary water.

Immovable Obstruction

Any obstacle:

which cannot be moved without excessive effort or damage to the obstacle or playing field, and
which otherwise does not meet the definition of a moving obstacle.

The Competition Committee may define any obstacle as a fixed obstacle, even if it meets the definition of a movable obstacle.

Loose* Impediment

Any unfixed natural object, such as:

stones, blades of grass, leaves, branches and twigs;
dead animals and animal remains;
worms, insects and similar animals that can be easily removed, and the mounds or webs they build (such as worm droppings and anthills) and
clods of soil (including aeration plugs).

Such natural objects are not unfixed if they are:

clinging to something or growing out of the ground,
firmly embedded in the ground (that is, not easily uprooted), or
clung to the ball.

Special cases:

sand and loose soil are not loose objects;
dew, frost and water are not unfixed subjects;
snow and natural ice (except frost) are either unfixed objects or, when on the ground, temporary water, whichever the player chooses.
spider webs are unfixed objects even when attached to other objects.

Boundary ObjectConstructed objects, such as walls, fences, stakes and partitions, that define or show an out, from which relief is not allowed without penalty.This includes all foundation and boundary fence posts, but does not include:

braces or wires attached to a wall or fence, or
any stairs, bridges or similar structures used to cross a wall or fence.

Objects marking the boundary of the field of play are treated as immovable, even if they are movable or any part of them is movable (see Rule 8.1a).Objects that mark the boundary of the playing field are not obstacles or integral objects.

Equipment

Anything used, worn, held or carried by a player or a player’s caddy.Objects used to maintain the course, such as rakes, are equipment only while held or carried by a player or caddy.

General Penalty

Loss of a hole in match play or two penalty strokes in stroke play.

General Area

An area of the course that includes the entire course, except for the other four defined areas: (1) the tee from which the player must play at the start of play on the hole he is playing, (2) all penalty areas, (3) all bankers, and (4) the green hole the player is playing.The general area includes:

all tees on the course that do not belong to the tee on the hole being played i
all the wrong greens.

Serious Breach

In stroke play, when playing from the wrong spot can give a player a serious advantage over hitting from the right spot.In making the comparison to determine whether a serious breach has occurred, factors to be considered include:

the weight of the blow,
distance of the ball from the hole,
impact of obstacles on the line of play i
conditions affecting the shot.

The term serious violation is not used in match play because a player loses a hole if he plays from the wrong place in that game.

Mark

Indicate the place where the ball came to rest:

by placing a ball position marker immediately behind the ball or immediately next to the ball or
holding the stick on the ground immediately behind the ball or immediately next to the ball.

This is done to show where the ball must return to after it has been picked up.

Ball Marker

A constructed object used to indicate the position of a ball being lifted, such as a tee, coin, object designed to be a ball position marker, or other small piece of equipment.When a rule refers to moving a ball position marker, it means that a ball position marker has been placed on the court to mark the point on the ground from which the ball has been lifted and not yet returned to its place.

Par/Bogey

A form of stroke play in which the score is scored as in match play, whereby:

a player or side wins or loses a hole by finishing play at the hole in fewer or more strokes (including missed strokes and penalty strokes) than the fixed target score for that hole set by the Competition Committee, and
a competition is won by the player or side with the highest total score obtained by dividing the number of holes won by the player and the number of holes lost by the player (that is, by adding the number of holes won and subtracting the number of holes lost).

Partner

A player who participates in a competition with another player as a side, either in match play or stroke play.

Improve

Change one or more conditions affecting the stroke or other physical conditions affecting the game so that the player gains a potential advantage for the stroke.

Areas of the Course

Five defined areas that make up the playground:

general area,
the starting point from which the player starts play on the hole he is playing,
all areas of punishment,
all bankers and

the green on the hole on which the player is playing.

Penalty Area

If the player’s ball comes to rest in this area, then relief is allowed with a penalty of one stroke.The area of punishment is:

any body of water on the course (whether or not marked by the Competition Committee), including a sea, lake, pond, river, ditch, surface drainage ditch or other open watercourse (even if it does not contain water) and
any other part of the playing field that the Competition Commission defines as a punishment area.

