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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 7. Practice
Definitions
All defined terms are in italics and are listed alphabetically in the Definitions section.
7-1. Before or Between Rounds
a. Match PlayOn any day of a match-play competition, a player may practice on the competition course before a round.
b. Stroke PlayBefore a round or play-off on any day of a stroke-play competition, a competitor must not practice on the competition course or test the surface of any putting green on the course by rolling a ball or roughening or scraping the surface. When two or more rounds of a stroke-play competition are to be played over consecutive days, a competitor must not practice between those rounds on any competition course remaining to be played, or test the surface of any putting green on such course by rolling a ball or roughening or scraping the surface.
Exception: Practice putting or chipping on or near the first teeing ground before starting a round or play-off is permitted.

Penalty for Breach of Rule 7-1b: Disqualification.
Note: The Committee may, in the conditions of a competition (Rule 33-1), prohibit practice on the competition course on any day of a match-play competition or permit practice on the competition course or part of the course (Rule 33-2c) on any day of or between rounds of a stroke-play competition.
7-2. During Round
A player must not make a practice stroke during play of a hole.

Between the play of two holes, a player must not make a practice stroke, except that he may practice putting or chipping on or near:
(a) the putting green of the hole last played,
(b) any practice putting green, or
(c) the teeing ground of the next hole to be played in the round,provided a practice stroke is not made from a hazard and does not unduly delay play (Rule 6-7).
Strokes made in continuing the play of a hole, the result of which has been decided, are not practice strokes.
Exception: When play has been suspended by the Committee, a player may, prior to resumption of play, practice (a) as provided in this Rule, (b) anywhere other than on the competition course and (c) as otherwise permitted by the Committee.
Penalty for Breach of Rule 7-2:
Match play - Loss of hole; Stroke play - Two strokes. In the event of a breach between the play of two holes, the penalty applies to the next hole.

Note 1: A practice swing is not a practice stroke and may be taken at any place, provided the player does not breach the Rules.

Note 2: The Committee may, in the conditions of a competition (Rule 33-1), prohibit:

(a) practice on or near the putting green of the hole last played, and
(b) rolling a ball on the putting green of the hole last played.

Rules

7-1 Before or Between Rounds
7-2 During Round

Decisions

7-1b/1 One Practice Stroke Played on Course Before Stroke-Play Round
7-1b/2 Waiving Penalty for Practice on Course
7-1b/3 Competitor Who Practices on Competition Course After Qualifying Round Subsequently Is in Play-Off on Same Day
7-1b/4 Stroke Play Over 36 Holes on Two Courses; Player Completes First Round, Practices on Same Course and Is Later in Play-Off on That Course
7-1b/5 Competitor's Caddie Practices on or Tests Putting Green Surfaces of the Course Before Stroke-Play Round
7-1b/6 Stroke Play Over 54 Holes on Consecutive Days; Second Round Canceled and Competitor Practices on Course Following Cancelation
7-1b/7 Competitor Practices Putting on 3rd Green After Finishing Hole During First Round of 36-Hole Stroke-Play Competition
7-2/1 When Practice Between Holes Permitted
7-2/1.5 Continuing Play of Hole in Match Play After Result of Hole Decided
7-2/1.7 Explanation of Strokes Played in Continuing the Play of a Hole
7-2/2 Putting on Fairway While Waiting to Play to Green
7-2/3 Player Practices Putting Off Green While Waiting to Putt
7-2/4 Hitting Plastic Ball Before Playing Ball in Play
7-2/5 Hitting Practice Range Ball Back to Range
7-2/5.5 Player Finds Ball and Hits It to Player Who Lost It
7-2/6 Reserved
7-2/7 Practice Swing Dislodges Concealed Ball
7-2/8 Competitor Practices Putting on 18th Green Immediately After Finishing First Round of Stroke-Play Competition Played Over Consecutive Days
7-2/9 Competitor Practices Putting on 3rd Green of 9-Hole Course During 18-Hole Stroke-Play Competition
7-2/10 Match Discontinued by Agreement Cannot Be Resumed Until Three Days Later; One Player Wishes to Play on Competition Course Prior to Resumption
7-2/11 Match Discontinued by Agreement on 13th Tee Cannot Be Resumed Until Following Day; May Players Play First 12 Holes Prior to Resuming Match
7-2/12 Play Suspended by Committee; Player Wishes to Practice After Resumption