5.1 Meaning of Round
A “roundRound: 18 or fewer holes played in the order set by the Committee. ” is 18 or fewer holes played in the order set by the CommitteeCommittee: The person or group in charge of the competition or the course..
Purpose of Rule: Rule 5 covers how to play a round – such as where and when you may practise on the course before or during your round, when your round starts and ends and what happens when play has to stop or resume. You are expected to:
Start each round on time, and
Play continuously and at a prompt pace during each hole until your round is completed.
When it is your turn to play, it is recommended that you make the stroke in no more than 40 seconds, and usually more quickly than that.
A “roundRound: 18 or fewer holes played in the order set by the Committee. ” is 18 or fewer holes played in the order set by the CommitteeCommittee: The person or group in charge of the competition or the course..
“Practising on the course” means playing a ball from anywhere or testing the surface of the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole you are playing that is specially prepared for putting, or the Committee has defined as the putting green (such as when a temporary green is used). of any hole by rolling a ball or rubbing the surface.
You may practise on the courseCourse: The entire area of play within the edge of any boundaries set by the Committee. The boundary edge extends both up above the ground and down below the ground. before a roundRound: 18 or fewer holes played in the order set by the Committee. or between roundsRound: 18 or fewer holes played in the order set by the Committee. of a match-playMatch Play: A form of play where you or your side plays directly against an opponent or opposing side in a head-to-head match of one or more rounds. competition.
On the day of a stroke-playStroke Play: A form of play where you or your side competes against all other players or sides in the competition. competition:
You must not practise on the courseCourse: The entire area of play within the edge of any boundaries set by the Committee. The boundary edge extends both up above the ground and down below the ground. before a roundRound: 18 or fewer holes played in the order set by the Committee., except that you may practise putting or chipping on or near your first teeing areaTeeing Area: The area you must play from in starting the hole you are playing. The teeing area is a rectangle that is two club-lengths deep where: and practise on any practice area.
You may practise on the courseCourse: The entire area of play within the edge of any boundaries set by the Committee. The boundary edge extends both up above the ground and down below the ground. after completing play of your final roundRound: 18 or fewer holes played in the order set by the Committee. for that day.
Penalty for Breach of Rule 5.2:
Penalty for first breach: General PenaltyGeneral Penalty: Loss of hole in match play or two penalty strokes in stroke play. (applied to your first hole).
Penalty for second breach: Disqualification.
You must start at (and not before or after) your starting time.
Penalty for Breach of Rule 5.3a: Disqualification, except in these three cases:
Exception 1 – You Arrive at Starting Point, Ready to Play, No More Than Five Minutes Late: The general penaltyGeneral Penalty: Loss of hole in match play or two penalty strokes in stroke play. is applied to your first hole.
Exception 2 – You Start No More Than Five Minutes Early: The general penaltyGeneral Penalty: Loss of hole in match play or two penalty strokes in stroke play. is applied to your first hole.
Exception 3 – Committee Decides that Exceptional Circumstances Prevented You from Starting on Time: There is no breach of this Rule and no penalty.
You must play each hole with your opponentOpponent: The person you compete against in a match. The term opponent applies only in match play. in match playMatch Play: A form of play where you or your side plays directly against an opponent or opposing side in a head-to-head match of one or more rounds. or in the same group as set by the CommitteeCommittee: The person or group in charge of the competition or the course. in stroke playStroke Play: A form of play where you or your side competes against all other players or sides in the competition..
Penalty for Breach of Rule 5.4: Disqualification.
While playing a hole and between two holes, you must not make a practice strokeStroke: The forward movement of your club made to strike the ball..
Exception – Between holes you may practise putting or chipping on or near the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole you are playing that is specially prepared for putting, or the Committee has defined as the putting green (such as when a temporary green is used). of the hole you just completed and any practice green, and the teeing areaTeeing Area: The area you must play from in starting the hole you are playing. The teeing area is a rectangle that is two club-lengths deep where: of your next hole. But such practice strokesStroke: The forward movement of your club made to strike the ball. must not be made from a bunkerBunker: A specially prepared area of sand, which is often a hollow from which turf or soil has been removed. These are not part of a bunker: and must not unreasonably delay play.
Penalty for Breach of Rule 5.5: General PenaltyGeneral Penalty: Loss of hole in match play or two penalty strokes in stroke play.. If the breach happens between two holes, the penalty applies to your next hole.
You must not unreasonably delay play, either when playing a hole or between two holes.
Penalty for Breach of Rule 5.6a:
Penalty for first breach: One penalty stroke.
Penalty for second breach: General PenaltyGeneral Penalty: Loss of hole in match play or two penalty strokes in stroke play..
Penalty for third breach: Disqualification.