The penalty area is one of the five defined areas of the playing field.There are two different types of penalty areas and they are distinguished by the colors used to mark them:

in yellow penalty areas (marked with yellow lines or stakes), the player has two options for relief (rules 17.1d[1] and [2]);
in red penalty areas (marked by red lines or stakes) the player has an additional relief option from the side (Rule 17.1d[3]), in addition to the two relief options available in yellow penalty areas.

If the Competition Commission has not indicated the color of the penalty area, the area is treated as a red penalty area.The boundary of the penalty area extends above and below the ground:

this means that all soil and anything else (such as any natural or man-made object) within the boundary is part of the penalty area, whether on the ground, above or below the surface of the ground;
if an object is both inside and outside the boundary (such as a bridge over the penalty area or a tree whose root is inside the boundary and branches are outside the boundary or vice versa), only the part of the object that is inside the boundary is part of the penalty area.

The boundary of the penalty area should be defined by stakes, lines or based on physical properties:

Stakes: When defined by stakes, the boundary of the penalty area is defined by the line between the outside points of the stakes at ground level, and the stakes are inside the penalty area.
Lines: when defined by a line drawn on the ground, the boundary of the penalty area is the outer boundary of the line, and the line itself is in the penalty area.
Physical Features: When a boundary is defined based on physical properties (such as a beach or desert area or a retaining wall), the Competition Committee should determine how the boundary of the penalty area is defined.

When the boundary of the penalty area is defined by lines or based on physical properties, stakes may be used to show where the penalty area is, but they have no other meaning.When the boundary of a quantity of water has not been defined by the Competition Commission, the boundary of that penalty area is defined by natural boundaries (that is, places where the ground slopes towards a depression that can retain water).If an open water course does not normally contain water (such as a drainage ditch or drainage area that is dry except during the rainy season), the Competition Committee may designate that area as part of the general area (meaning it is not a penalty area).

Relief Area

The area into which a player must drop the ball when taking relief under a rule. Each rule relating to relief requires the player to use a designated area of relief, the size and location of which is based on the following three factors:

reference point: the point from which the size of the relief area is measured;
the size of the relief area measured from the reference point: the relief area is one length or two rod lengths from the reference point, but with certain limitations;
restrictions on the location of the relief area: the location of the relief area can be limited in one or more ways, so that it, for example:
is only in certain defined areas of the playing field, say, only in the general area, or if it is not in the banker or penalty area;
that it is not closer to the hole than the reference point or that it must be outside the penalty area or banker for which relief is taken; or
that where there are no disturbances (which is defined by a special rule) caused by the conditions for which the relief is taken.

When using stick lengths to determine the size of the relief area, a player may measure directly over a ditch, hole or similar object, and directly over or through an object (such as a tree, fence, wall, tunnel, drain or sprinkler), but measuring through ground that slopes up or down is not permitted.See Competition Committee Procedures, Section 21 (Competition Committee may elect to permit or require a player to use the ball drop area as a relief area when taking certain concessions).

Wrong Green

Every green on the course except the green of the hole on which the player is playing. The wrong greens include:

greens from all other holes on which the player is not playing at the observed moment;
regular green on a hole where a temporary green is used;
all putting, chipping or pitching practice greens, unless excluded by the Competition Committee by local rule.

Wrong greens are part of the general area.

Wrong Ball

Any ball other than the player’s:

balls in play (regardless of whether the ball in play is original or has been replaced),
provisional balls (before the player gives them up under Rule 18.3c), or
other balls in stroke play played under rules 14.7b or 20.1c.

Examples of foul balls are:

another player’s ball in play;
a stray ball;
a player’s own ball that is out, has become lost, or has been picked up and not yet returned to play.

Wrong Place

Any place on the field of play, other than the place from which a player is legally required, or permitted, to play his ball.Examples of playing from the wrong place are:

playing the ball after it has been returned to a place that is not identical to the one it was on, or without returning it to its place when required by the rules;
playing with a dropped ball when it is outside the relief area;
taking relief under an inappropriate rule so that the ball is dropped and played from a place not permitted by the rules;
playing the ball from the no-play zone or in a situation where the no-play zone interferes with the area in which the player intends to take a stance or swing.

