Rules and Decisions

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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, 2012, with the next revision taking effect Jan. 1, 2016.

 

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2012-2013 Rules of Golf PDF
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Rule 1. The Game
Definitions
All defined terms are in italics and are listed alphabetically in the Definitions section.
1-1. General
The Game of Golf consists of playing a ball with a club from the teeing ground into the hole by a stroke or successive strokes in accordance with the Rules.
1-2. Exerting Influence on Ball
A player or caddie must not take any action to influence the position or the movement of a ball except in accordance with the Rules.
(Removal of loose impediment — see Rule 23-1.)
(Removal of movable obstruction — see Rule 24-1.)

*Penalty for Breach of Rule 1-2: Match play — Loss of hole; Stroke play — Two strokes.
*In the case of a serious breach of Rule 1-2, the Committee may impose a penalty of disqualification.

Note: A player is deemed to have committed a serious breach of Rule 1-2 if the Committee considers that his act of influencing the position or movement of the ball has allowed him or another player to gain a significant advantage or has placed another player, other than his partner, at a significant disadvantage.
1-3. Agreement to Waive Rules
Players must not agree to exclude the operation of any Rule or to waive any penalty incurred.

Penalty for Breach of Rule 1-3: Match play — Disqualification of both sides; Stroke play — Disqualification of competitors concerned.
(Agreeing to play out of turn in stroke play — see Rule 10-2c.)
1-4. Points Not Covered by Rules
If any point in dispute is not covered by the Rules, the decision should be made in accordance with equity.

Rules

1-1 General
1-2 Exerting Influence on Ball
1-3 Agreement to Waive Rules
1-4 Points Not Covered by Rules

Decisions

1-1/1 Two Balls in Play Simultaneously at Different Holes
1-1/2 Player Unaware He has Holed Out Puts Another Ball into Play
1-1/3 Player Discovers Original Ball in Hole after Searching Five Minutes And then Continuing Play with Provisional Ball
1-1/4 Player Discovers Own Ball Is in Hole After Playing Wrong Ball
1-2/0.5 Serious Breach of Rule 1-2
1-2/0.7 Meaning of "Sole Purpose of Caring for the Course"
1-2/1 Line of Putt Altered Purposely by Opponent or Fellow-Competitor by Stepping on It
1-2/1.5 Competitor Alters Line of Play of Fellow-Competitor
1-2/2 Shielding Line of Putt from Wind
1-2/3 Breaking Bush in Area into Which Ball May Roll After Drop
1-2/3.5 Player Repairs Hole After Holing Out But Before Opponent, Fellow-Competitor or Partner Holes Out
1-2/4 Player Jumps Close to Hole to Cause Ball to Fall into Hole
1-2/5 Player Putts with One Hand and Catches Ball in Hole with Other Hand
1-2/5.5 Player Purposely Stops or Deflects Ball; Where Next Stroke Must Be Played from
  
1-2/7 Player Purposely Deflects Partner's Ball in Motion on Putting Green
1-2/8 Player Presses Down Turf as Ball Is Rolling Towards Area
1-2/9 Player Presses Ball into Surface of Putting Green
1-2/10 Player Wraps Towel Around Self or Places Towel on Cactus Before Taking Stance
1-3/0.5 When Breach of Rule 1-3 Occurs
  
1-3/2 Agreement to Concede Short Putts
1-3/3 Player and Opponent or Fellow-Competitor Agree to Repair Spike Marks on One Another's Line of Putt
1-3/4 Failure of Players to Apply Known Penalty
1-3/5 Players Unaware Penalty Incurred
1-3/6 Marker Attests Wrong Score Knowingly and Competitor Aware Score Wrong
1-3/7 Agreement That Side Losing After 18 Holes of 36-Hole Match Will Concede Match
1-4/1 Player Distracted by Ball Dropped by Another Player Mis-Hits Ball
1-4/2 Ball Adhering to Face of Club After Stroke
1-4/3 Flagstick Stuck into Green Some Distance from Hole by Practical Joker
1-4/4 In Anger Player Strikes Ball Played by Player in Following Group
1-4/5 Removal of Obstruction in Hazard Would Move Loose Impediment
  
1-4/7 Ball Lost in Either Water Hazard or Casual Water Overflowing Hazard
1-4/8 Nearest Point of Relief from Cart Path Is in Casual Water; Nearest Point of Relief from Casual Water Is Back on Cart Path
1-4/8.5 Nearest Point of Relief from Cart Path Is in Casual Water, Nearest Point of Relief from Casual Water Is Back on Cart Path; Impracticable for Player to Drop Ball Into Area of Casual Water
1-4/9 Bird's Nest Interfering with Stroke
1-4/10 Dangerous Situation; Rattlesnake or Bees Interfere with Play
1-4/11 Meaning of "Dangerous Situation"
1-4/12 Player Breaches Rules More Than Once; Whether Multiple Penalties Should Be Applied
1-4/13 Player Advised of Breach of Rule; Player Breaches Same Rule Prior to Stroke
1-4/14 Player Breaches Same Rule Before and After Stroke
1-4/15 Player Breaches Two Rules with Different Penalties; More Severe Penalty Applied