Rule 21 - Other Forms of Individual Stroke Play and Match Play

a. Overview of Stableford

StablefordStableford: A form of stroke play where: is a form of stroke playStroke Play: A form of play where a player or side competes against all other players or sides in the competition.(...Continued) where:

• A player’s or side’sSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play.(...Continued) score for a hole is based on points awarded by comparing the player’s or side’sSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play.(...Continued) number of strokes (including strokesStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) made and penalty strokes) on the hole to a fixed target score for the hole set by the CommitteeCommittee: The person or group in charge of the competition or the course., and

• The competition is won by the player or sideSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play.(...Continued) who completes all roundsRound: 18 or fewer holes played in the order set by the Committee. with the most points.

The Rules for stroke playStroke Play: A form of play where a player or side competes against all other players or sides in the competition.(...Continued) in Rules 1-20 apply, as modified by these specific Rules. Rule 21.1 is written for:

• Scratch competitions, but can be adapted for handicap competitions, and

• Individual play, but can be adapted for competitions involving partnersPartner: A player who competes together with another player as a side, in either match play or stroke play., as modified by Rules 22 (FoursomesFoursomes (also known as “Alternate Shot”): A form of play where two partners compete as a side by playing one ball in alternating order on each hole.(...Continued)) and 23 (Four-BallFour-Ball: A form of play where sides of two partners compete, with each player playing their own ball. A side’s score for a hole is the lower score of the two partners on that hole.(...Continued)), and for team competitions, as modified by Rule 24.

b. Scoring in Stableford

c. Penalties in Stableford

All penalties that apply in stroke playStroke Play: A form of play where a player or side competes against all other players or sides in the competition.(...Continued) apply in StablefordStableford: A form of stroke play where:, except that a player who breaches any of these five Rules is not disqualified but gets zero points for the hole where the breach happened:

• Failure to hole outHoled: When a ball is at rest in the hole after a stroke and the entire ball is below the surface of the putting green.(...Continued) under Rule 3.3c,

• Failure to correct mistake of playing from outside the teeing areaTeeing Area: The area the player must play from in starting the hole they are playing.(...Continued) in starting a hole (see Rule 6.1b(2)),

• Failure to correct mistake of playing a wrong ballWrong Ball: Any ball other than the player’s:(...Continued) (see Rule 6.3c), 

• Failure to correct mistake of playing from a wrong placeWrong Place: Any place on the course other than where the player is required or allowed to play their ball under the Rules.(...Continued) when there is a serious breachSerious Breach: In stroke play, when playing from a wrong place could give the player a significant advantage compared to the stroke to be made from the right place.(...Continued) (see Rule 14.7b), or

• Failure to correct mistake of making a strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) in the wrong order (see Rule 22.3).

If the player breaches any other Rule with a penalty of disqualification, the player is disqualified.

After applying any penalty strokes, the player’s StablefordStableford: A form of stroke play where: score for a hole cannot be lower than zero points.

d. Exception to Rule 11.2 in Stableford

Rule 11.2 does not apply in this situation:

If a player’s ball in motion needs to be holedHoled: When a ball is at rest in the hole after a stroke and the entire ball is below the surface of the putting green.(...Continued) to get one point on the hole and any person deliberately deflects or stops the ball at a time when there is no reasonable chance it can be holedHoled: When a ball is at rest in the hole after a stroke and the entire ball is below the surface of the putting green.(...Continued), there is no penalty to that person and the player gets zero points on the hole.

e. When Round Ends in Stableford

A player’s roundRound: 18 or fewer holes played in the order set by the Committee. ends when the player:

• Holes outHole: The finishing point on the putting green for the hole being played:(...Continued) on their final hole (including correction of a mistake, such as under Rule 6.1 or 14.7b), or

• Chooses not to hole outHole: The finishing point on the putting green for the hole being played:(...Continued) on the final hole or already cannot get more than zero points on the hole.

a. Overview of Maximum Score

Maximum ScoreMaximum Score: A form of stroke play where a player’s or side’s score for a hole is capped at a maximum number of strokes (including strokes made and any penalty strokes) set by the Committee, such as two times par, a fixed number or net double bogey. is a form of stroke playStroke Play: A form of play where a player or side competes against all other players or sides in the competition.(...Continued) where a player’s or side’sSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play.(...Continued) score for a hole is capped at a maximum number of strokes set by the CommitteeCommittee: The person or group in charge of the competition or the course., such as two times par, a fixed number or net double bogey.