Playing the ball from a place outside the teeing ground when commencing play on the hole or attempting to correct that error is not playing from a wrong place (see Rule 6.1b).

Movable Obstruction

An obstacle that can be moved by making a rational effort and without damaging the obstacle or the playing field.If a part of an immovable obstacle or a component object (such as a gate, or a door or a connecting cable) meets the above two standards, that part is treated as a movable obstacle.But this does not apply if the movable part of the immovable obstacle or component object is not to be moved (such as a loose stone that is part of a stone wall).Even when the obstacle is mobile, the Competition Commission can define it as a stationary obstacle.

Teeing Area

The area from which a player must tee off at the start of play on the hole he is playing.The starting point is in the shape of a rectangle with a width of two rod lengths, whereby:

is the front page defined by the line between the outermost points of the two starting markers set by the Competition Committee, and
sides are defined by lines back from the outer points of the origin markers.

The starting point is one of the five defined areas of the playground.All other tees on the course (whether on the same hole or any other hole) are part of the general area.

Lie

The place where the ball came to rest and any growing or attached natural object, immovable obstruction, component object or object marking the boundary of the field of play that touches or is immediately adjacent to the ball.Unfixed objects and moving obstacles are not part of the position of the ball.

Moved

When a ball that has come to rest leaves the place where it came to rest and then comes to rest in another place that can be seen with the naked eye (regardless of whether or not anyone actually saw it happen).This applies regardless of whether the ball has moved up, down or horizontally from its original spot.If the ball just swings (sometimes called oscillating) and stays in or returns to its original spot, the ball has not moved.

Replace

To place the ball by laying it on the ground and releasing it, intending it to be in play.If a player places a ball on the ground without intending it to be in play, the ball is not re-laid and is not in play (see Rule 14.4).When a rule requires the ball to be re-laid, that rule specifies the place where the ball must be placed.

Known or Virtually Certain

The standard by which to decide what happened to the player’s ball – for example, whether the ball came to rest in the penalty area, whether it moved or what caused it to move.Known or almost certain means more than just possible or probable. This means that:

there is compelling evidence that the event in question occurred with the player’s ball, for example when the player or another witness saw it, or
even though there is a very small degree of doubt, all rationally available information indicates that it is at least 95 percent likely that the event in question occurred.

“All reasonably available information” includes all information known to the player and all other information that can be obtained with reasonable efforts and without undue delay.

Equipment Rules

Specifications and other regulations for clubs, balls and other equipment that players may use while playing a round. The equipment rules can be found at RandA.org/EquipmentStandards.

Natural Forces

Effects of nature, such as wind, water or when something happens for no apparent reason due to the effects of gravity.

Temporary Water

Any temporary accumulation of water on the soil surface (such as ponds from rain or irrigation or overflow from a watercourse):

which is not the area of punishment i
which is visible before or after the player takes the stance for the shot (without particularly pressing the ground with the feet).

It is not enough that the ground is merely wet, muddy or soft or that water is immediately visible when the player steps on the ground; water accumulation must remain present either before or after taking a stand.Special cases:

dew and hoarfrost are not temporary water;
snow and natural ice (that is not frost) are either unconsolidated objects or, when on the ground, temporary water, as chosen by the player;
manufactured ice is an obstacle.

Provisional Ball

The other ball to play with in case it happened to be the ball the player just played with:

in the car or
lost outside the punishment area.

A provisional ball is not the player’s ball in play until it becomes a ball in play under Rule 18.3c.

Opponent

The person against whom a player competes in a match. The term opponent is applicable only in match play.

Hole

End point on the green for the hole being played:

the hole must be 108 mm (4 ¼ inches) in diameter and at least 101.6 mm (4 inches) deep;
if hole lining is used, the outer diameter of the hole must not exceed 108 mm (4 ¼ inches). The liner must be recessed at least 25.4 mm (1 inch) below the surface of the green unless the nature of the soil requires it to be closer to the surface.

