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Rules and Decisions

The USGA, in conjunction with The R&A in St. Andrews, Scotland, writes, interprets and maintains the Rules of Golf to guard the tradition and integrity of the game. The two organizations are joint authors and owners of The Rules of Golf and Decisions on the Rules of Golf. Through an agreement with The R&A, the Rules jurisdiction of the USGA includes only the United States, its possessions and Mexico. The latest version went into effect Jan. 1, 2008, with the next revision taking effect Jan. 1, 2012.

Additional Rules Notifications

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Browse the Rules

Section I

Etiquette

Section II

Definitions

Section III

The Game

Rule 1

The Game

Rule 2

Match Play

Rule 3

Stroke Play

Clubs and the Ball

Rule 4

Clubs

Rule 5

The Ball

Player's Responsibilities

Rule 6

The Player

Rule 7

Practice

Rule 8

Advice; Indicating Line of Play

Rule 9

Information as to Strokes Taken

Order of Play

Rule 10

Order of Play

Teeing Ground

Rule 11

Teeing Ground

Playing the Ball

Rule 12

Searching for and Identifying Ball

Rule 13

Ball Played as It Lies

Rule 14

Striking the Ball

Rule 15

Substituted Ball; Wrong Ball

The Putting Green

Rule 16

The Putting Green

Rule 17

The Flagstick

Ball Moved, Deflected or Stopped

Rule 18

Ball at Rest Moved

Rule 19

Ball in Motion Deflected or Stopped

Relief Situations and Procedure

Rule 20

Lifting, Dropping and Placing; Playing from Wrong Place

Rule 21

Cleaning Ball

Rule 22

Ball Assisting or Interfering with Play

Rule 23

Loose Impediments

Rule 24

Obstructions

Rule 25

Abnormal Ground Conditions, Embedded Ball and Wrong Putting Green

Rule 26

Water Hazards (Including Lateral Water Hazards)

Rule 27

Ball Lost or Out of Bounds; Provisional Ball

Rule 28

Ball Unplayable

Other Forms of Play

Rule 29

Threesomes and Foursomes

Rule 30

Three-Ball, Best-Ball and Four-Ball Match Play

Rule 31

Four-Ball Stroke Play

Rule 32

Bogey, Par and Stableford Competitions

Administration

Rule 33

The Committee

Rule 34

Disputes and Decisions

Appendices

Appendix I

Local Rules; Conditions of the Competition

Appendix II

Design of Clubs

Appendix III

The Ball

Rules of Amateur Status

Policy on Gambling

Miscellaneous Decisions

Decisions Applicalble Only In The USGA's Rules Jurisdiction

Rule 6. The Player
Definitions
All defined terms are in italics and are listed alphabetically in the Definitions section.

6-1. Rules
The player and his caddie are responsible for knowing the Rules. During a stipulated round, for any breach of a Rule by his caddie, the player incurs the applicable penalty.

6-2. Handicap
a. Match Play

Before starting a match in a handicap competition, the players should determine from one another their respective handicaps. If a player begins a match having declared a handicap higher than that to which he is entitled and this affects the number of strokes given or received, he is disqualified; otherwise, the player must play off the declared handicap.

b. Stroke Play

In any round of a handicap competition, the competitor must ensure that his handicap is recorded on his score card before it is returned to the Committee. If no handicap is recorded on his score card before it is returned (Rule 6-6b), or if the recorded handicap is higher than that to which he is entitled and this affects the number of strokes received, he is disqualified from the handicap competition; otherwise, the score stands.

Note: It is the player's responsibility to know the holes at which handicap strokes are to be given or received.

6-3. Time of Starting and Groups
a. Time of Starting

The player must start at the time established by the Committee.

b. Groups

In stroke play, the competitor must remain throughout the round in the group arranged by the Committee, unless the Committee authorizes or ratifies a change.

Penalty for Breach of Rule 6-3: Disqualification.

(Best-ball and four-ball play - see Rules 30-3a and 31-2.)

Note: The Committee may provide, in the conditions of a competition (Rule 33-1), that if the player arrives at his starting point, ready to play, within five minutes after his starting time, in the absence of circumstances that warrant waiving the penalty of disqualification as provided in Rule 33-7, the penalty for failure to start on time is loss of the first hole in match play or two strokes at the first hole in stroke play instead of disqualification.

6-4. Caddie
The player may be assisted by a caddie, but he is limited to only one caddie at any one time.

