In 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) 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), if no player completes a hole, the sideSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play.(...Continued) whose player is last to pick up or be disqualified from the hole wins the hole.
For example, sideSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play.(...Continued) A-B are playing against sideSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play.(...Continued) C-D in a 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) match. On a given hole, by mistake Player A plays Player C’s ball and then Player C plays Player A’s ball and each 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) with that ball. Player B and Player D both play into penalty areasPenalty Area: An area from which relief with a one-stroke penalty is allowed if the player’s ball comes to rest there.(...Continued) and pick up. During play of the next hole, Player A and Player C determine that both of them played a wrong ballWrong Ball: Any ball other than the player’s:(...Continued) on the prior hole.
The ruling is that Player A and Player C are disqualified for the prior hole. Therefore, if Player B picked up before Player D, sideSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play.(...Continued) C-D won the hole and if Player D picked up before Player B, sideSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play.(...Continued) A-B won the hole. If it cannot be determined which player picked up first, the CommitteeCommittee: The person or group in charge of the competition or the course. should rule that the hole was tied.
In 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) stroke playStroke Play: A form of play where a player or side competes against all other players or sides in the competition.(...Continued), partnersPartner: A player who competes together with another player as a side, in either match play or stroke play. are required to return a scorecardScorecard: The document where a player’s score for each hole is entered in stroke play.(...Continued) with correct hole scores that are identified to the correct partnerPartner: A player who competes together with another player as a side, in either match play or stroke play.. The following are examples of scoring in 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) based on how the scorecardScorecard: The document where a player’s score for each hole is entered in stroke play.(...Continued) is completed and returned by sideSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play.(...Continued) A-B:
In a handicap competition, Player A and Player B both holed 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) in 4 strokes on a hole where Player B received a handicap stroke and Player A did not. The markerMarker: In stroke play, the person responsible for entering a player’s score on the player’s scorecard and for certifying that scorecard. The marker may be another player, but not a partner.(...Continued) recorded a gross score of 4 for Player A, no gross score for Player B, and a net score for the side of 3. The scorecardScorecard: The document where a player’s score for each hole is entered in stroke play.(...Continued) was returned to the CommitteeCommittee: The person or group in charge of the competition or the course..
The ruling is that Player A’s score of 4 is the side’sSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play.(...Continued) score for the hole. Only the CommitteeCommittee: The person or group in charge of the competition or the course. has the responsibility to apply any handicap strokes. The side’sSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play.(...Continued) score is 4 as it is identified to Player A. The marker’sMarker: In stroke play, the person responsible for entering a player’s score on the player’s scorecard and for certifying that scorecard. The marker may be another player, but not a partner.(...Continued) recording of the net 3 is irrelevant.
On a hole, Player A picks up and Player B holes 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) in 5 strokes. The markerMarker: In stroke play, the person responsible for entering a player’s score on the player’s scorecard and for certifying that scorecard. The marker may be another player, but not a partner.(...Continued) records a score of 6 for Player A and a score of 5 for Player B. The scorecardScorecard: The document where a player’s score for each hole is entered in stroke play.(...Continued) is returned with these scores recorded.
There is no penalty because the partner’sPartner: A player who competes together with another player as a side, in either match play or stroke play. score that counts for the sideSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play.(...Continued) on that hole is correctly recorded.
On a hole, Player A picked up and Player B holed 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) in 4 strokes. By mistake, the markerMarker: In stroke play, the person responsible for entering a player’s score on the player’s scorecard and for certifying that scorecard. The marker may be another player, but not a partner.(...Continued) recorded a score of 4 for Player A and no score for Player B. The scorecardScorecard: The document where a player’s score for each hole is entered in stroke play.(...Continued) is returned in this way.
The ruling is that the sideSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play.(...Continued) is disqualified because the score for the sideSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play.(...Continued) on that hole is identified to Player A, and Player A did not complete play of the hole.
The following situations illustrate how Rule 3.3b(3) (Wrong Score for Hole) and Rule 23.2b are to be applied. In all cases, sideSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play.(...Continued) A-B returns a scorecardScorecard: The document where a player’s score for each hole is entered in stroke play.(...Continued) with an incorrect score on a hole and the mistake is discovered after the scorecardScorecard: The document where a player’s score for each hole is entered in stroke play.(...Continued) is returned but before the competition has closed.
Player A returns a score of 4 and Player B returns a score of 5. Player A touches sand in a bunkerBunker: A specially prepared area of sand, which is often a hollow from which turf or soil was removed.(...Continued) with a club in making the backswing for a strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) and was aware of the penalty for a breach of Rule 12.2b(1) (Restrictions on Touching Sand in Bunker) before returning the scorecardScorecard: The document where a player’s score for each hole is entered in stroke play.(...Continued) but failed to include it in their score for the hole.
The Exception to 3.3b(3) does not apply as Player A was aware of the penalty and the sideSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play.(...Continued) is disqualified under Rule 23.2b.