The word “hole” (when not used as a defined term in italics) in the Rules refers to a part of the playing field with a designated tee, green and hole. Play of a hole begins at the starting point and ends when the ball is in the hole on the green (or when the play of the hole is legally completed in some other way).

Animal hole

Any hole dug in the ground by an animal, except holes dug by animals which are also defined as unfixed objects (such as worms or insects).The term burrows dug by animals includes:

dislodge the material that the animal dug out of the hole,
any imprinted path or path leading to hole i
any surface of the earth raised or altered as a result of the action of a burrowing animal.

Integral Object

A constructed object that the Competition Commission has defined as part of the challenge of playing on that playing field and from which relief is not allowed without penalty.Component objects are treated as immovable (see Rule 8.1a). But if part of a component object (such as a gate or door or part of an attached cable) meets the definition of a movable obstacle, that part is treated as a movable obstacle.Constructed objects defined by the Competition Commission as integral objects are not obstacles or objects that mark the boundary of the playing field.

Advice

Any spoken comment or action (such as indicating which club has just been used to make a stroke) intended to influence a player to:

choice of stick,
making a shot or
deciding how to play the hole or round.

But the advice does not include public information, such as:

position of objects on the course such as hole, green, fairway, penalty area, banker or another player’s ball;
distance from one point to another or
rules.

Scorecard

A document in which the player’s score on each hole in stroke play is recorded.The scorecard can be in any paper or electronic format approved by the Competition Commission and which can include:

enter the pin score achieved on each hole,
enter the player’s handicap if the player is competing in a handicap competition, and
sign both the scorekeeper and the player to certify the results, and the player to certify his handicap in the handicap competition, either by physical signature or electronic certification process approved by the Competition Commission.

The score card is not necessary in match play, but the player can use it to help record the score in the match.

Stance

The position of the player’s feet and body when preparing to perform the shot and during its performance.

Stableford

Stroke format:

in which a player’s or side’s score on a hole is based on points obtained by comparing the number of strokes the player or side has put on the hole (including both strokes taken and penalty strokes) against a fixed target score on the hole, determined by the Competition Committee, and
the player or side that finishes all the rounds with the most points wins the competition.

Side

Two or more partners competing as a unit by playing a round in match play or stroke play.Each set of partners is a side, regardless of whether each partner plays with their own ball (four balls) or partners play with one ball (four).A side is not the same as a team. In a team competition, each team is made up of players who compete as individuals or as sides.

Stroke Play

A form of play in which a player or side competes against all other players or sides in a competition.In the usual form of stroke play (see Rule 3.3):

a player’s or side’s score in a round is equal to the total number of strokes (including strokes taken and any penalty strokes) after putting the ball in the hole on each hole, and
winners are the player or side who finish the game in all rounds with the lowest total number of strokes.

Other forms of stroke play with different scoring procedures are stableford, maximum score play and par/bogey (see Rule 21).All forms of stroke play can be played either in individual competitions (each player competing alone) or in competitions involving sides made up of partners (four-ball or four-ball).

Referee

An official appointed by the Competition Commission who decides on issues of fact and applies the rules.See Competition Committee Procedures, Section 6C (which explains the responsibilities and powers of the referee).

Flagstick

A movable stick provided by the Competition Committee and placed in the hole to show the players where the hole is. A flag includes the flag itself and any other material or object attached to the pole.The requirements to be met by the flags are set out in the Equipment Rules.

Point of Maximum Available Relief

The reference point for taking relief without penalty due to an abnormal condition of the course in a banker (Rule 16.1c) or on the green (Rule 16.1d) when there is no nearest point of full relief.It is the estimated point where the ball would lie, which is:

closest to the ball’s original position, but no closer to the hole than that position;
in the area of the playground where it should be;
at the place where the abnormal condition of the playing field least hinders the player from making the shot that he would have made from the original place if the conditions had allowed it.

assessing this reference point requires the player to decide on the choice of club, stance, swing and line of play he would use for that shot.It is not necessary for the player to simulate that shot by actually taking the stance and swinging the chosen club (but it is recommended that the player usually does so to aid in accurate judgment).The point of maximum available relief is found by comparing the relative amount of interference with the position of the ball and for the area of the player’s intended stance at impact, and for the swing and, on the green only, for the line of play. For example, when taking temporary water relief:

the point of maximum available relief can be at the place where the ball will be in shallower water and the player in deeper water (which means that there is more interference with the stance than the position of the ball and the swing), or at the point where the ball will be in deeper water and the player is in shallower water (which means that there is more interference with the position of the ball and the swing than with the stance);
on the putting green, the point of maximum available relief may be determined based on the line of play so that it is necessary for the ball to pass through either the shallowest or the shortest part of the temporary water.