Penalty for Breach of Rule 6-4:
Match play - At the conclusion of the hole at which the breach is discovered, the state of the match is adjusted by deducting one hole for each hole at which a breach occurred; maximum deduction per round - Two holes.
Stroke play - Two strokes for each hole at which any breach occurred; maximum penalty per round - Four strokes.
Match or stroke play - In the event of a breach between the play of two holes, the penalty applies to the next hole.A player having more than one caddie in breach of this Rule must immediately upon the discovery that a breach has occurred ensure that he has no more than one caddie at any one time during the remainder of the stipulated round. Otherwise, the player is disqualified.
Bogey and par competitions - See Note 1 to Rule 32-1a.
Stableford competitions - See Note 1 to Rule 32-1b.

Note: The Committee may, in the conditions of a competition (Rule 33-1), prohibit the use of caddies or restrict a player in his choice of caddie.

6-5. Ball
The responsibility for playing the proper ball rests with the player. Each player should put an identification mark on his ball.

6-6. Scoring in Stroke Play
a. Recording Scores

After each hole the marker should check the score with the competitor and record it. On completion of the round, the marker must sign the score card and hand it to the competitor. If more than one marker records the scores, each must sign for the part for which he is responsible.

b. Signing and Returning Score CardAfter completion of the round, the competitor should check his score for each hole and settle any doubtful points with the Committee. He must ensure that the marker or markers have signed the score card, sign the score card himself and return it to the Committee as soon as possible.

Penalty for Breach of Rule 6-6b: Disqualification.

c. Alteration of Score CardNo alteration may be made on a score card after the competitor has returned it to the Committee.

d. Wrong Score for HoleThe competitor is responsible for the correctness of the score recorded for each hole on his score card. If he returns a score for any hole lower than actually taken, he is disqualified. If he returns a score for any hole higher than actually taken, the score as returned stands.

Note 1: The Committee is responsible for the addition of scores and application of the handicap recorded on the score card - see Rule 33-5.

Note 2: In four-ball stroke play, see also Rules 31-3 and 31-7a.

6-7. Undue Delay; Slow Play
The player must play without undue delay and in accordance with any pace of play guidelines that the Committee may establish. Between completion of a hole and playing from the next teeing ground, the player must not unduly delay play.

Penalty for Breach of Rule 6-7:
Match play - Loss of hole; Stroke play - Two strokes.
Bogey and par competitions - See Note 2 to Rule 32-1a.
Stableford competitions - See Note 2 to Rule 32-1b.
For subsequent offense - Disqualification.

Note 1: If the player unduly delays play between holes, he is delaying the play of the next hole and, except for bogey, par and Stableford competitions (see Rule 32), the penalty applies to that hole.

Note 2: For the purpose of preventing slow play, the Committee may, in the conditions of a competition (Rule 33-1), establish pace of play guidelines including maximum periods of time allowed to complete a stipulated round, a hole or a stroke.

In stroke play only, the Committee may, in such a condition, modify the penalty for a breach of this Rule as follows:
First offense - One stroke; Second offense - Two strokes.
For subsequent offense - Disqualification.

6-8. Discontinuance of Play; Resumption of Play
a. When Permitted

The player must not discontinue play unless:

(i) the Committee has suspended play;
(ii) he believes there is danger from lightning;
(iii) he is seeking a decision from the Committee on a doubtful or disputed point (see Rules 2-5 and 34-3); or
(iv) there is some other good reason such as sudden illness.

Bad weather is not of itself a good reason for discontinuing play.

If the player discontinues play without specific permission from the Committee, he must report to the Committee as soon as practicable. If he does so and the Committee considers his reason satisfactory, there is no penalty. Otherwise, the player is disqualified.

Exception in match play: Players discontinuing match play by agreement are not subject to disqualification, unless by so doing the competition is delayed.

Note: Leaving the course does not of itself constitute discontinuance of play.

b. Procedure When Play Suspended by Committee

When play is suspended by the Committee, if the players in a match or group are between the play of two holes, they must not resume play until the Committee has ordered a resumption of play. If they have started play of a hole, they may discontinue play immediately or continue play of the hole, provided they do so without delay. If the players choose to continue play of the hole, they are permitted to discontinue play before completing it. In any case, play must be discontinued after the hole is completed.

The players must resume play when the Committee has ordered a resumption of play.

PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE 6-8b: Disqualification.

Note: The Committee may provide, in the conditions of a competition (Rule 33-1), that in potentially dangerous situations play must be discontinued immediately following a suspension of play by the Committee. If a player fails to discontinue play immediately, he is disqualified, unless circumstances warrant waiving the penalty as provided in Rule 33-7.

c. Lifting Ball When Play Discontinued

When a player discontinues play of a hole under Rule 6-8a, he may lift his ball, without penalty, only if the Committee has suspended play or there is a good reason to lift it. Before lifting the ball the player must mark its position. If the player discontinues play and lifts his ball without specific permission from the Committee, he must, when reporting to the Committee (Rule 6-8a), report the lifting of the ball.