Player A returns a score of 4 and Player B returns a score of 5. Player A was in breach of Rule 12.2b(1) for touching sand in making a practice swing in a bunkerBunker: A specially prepared area of sand, which is often a hollow from which turf or soil was removed.(...Continued) but neither partnerPartner: A player who competes together with another player as a side, in either match play or stroke play. was aware of the penalty before returning the scorecardScorecard: The document where a player’s score for each hole is entered in stroke play.(...Continued). The Exception to Rule 3.3b(3) applies. As Player A’s score was the score to count on the hole, the CommitteeCommittee: The person or group in charge of the competition or the course. must apply the general penaltyGeneral Penalty: Loss of hole in match play or two penalty strokes in stroke play. to Player A’s score on that hole for a breach of Rule 12.2b(1).
Therefore, the side’sSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play.(...Continued) score for the hole is 6. The Rules only allow the side to revert to Player B’s score if both partners’Partner: A player who competes together with another player as a side, in either match play or stroke play. scores were the same on the hole (Rule 23.2b(2)).
Player A returns a score of 4 and Player B returns a score of 6. Player A movedMoved: 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) their ball while removing a loose impedimentLoose Impediment: Any unattached natural object such as:(...Continued) in breach of Rule 15.1b. Player A replacedReplace: To place a ball by setting it down by hand and letting it go, with the intent for it to be in play.(...Continued) the ball but was unaware of the onestroke penalty. Player B witnessed the entire incident and was aware of the penalty. The scorecardScorecard: The document where a player’s score for each hole is entered in stroke play.(...Continued) is returned with a score of 4 for Player A and 6 for Player B. Player A’s score should have been 5 with the onestroke penalty included.
The Exception under Rule 3.3b(3) does not apply given Player B’s awareness of the incident and the resulting penalty that should have been applied to Player A. The sideSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play.(...Continued) is disqualified under Rule 23.2b.
Player A and Player B each return scores of 4. Player A lifted their ball for identification in the general areaGeneral Area: The area of the course that covers all of the courseexcept for the other four defined areas: (1) the teeing area the player must play from in starting the hole they are playing, (2) all penalty areas, (3) all bunkers, and (4) the putting green of the hole the player is playing.(...Continued) but the lifting was not reasonably necessary to identify the ball. Neither Player A nor Player B was aware of the penalty for a breach of Rule 7.3 before returning the scorecardScorecard: The document where a player’s score for each hole is entered in stroke play.(...Continued).
Since both scores on the scorecardScorecard: The document where a player’s score for each hole is entered in stroke play.(...Continued) are the same, the CommitteeCommittee: The person or group in charge of the competition or the course. may count either score. If the CommitteeCommittee: The person or group in charge of the competition or the course. had counted Player A’s score that was later found to be wrong, the CommitteeCommittee: The person or group in charge of the competition or the course. will count Player B’s score, which is correct, and there is no penalty to the sideSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play.(...Continued).
If, in a 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) match played under handicap, the player with the lowest handicap is unable to play, the absent player is not disregarded given that they may start play for the sideSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play.(...Continued) between the play of two holes, which 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) means only before any player on either sideSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play.(...Continued) has started play of a hole.
The handicap strokes are calculated as if all four players are present. If a wrong handicap is declared for the absent player, Rule 3.2c(1) (Declaring Handicaps) applies.
In a 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) match, if a sideSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play.(...Continued) states or implies that the player on that sideSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play.(...Continued) whose ball is farthest from the holeHole: The finishing point on the putting green for the hole being played:(...Continued) will not complete the hole, that player has abandoned their right to complete the hole, and the side may not change that decision after an opponentOpponent: The person a player competes against in a match. The term opponent applies only in match play. has played.
For example, sideSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play.(...Continued) A-B is playing sideSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play.(...Continued) C-D in a 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) match. All four balls are on the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued) with Player A, Player B and Player D lying two while Player C lies four. The balls of Player A and Player C are about 10 feet from the holeHole: The finishing point on the putting green for the hole being played:(...Continued), Player B’s ball is two feet away and Player D’s ball is three feet away. Player C picks up. Player A suggests that Player B and Player D should play.
After Player D plays, Player A has abandoned the right to play and their score cannot count for the sideSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play.(...Continued) (for example, if Player B missed their putt). The outcome would be different if Player B had been farther from the hole than Player D. If Player B putts first and misses, Player A would still have the right to complete the hole if they do so before Player D plays.
Examples of situations where the partnersPartner: A player who competes together with another player as a side, in either match play or stroke play. of sideSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play.(...Continued) A-B play in an order they determine is best but may get a penalty under Rule 5.6a for unreasonably delaying play include when:
Player A’s tee shot on a par-3 that is played entirely over a penalty areaPenalty Area: An area from which relief with a one-stroke penalty is allowed if the player’s ball comes to rest there.(...Continued) comes to rest in the penalty areaPenalty Area: An area from which relief with a one-stroke penalty is allowed if the player’s ball comes to rest there.(...Continued) while Player B’s tee shot comes to rest on the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued). The sideSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play.(...Continued) proceeds to the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued) without Player A playing a ball under the penalty areaPenalty Area: An area from which relief with a one-stroke penalty is allowed if the player’s ball comes to rest there.(...Continued) Rule. Player B takes four putts to complete the hole. Player A then decides to leave the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued), go back to the tee and put another ball in playIn Play: The status of a player’s ball when it lies on the course and is being used in the play of a hole:(...Continued).