Committee

A person or group in charge of a competition or playing field.See Competition Committee Procedures, Section 1 (which explains the role of the Competition Committee).

Tee

An object used to support the ball so that it is above the ground at the launch point and played. It must be no longer than 101.6 mm (four inches) and must comply with the equipment rules.

Ground Under Repair

Any part of the playing field that the Competition Committee defines as ground under repair (whether it marks it or defines it in another way). Each defined soil under repair also includes:

all soil within the edges of the defined area i
any grass, shrub, tree or other growing or attached natural object having its root in the defined area, including any part of such objects that extends above the ground beyond the edge of the defined area, but not any part (such as the roots of trees) which is attached to the ground or underground beyond the edge of the defined area.

Ground under repair also includes the following things, even if the Competition Commission does not define them as such:

any hole made by the Competition Committee or groundskeeping staff at:
repairing the course (such as a hole from which a club has been removed or a hole on a double green that is also used to play another hole), or
maintenance of the playground (such as a hole made when removing grass or reeds or laying pipelines, but not including aeration holes);
grass clippings, leaves and any other material piled up for later removal; but:
any natural materials piled up for removal are also unfixed items and
all materials left on the playing field and not intended for removal are not ground under repair, unless the Competition Commission defines them as such;
any animal habitat (such as a bird’s nest) that is so close to the player’s ball that it could be damaged by a player’s stroke or stance, except when the habitat is created by animals defined as unfixed objects (such as worms or insects).

The boundary of the ground in the repair should be defined by stakes, lines or physical properties:

Stakes: When defined with stakes, the boundary of the soil in the repair is defined by the line between the outside points of the stakes at ground level, and the stakes are inside the soil in the repair.
Lines: when defined by a colored line on the ground, the boundary of the ground in repair is the outer edge of the line, and the line is in the area of the ground under repair.
Physical Features: When defined by physical features (such as a flower bed or grass nursery), the Competition Committee must determine how the boundary of the ground in the repair is defined.

When the boundary of the soil under repair is defined by lines or physical properties, stakes may be used to show where the soil under repair is, but the stakes have no other meaning than that.

Three-Ball

A form of match play in which:

each of the three players simultaneously plays a single match against the remaining two players and
each player plays with one ball that he uses in both of his match-plays.

In Play

Status of a player’s ball when lying on the course and used in play on the hole:

ball first achieves status in play on hole:
when the player hits it inside the starting area or
in match play, when a player takes a shot at it outside the starting area and the opponent does not cancel the shot under Rule 6.1b;
that ball remains in play until it is in the hole, unless it is no longer in play:
when she was lifted from the playground,
when she is lost (even if she calmed down on the playground) or calmed down in the car, or
when it is replaced by another ball, even when not permitted by the rules.

A ball out of play is a foul ball.A player may not have more than one ball in play at any one time. (See Rule 6.3d which describes those cases where a player may play with more than one ball at a time on a hole.)When the rules refer to a ball at rest or in motion, it refers to a ball in play.When a ball position marker is placed to indicate where the ball lies in play:

if the ball is not picked up, it is still in play, a
if the ball is picked up and returned to its spot, it is in play even if the ball position marker has not been removed.

Holed

When the ball is at rest in the hole after the shot, and the entire ball is below the surface of the green.When the rules refer to “putting a ball in a hole” or “ending play at a hole by putting in a hole”, it means that the player’s ball is in the hole.For the special case of a ball resting on a flagstick that is in a hole, see Rule 13.2c (the ball is treated as being in the hole if any part of the ball is below the level of the putting green).