The Rules for stroke playStroke Play: A form of play where a player or side competes against all other players or sides in the competition.(...Continued) in Rules 1-20 apply, as modified by these specific Rules. Rule 21.2 is written for:

• Scratch competitions, but can be adapted for handicap competitions as well, and

• Individual play, but can be adapted for competitions involving partnersPartner: A player who competes together with another player as a side, in either match play or stroke play., as modified by Rules 22 (FoursomesFoursomes (also known as “Alternate Shot”): A form of play where two partners compete as a side by playing one ball in alternating order on each hole.(...Continued)) and 23 (Four-BallFour-Ball: A form of play where sides of two partners compete, with each player playing their own ball. A side’s score for a hole is the lower score of the two partners on that hole.(...Continued)), and for team competitions, as modified by Rule 24.

b. Scoring in Maximum Score

c. Penalties in Maximum Score

All penalties that apply in stroke playStroke Play: A form of play where a player or side competes against all other players or sides in the competition.(...Continued) apply in Maximum ScoreMaximum Score: A form of stroke play where a player’s or side’s score for a hole is capped at a maximum number of strokes (including strokes made and any penalty strokes) set by the Committee, such as two times par, a fixed number or net double bogey., except that a player who breaches any of these five Rules is not disqualified but gets the maximum score for the hole where the breach happened:

• Failure to hole outHole: The finishing point on the putting green for the hole being played:(...Continued) under Rule 3.3c,

• Failure to correct mistake of playing from outside the teeing areaTeeing Area: The area the player must play from in starting the hole they are playing.(...Continued) in starting a hole (see Rule 6.1b(2)),

• Failure to correct mistake of playing a wrong ballWrong Ball: Any ball other than the player’s:(...Continued) (see Rule 6.3c),

• Failure to correct mistake of playing from a wrong placeWrong Place: Any place on the course other than where the player is required or allowed to play their ball under the Rules.(...Continued) when there is a serious breachSerious Breach: In stroke play, when playing from a wrong place could give the player a significant advantage compared to the stroke to be made from the right place.(...Continued) (see Rule 14.7b), or

• Failure to correct mistake of making a strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) in the wrong order (see Rule 22.3).

If the player breaches any other Rule with a penalty of disqualification, the player is disqualified.

After applying any penalty strokes, the player’s score for a hole cannot exceed the maximum score set by the CommitteeCommittee: The person or group in charge of the competition or the course..

d. Exception to Rule 11.2 in Maximum Score

Rule 11.2 does not apply in this situation:

If a player’s ball in motion needs to be holedHoled: When a ball is at rest in the hole after a stroke and the entire ball is below the surface of the putting green.(...Continued) to score one lower than the maximum score on the hole and any person deliberately deflects or stops the ball at a time when there is no reasonable chance it can be holedHoled: When a ball is at rest in the hole after a stroke and the entire ball is below the surface of the putting green.(...Continued), there is no penalty to that person and the player gets the maximum score on the hole.

e. When Round Ends in Maximum Score

A player’s roundRound: 18 or fewer holes played in the order set by the Committee. ends when the player:

• Holes outHole: The finishing point on the putting green for the hole being played:(...Continued) on their final hole (including correction of a mistake, such as under Rule 6.1 or 14.7b), or

• Chooses not to hole outHole: The finishing point on the putting green for the hole being played:(...Continued) on the final hole or already will get the maximum score on the hole.

a. Overview of Par/Bogey

Par/BogeyPar/Bogey: A form of stroke play that uses scoring as in match play where: is a form of stroke playStroke Play: A form of play where a player or side competes against all other players or sides in the competition.(...Continued) that uses scoring as in match playMatch Play: A form of play where a player or side plays directly against an opponent or opposing side in a head-to-head match of one or more rounds:(...Continued) where:

• A player or sideSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play.(...Continued) wins or loses a hole by completing the hole in fewer strokes or more strokes than a fixed target score for that hole set by the CommitteeCommittee: The person or group in charge of the competition or the course., and

• The competition is won by the player or sideSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play.(...Continued) with the highest total of holes won versus holes lost (that is, adding up the holes won and deducting the holes lost).

The Rules for stroke playStroke Play: A form of play where a player or side competes against all other players or sides in the competition.(...Continued) in Rules 1-20 apply, as modified by these specific Rules. Rule 21.3 is written for:

• Scratch competitions, but can be adapted for handicap competitions as well, and

• Individual play, but can be adapted for competitions involving partnersPartner: A player who competes together with another player as a side, in either match play or stroke play., as modified by Rules 22 (FoursomesFoursomes (also known as “Alternate Shot”): A form of play where two partners compete as a side by playing one ball in alternating order on each hole.(...Continued)) and 23 (Four-BallFour-Ball: A form of play where sides of two partners compete, with each player playing their own ball. A side’s score for a hole is the lower score of the two partners on that hole.(...Continued)), and for team competitions, as modified by Rule 24.