If the player lifts the ball without a good reason to do so, fails to mark the position of the ball before lifting it or fails to report the lifting of the ball, he incurs a penalty of one stroke.

d. Procedure When Play Resumed

Play must be resumed from where it was discontinued, even if resumption occurs on a subsequent day. The player must, either before or when play is resumed, proceed as follows:

(i) if the player has lifted the ball, he must, provided he was entitled to lift it under Rule 6-8c, place the original ball or a substituted ball on the spot from which the original ball was lifted. Otherwise, the original ball must be replaced;
(ii) if the player has not lifted his ball, he may, provided he was entitled to lift it under Rule 6-8c, lift, clean and replace the ball, or substitute a ball, on the spot from which the original ball was lifted. Before lifting the ball he must mark its position; or
(iii) if the player's ball or ball-marker is moved (including by wind or water) while play is discontinued, a ball or ball-marker must be placed on the spot from which the original ball or ball-marker was moved.

Note: If the spot where the ball is to be placed is impossible to determine, it must be estimated and the ball placed on the estimated spot. The provisions of Rule 20-3c do not apply.

*PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE 6-8d:
Match play - Loss of hole;Stroke play - Two strokes.
*If a player incurs the general penalty for a breach of Rule 6-8d, there is no additional penalty under Rule 6-8c.

Rules

6-1 Rules
6-2 Handicap
6-3 Time of Starting and Groups
6-4 Caddie
6-5 Ball
6-6 Scoring in Stroke Play
6-7 Undue Delay; Slow Play
6-8 Discontinuance of Play; Resumption of Play