Stroke

Moving the club forward to hit the ball.But a shot is not taken if the player:

decides during the downswing not to hit the ball and avoids hitting it by deliberately stopping the clubhead before it reaches the ball, or if he is unable to stop the clubhead and deliberately misses the ball;
accidentally hits the ball while trying to swing or while preparing to take a shot.

When the Rules refer to “playing the ball”, it has the same meaning as the term taking a shot.A player’s score on a hole or round is given as the number of “strokes” or “strokes taken”, including all strokes taken and any penalty strokes (see Rule 3.1c).

Stroke and Distance

Procedure and penalty applicable when a player takes relief under rules 17, 18 or 19 when playing the ball from the spot from which he took the previous stroke (see Rule 14.6).The term stroke and distance means that the player simultaneously:

is penalized with one penalty stroke and
he loses any distance gain from the hole that he gained from where he took his previous shot.

Embedded

When the player’s ball is in its own imprint that it made when it fell to the ground after the player’s previous stroke and when part of the ball is below ground level.The ball does not necessarily have to touch the ground to be considered buried (for example, grass and loose objects may be between the ball and the ground).

Conditions Affecting the Stroke

The position of the player’s rested ball, the intended stance area, the intended swing area, the line of play and the relief area in which the player will drop or lay the ball.

“Area of Intended Stance” includes the place where the player will place his feet, as well as the entire area that could reasonably affect how and where the player’s body is positioned in preparation for the intended shot and in its execution.
“Intended Swing Area” includes the entire area that could reasonably be expected to affect any part of the swing, downswing, or swing execution of the intended stroke
The terms “position”, “line of play” and “relief area” are each defined separately in these definitions.

Substitute

Change the ball a player uses in play on a hole so that the other ball becomes the ball in play.A player has made a substitution with another ball when he puts that ball into play in any way (see Rule 14.4) instead of his original ball, whether the original ball:

in game or
that it is no longer in the game because it was picked up from the playground or it was lost or it was in the car.

The substituted ball is the player’s ball in play, even if:

if it is returned to its place, dropped or placed in the wrong way or in the wrong place, or
if the rules require the player to put the original ball into play instead of replacing it with another ball.

Marker

In stroke play, the person responsible for entering a player’s scores on his scorecard and for certifying that scorecard. The scorer can be another player, but not a partner.The competition committee can assign a scorer to a player or instruct players on how to choose a scorer.

Obstruction

Every built object, except for component objects and objects that mark the boundary of the playing field.Examples of obstacles:

roads and paths covered with prepared material, including the ends of the covering material;
buildings and shelters from the rain;
sprinklers, drains and irrigation or control boxes;
stakes, walls, partitions and fences (but not when they represent objects that mark the boundary of the playing field, that define or show the boundary edge of the playing field);
golf carts, lawn mowers, cars and other vehicles;
waste containers, road signs and benches;
player equipment, flag sticks and rakes.

An obstacle is either a moving obstacle or a stationary obstacle. If a part of an immovable obstacle (such as a gate or door or part of a connecting cable) meets the definition of a movable obstacle, that part is treated as a movable obstacle.See Competition Committee Procedures, Section 8; Model Local Rule F-23 (The Competition Commission may adopt a local rule defining certain obstacles as temporarily immovable obstacles for which special relief procedures apply).

No Play Zone

Part of the playing field where the Competition Commission has banned play. The no-play zone must be defined either as an area of abnormal condition of the playing field or as a penalty area.The competition committee may use no-play zones for any reason to:

protection of wild animals, animal habitats and ecologically sensitive areas;
preventing damage to young trees, flower beds, grass nurseries, grassy areas or other areas with seedlings;
protect the player from danger and
preservation of locations of historical or cultural importance.

The competition committee should define the boundary of the no-play zone with a line or stakes, and the line or stakes (or the tops of those stakes) should define the no-play zone so that it is distinguished from the true area of the abnormal condition of the playing field or from the penalty area that does not contain the no-play zone.

Animal

Any living member of the animal kingdom (other than humans), including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates (such as worms, insects, spiders, and crustaceans).

Regulations

There are other factors in golf

Various factors affecting the game and tournaments are governed by rules, which you can familiarize yourself with through our rules.