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Rules and Decisions

Prestented by ROLEX

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 Applicable Only In The USGA's Rules Jurisdiction

Rule 28. Ball Unplayable
Definitions

All defined terms are in italics and are listed alphabetically in the Definitions section.

The player may deem his ball unplayable at any place on the course, except when the ball is in a water hazard. The player is the sole judge as to whether his ball is unplayable.

If the player deems his ball to be unplayable, he must, under penalty of one stroke:

a. Play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5); or

b. Drop a ball behind the point where the ball lay, keeping that point directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind that point the ball may be dropped; or

c. Drop a ball within two club-lengths of the spot where the ball lay, but not nearer the hole.

If the unplayable ball is in a bunker, the player may proceed under Clause a, b or c. If he elects to proceed under Clause b or c, a ball must be dropped in the bunker.

When proceeding under this Rule, the player may lift and clean his ball or substitute a ball.

Penalty for Breach of Rule:
Match play - Loss of hole; Stroke play - Two strokes.

Rules

28 Ball Unplayable

Decisions

28/1When Necessary to Find and Identify Ball Deemed Unplayable
28/2Player Deems First Ball from Tee Unplayable, Abandons Provisional Ball and Claims He Is Lying Three with Third Ball
28/3Ball Dropped Under Unplayable Ball Rule Comes to Rest in Original Position or Another Position at Which Ball Is Unplayable
28/4Ball Deemed Unplayable Through the Green Dropped in Hazard
28/4.5Ball Deemed Unplayable Through the Green Dropped in Water Hazard; Player Elects Not to Play Ball and Wishes to Proceed Under the Water Hazard Rule
28/5Regression Under Unplayable Ball Rule
28/6Player Plays Second Shot, Deems Ball Unplayable and Returns to Tee
28/6.5Player Deems Ball Unplayable a Second Time and Wishes to Proceed Under Stroke and Distance After Dropping a Ball Under Other Unplayable Option
28/7Player Misses Ball and Deems It Unplayable
28/8Ball Deemed Unplayable; Place from Which Previous Stroke Played Is Nearer Hole
28/9Ball Lying on Grass-Covered Ground Within Bunker Deemed Unplayable
28/10Ball Dropped Outside Bunker Under Option Requiring Drop in Bunker
28/11Ball Unplayable in Tree and Player Opts to Drop Within Two Club-Lengths
28/12Ball Unplayable at Base of Cliff and Player Wishes to Drop Within Two Club-Lengths of Point Above Ball
28/13After Deeming Ball Unplayable and Lifting It, Player Discovers Ball Was in Ground Under Repair
28/14Stray Ball Deemed Unplayable Played Under Stroke-and-Distance Procedure; Original Ball Then Found
28/15Stray Ball Deemed Unplayable, Dropped Within Two Club-Lengths and Played Before Error Discovered