Decisions

6-1/1 Wrong Form of Play Used in Match-Play Event
6-2a/1 Failure to Determine Handicaps Prior to Start of Match
6-2a/2 Handicap Stroke Given at Incorrect Hole in Error
6-2a/3 Handicap Stroke Wrongly Claimed at Hole; Error Discovered Before Hole Completed
6-2a/4 Handicap Stroke Claimed After Hole Conceded
6-2a/5 Wrong Handicap Used in Match by Mistake; Error Discovered After Result Officially Announced
6-2a/6 Wrong Handicap Allowance Used in Match
6-2b/0.5 Meaning of Handicap When Full Handicap Not Used
6-2b/1 Wrong Handicap Used in Stroke Play by Mistake; Error Discovered After Competition Closed
6-2b/2 Wrong Handicap Knowingly Used in Stroke Play; Error Discovered After Competition Closed
6-2b/2.5 Competitor Records Incorrect Handicap for Partner in Foursome Stroke-Play Competition; Error Discovered After Competition Closed
6-2b/3 Competitor Wins Competition with Handicap Which Was Incorrect Due to Committee Error; Error Discovered Several Days Later
6-2b/3.5 Wrong Handicap Recorded on Score Card by Committee; Error Discovered Before Competition Closed
6-2b/4 Competitors in Foursome Competition Fail to Record Individual Handicaps on Score Card
6-2b/5 Competition in Which Best Two of Four Scores Used to Determine Winner; Competitor Returns Score Card with Higher Handicap
6-3a/1 Postponement of Final Match Due to Injury of Player
6-3a/1.5 Circumstances Which Warrant Waiving of Disqualification Penalty Under Rule 6-3a
6-3a/2 Time of Starting; All Competitors Must Be Present
6-3a/2.5 Meaning of Time of Starting
6-3a/3 Time of Starting; Both Players in Match are Late
6-3a/4 Time of Starting; Player is Late but Group Unable to Play Due to Delay
6-4/1 Meaning of Specific Directions in Definition of Caddie
6-4/2 Reserved
6-4/2.5 Status of Individual Who Transports Player's Clubs on Motorized Golf Cart or Trolley
6-4/3 Player Whose Clubs Are Transported on Motorized Golf Cart Hires Individual to Perform All Other Functions of a Caddie
6-4/4 Caddie Hires Boy to Carry All of Player's Clubs Except Putter
6-4/4.5 Another Caddie or Friend Carries Clubs While Player's Caddie Returns to Tee with Player's Glove
6-4/5 Umbrella Carrier Employed in Addition to Caddie
6-4/5.3 Status of Additional Persons and Items Carried by Such Persons for Player
6-4/5.5 Application of Penalty When Player Has Multiple Caddies
6-4/6 Status of Carts Pulled by Double Caddie
6-4/7 Changing Caddies During Round
6-4/8 Player in Competition Caddies for Another Player in Same Event
6-4/9 Competitor Withdraws During Round and Carries Fellow-Competitor's Clubs for Remainder of Round
6-4/10 Acts Which Caddie May Perform
6-6a/1 Lone Competitor Appoints Own Marker
6-6a/2 Competitor Plays Several Holes Without Marker
6-6a/3 Hole Scores Entered in Wrong Boxes; Marker Corrects Error by Altering Hole Numbers on Card
6-6a/4 Marker Refuses to Sign Competitor's Card After Dispute Resolved in Favor of Competitor
6-6a/5 Marker Attests Wrong Score Knowingly But Competitor Unaware Score Wrong
6-6a/6 Requirement That Alteration on Score Card Be Initialed
6-6a/7 Different Score Card Returned
6-6b/1 Competitor and Marker Sign Score Card in Wrong Places
6-6b/2 Competitor Records Initials in Space Reserved for Signature
6-6b/3 Competitor Fails to Sign First-Round Card; Error Discovered on Completion of Last Round
6-6b/4 Score Cards Not Returned Promptly Due to Committee Failure to Advise Competitors Where to Return Cards
6-6b/5 Marker Not Appointed by Committee Signs Cards
6-6b/6 Marker Disappears with Competitor's Score Card
6-6b/7 Score Corrected by Competitor After Marker Leaves Area in Which Card Returned
6-6b/8 Requirement That Score Be Entered into Computer
6-6c/1 When Score Card Considered Returned
6-6d/1 No Score Entered for One Hole But Total Correct
6-6d/2 Total Score Recorded by Competitor Incorrect
6-6d/3 Hole Scores for First Nine Holes Recorded in Boxes for Second Nine and Vice Versa
6-6d/4 Competitor's Scores Recorded on Score Card with Fellow-Competitor's Name and Vice Versa
6-6d/5 Spectators Allege Competitor's Score Incorrect
6-7/1 Player Returns to Tee to Retrieve Forgotten Club
6-7/2 Searching Ten Minutes for Lost Ball
6-8a/1 Watching Television for 45 Minutes After Nine Holes
6-8a/2 Taking Shelter While Waiting to Play
6-8a/2.5 Discontinuing Play for Refreshment
6-8a/2.7 Entering Clubhouse or Half-Way House for Refreshment During Round
6-8a/3 Discontinuing Play Due to Physical Problem
6-8a/4 Discontinuing Play Due to Inoperable Motorized Cart
6-8a/5 Match Discontinued by Agreement Due to Rain; One Player Subsequently Wishes to Resume; Opponent Refuses Although Course Playable
6-8a/6 Match Discontinued by Agreement Due to Rain; One Player Subsequently Wishes to Resume; Opponent Refuses on Ground Course Unplayable
6-8b/1 Competitors Playing Hole When Play Suspended Discontinue Play Immediately But Then Complete Hole Before Committee Orders Resumption of Play
6-8b/2 Options If Play Suspended After One Competitor in Group Has Played from Tee
6-8b/3 Completion of Hole by One Competitor in Group After Play Suspended During Play of Hole
6-8b/3.5 Player Plays Out of Turn in Match Play After Play Suspended by Committee and After Opponent Discontinues Play
6-8b/4 Player Unable to Resume Suspended Match at Scheduled Time
6-8b/5 Player Claiming Danger from Lightning Refuses to Resume Play When Resumption Ordered by Committee
6-8b/6 Play Suspended by Committee; Competitor Does Not Resume Play at Time Ordered by Committee
6-8b/7 Condition Requiring Immediate Discontinuance of Play; Guidelines for Waiving or Modifying Disqualification Penalty for Failure to Discontinue Play Immediately
6-8b/8 Player Drops Ball After Play Suspended for Dangerous Situation
6-8b/9 Resumption of Play; When Players Must Be Present
6-8c/1 Explanation of Good Reason to Lift
6-8d/1 Resuming Play from Where It Was Discontinued; Lie Altered by Natural Causes
6-8d/2 Lie in Bunker Altered Prior to Resumption of Play
6-8d/3 Player Who Drops Ball Immediately After Committee Has Ordered Resumption of Play Subsequently Lifts Ball Under Rule 6-8d(ii)
6-8d/4 Ball Visible from Tee Disappears While Play Suspended
6-8d/5 Ball in Bad Lie in Rough Moved By Outside Agency During Suspension of Play; Player Fails to Estimate Position Sufficiently