b. Scoring in Par/Bogey

c. Penalties in Par/Bogey

All penalties that apply in stroke playStroke Play: A form of play where a player or side competes against all other players or sides in the competition.(...Continued) apply in Par/BogeyPar/Bogey: A form of stroke play that uses scoring as in match play where:, except that a player who breaches any of these five Rules is not disqualified but loses the hole where the breach happened:

• Failure to hole outHole: The finishing point on the putting green for the hole being played:(...Continued) under Rule 3.3c,

• Failure to correct mistake of playing from outside the teeing areaTeeing Area: The area the player must play from in starting the hole they are playing.(...Continued) in starting a hole (see Rule 6.1b(2)),

• Failure to correct mistake of playing a wrong ballWrong Ball: Any ball other than the player’s:(...Continued) (see Rule 6.3c), 

• Failure to correct mistake of playing from a wrong placeWrong Place: Any place on the course other than where the player is required or allowed to play their ball under the Rules.(...Continued) when there is a serious breachSerious Breach: In stroke play, when playing from a wrong place could give the player a significant advantage compared to the stroke to be made from the right place.(...Continued) (see Rule 14.7b), or

• Failure to correct mistake of making a strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) in the wrong order (see Rule 22.3).

If the player breaches any other Rule with a penalty of disqualification, the player is disqualified.

After applying any penalty strokes, the player can do no worse than lose the hole.

d. Exception to Rule 11.2 in Par/Bogey

Rule 11.2 does not apply in this situation:

If a player’s ball in motion needs to be holedHoled: When a ball is at rest in the hole after a stroke and the entire ball is below the surface of the putting green.(...Continued) to tie the hole and any person deliberately deflects or stops the ball at a time when there is no reasonable chance it can be holedHoled: When a ball is at rest in the hole after a stroke and the entire ball is below the surface of the putting green.(...Continued), there is no penalty to that person and the player loses the hole.

e. When Round Ends in Par/Bogey

A player’s roundRound: 18 or fewer holes played in the order set by the Committee. ends when the player:

• Holes outHole: The finishing point on the putting green for the hole being played:(...Continued) on their final hole (including correction of a mistake, such as under Rule 6.1 or 14.7b), or

• Chooses not to hole outHole: The finishing point on the putting green for the hole being played:(...Continued) on the final hole or has already lost the hole.

a. Overview of Three-Ball Match Play

Three-BallThree-Ball: A form of match play where: Match PlayMatch Play: A form of play where a player or side plays directly against an opponent or opposing side in a head-to-head match of one or more rounds:(...Continued) is a form of match playMatch Play: A form of play where a player or side plays directly against an opponent or opposing side in a head-to-head match of one or more rounds:(...Continued) where:

• Each of three players plays an individual match against the other two players at the same time, and

• Each player plays one ball that is used in both of their matches.

The Rules for match playMatch Play: A form of play where a player or side plays directly against an opponent or opposing side in a head-to-head match of one or more rounds:(...Continued) in Rules 1-20 apply to all three individual matches, except that these specific Rules apply in two situations where applying the Rules in one match might conflict with applying them in another match.

b. Playing Out of Turn

If a player plays out of turn in any match, the opponentOpponent: The person a player competes against in a match. The term opponent applies only in match play. who should have played first may cancel the strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) under Rule 6.4a(2):

If the player played out of turn in both matches, each opponentOpponent: The person a player competes against in a match. The term opponent applies only in match play. may choose whether to cancel the strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) in their match with the player.

If a player’s strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) is cancelled only in one match:

• The player must continue play with the original ball in the other match.

• This means the player must complete the hole by playing a separate ball in each match.

c. Ball or Ball-Marker Lifted or Moved by One Opponent

If an opponentOpponent: The person a player competes against in a match. The term opponent applies only in match play. gets one penalty stroke for lifting a player’s ball or ball-markerBall-Marker: An artificial object when used to mark the spot of a ball to be lifted, such as a tee, a coin, an object made to be a ball-marker or another small piece of equipment.(...Continued) or causing the ball or ball-markerBall-Marker: An artificial object when used to mark the spot of a ball to be lifted, such as a tee, a coin, an object made to be a ball-marker or another small piece of equipment.(...Continued) to moveMoved: When a ball at rest has left its original spot and come to rest on any other spot, and this can be seen by the naked eye (whether or not anyone actually sees it do so).(...Continued) under Rule 9.5b or 9.7b, that penalty applies only in the match with that player.

The opponentOpponent: The person a player competes against in a match. The term opponent applies only in match play. gets no penalty in their match with the other player.