If you unreasonably delay play between two holes, the penalty applies to the next hole.
A roundRound: 18 or fewer holes played in the order set by the Committee. of golf is meant to be played at a prompt pace.
Your pace of play is likely to affect how long it will take other players to play their roundsRound: 18 or fewer holes played in the order set by the Committee., including both those in your group and those in following groups. You are encouraged to allow faster groups to play through.
Pace of Play Recommendations. You should play at a prompt pace throughout the roundRound: 18 or fewer holes played in the order set by the Committee., including the time taken to:
Prepare for and make each strokeStroke: The forward movement of your club made to strike the ball.,
Move from one place to another between strokesStroke: The forward movement of your club made to strike the ball., and
Move to the next teeing areaTeeing Area: The area you must play from in starting the hole you are playing. The teeing area is a rectangle that is two club-lengths deep where: after completing a hole.
You should prepare in advance for your next strokeStroke: The forward movement of your club made to strike the ball. and be ready to play when it is your turn.
When it is your turn to play:
It is recommended that you make the strokeStroke: The forward movement of your club made to strike the ball. in no more than 40 seconds after you are (or should be) able to play without interference or distraction, and
You should usually be able to play more quickly than that and are encouraged to do so.
Playing Out of Turn to Help Pace of Play. In stroke playStroke Play: A form of play where you or your side competes against all other players or sides in the competition., play “ready golf” in a safe and responsible way.
In match playMatch Play: A form of play where you or your side plays directly against an opponent or opposing side in a head-to-head match of one or more rounds., you and your opponentOpponent: The person you compete against in a match. The term opponent applies only in match play. may agree that one of you will play out of turn to save time.
During a roundRound: 18 or fewer holes played in the order set by the Committee., you must not stop play except in these cases:
The CommitteeCommittee: The person or group in charge of the competition or the course. suspends play.
You believe there is danger from lightning, in which case you must report to the CommitteeCommittee: The person or group in charge of the competition or the course..
In match playMatch Play: A form of play where you or your side plays directly against an opponent or opposing side in a head-to-head match of one or more rounds., you and your opponentOpponent: The person you compete against in a match. The term opponent applies only in match play. may agree to stop play for any reason, except if doing so delays the competition.
If you stop play for any reason not allowed under this Rule or fail to report to the CommitteeCommittee: The person or group in charge of the competition or the course. when required, you are disqualified.
Immediate Suspension (Such as When There Is Imminent Danger). If the CommitteeCommittee: The person or group in charge of the competition or the course. declares an immediate suspension of play, you must stop play at once and must not make another strokeStroke: The forward movement of your club made to strike the ball. until the CommitteeCommittee: The person or group in charge of the competition or the course. resumes play.
Normal Suspension (Such as for Darkness or Unplayable Course). If all players in your group are between two holes, you must stop play and must not make a strokeStroke: The forward movement of your club made to strike the ball. to begin another hole until the CommitteeCommittee: The person or group in charge of the competition or the course. resumes play.
If any player in your group has started a hole, the group may choose either to stop play or to play out the hole. Once your group completes the hole or stops before completing the hole, you must not make another strokeStroke: The forward movement of your club made to strike the ball. until the CommitteeCommittee: The person or group in charge of the competition or the course. resumes play.
Penalty for Breach of Rule 5.7b: Disqualification.
You must resume play at the time set by the CommitteeCommittee: The person or group in charge of the competition or the course. and from where you stopped play on a hole or, if between two holes, at your next teeing areaTeeing Area: The area you must play from in starting the hole you are playing. The teeing area is a rectangle that is two club-lengths deep where:, even if play is resumed on a later day.
Penalty for Breach of Rule 5.7c: Disqualification.
When stopping play of a hole under this Rule, you may markMark: To show the spot where a ball is at rest by either placing a ball-marker right behind or right next to the ball, or holding a club on the ground right behind or right next to the ball. and lift your ball.
Either before or when play is resumed:
You must replaceReplace: To place a ball by setting it down and letting it go, with the intent for it to be in play. the original ball or another ball on the original spot (which if not known must be estimated).
If your ball was not lifted when play was stopped, you may play the ball as it lies, or may markMark: To show the spot where a ball is at rest by either placing a ball-marker right behind or right next to the ball, or holding a club on the ground right behind or right next to the ball. and lift the ball and replaceReplace: To place a ball by setting it down and letting it go, with the intent for it to be in play. that ball or another ball on the original spot.
Penalty for Playing Ball from a Wrong PlaceWrong Place: Any place on the course other than where you are required or allowed to play your ball under the Rules. in Breach of Rule 5.7d: General PenaltyGeneral Penalty: Loss of hole in match play or two penalty strokes in stroke play..