After their tee shots, Player A’s ball is 220 yards from the holeHole: The finishing point on the putting green for the hole being played:(...Continued) and Player B’s ball is 240 yards from the holeHole: The finishing point on the putting green for the hole being played:(...Continued). Player A makes their second strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) before Player B plays. Player A’s ball comes to rest 30 yards from the holeHole: The finishing point on the putting green for the hole being played:(...Continued) and the sideSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play.(...Continued) decides to have Player A walk forward and make their third strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued).
When both players of a sideSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play.(...Continued) play from outside the teeing areaTeeing Area: The area the player must play from in starting the hole they are playing.(...Continued) in a 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) match, only the last strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) played may be cancelled under Rule 6.1b.
For example, in a 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) match with sideSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play.(...Continued) A-B playing sideSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play.(...Continued) C-D, if Player A and Player B both play from outside the teeing areaTeeing Area: The area the player must play from in starting the hole they are playing.(...Continued) with Player A playing first followed by Player B, sideSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play.(...Continued) C-D may cancel the strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) of Player B, but not Player A.
Rule 6.1b requires that cancelling the strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) must be done promptly. This also applies if Player A and Player B both played when it was either Player C’s turn or Player D’s turn to play during play of the hole.
When concurrent 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 single matches are being played, the two players of a sideSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play.(...Continued) are no longer partnersPartner: A player who competes together with another player as a side, in either match play or stroke play. after the 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) match ends. However, the two players that were partnersPartner: A player who competes together with another player as a side, in either match play or stroke play. are still allowed to give each other adviceAdvice: Any verbal comment or action (such as showing what club was just used to make a stroke) that is intended to influence a player in:(...Continued) and share clubs for the remainder of both single matches.
For example, sideSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play.(...Continued) A-B is playing sideSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play.(...Continued) C-D in a 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) match with concurrent single matches of Player A playing Player C and Player B playing Player D, both matches of 18 holes. Player A and Player B are sharing clubs, all 14 of which Player A brought. If the 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) match ends on the 16th hole, but both single matches are tied, Player A and Player B may continue to use the clubs they selected for play (the shared clubs) and give adviceAdvice: Any verbal comment or action (such as showing what club was just used to make a stroke) that is intended to influence a player in:(...Continued) to each other, despite Player A and Player B no longer being partnersPartner: A player who competes together with another player as a side, in either match play or stroke play..
In 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), when a player stands on or close to an extension of the line of playLine of Play: The line where the player intends their ball to go after a stroke, including the area on that line that is a reasonable distance up above the ground and on either side of that line.(...Continued) behind their partnerPartner: A player who competes together with another player as a side, in either match play or stroke play. in breach of either Rule 10.2b(4) or 23.8, how a penalty is applied depends on the reason the player stood there, and if there is a breach, whether either the player or their partnerPartner: A player who competes together with another player as a side, in either match play or stroke play. was helped by that breach.
Examples include:
The player gets the general penaltyGeneral Penalty: Loss of hole in match play or two penalty strokes in stroke play. under Rule 23.8 if they stood on or close to an extension of the line of playLine of Play: The line where the player intends their ball to go after a stroke, including the area on that line that is a reasonable distance up above the ground and on either side of that line.(...Continued) to help themself with their next strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) (such as to learn information about how their upcoming putt might break based on how their partner’sPartner: A player who competes together with another player as a side, in either match play or stroke play. ball breaks on the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued)).
The partnerPartner: A player who competes together with another player as a side, in either match play or stroke play. gets the general penaltyGeneral Penalty: Loss of hole in match play or two penalty strokes in stroke play. under Rule 10.2b(4) if the player stood in the restricted area to line up their partner for their (the partner’sPartner: A player who competes together with another player as a side, in either match play or stroke play.) next strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) and the strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) was made without both the player and their partnerPartner: A player who competes together with another player as a side, in either match play or stroke play. backing away.
If the player stood in the restricted area to align their partnerPartner: A player who competes together with another player as a side, in either match play or stroke play. for their (the partner’sPartner: A player who competes together with another player as a side, in either match play or stroke play.) next strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued), and while doing so also happened to see how their (the player’s) next strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) might break on the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued), both the player and the partnerPartner: A player who competes together with another player as a side, in either match play or stroke play. get the general penaltyGeneral Penalty: Loss of hole in match play or two penalty strokes in stroke play.. This is because the partner’sPartner: A player who competes together with another player as a side, in either match play or stroke play. breach of Rule 10.2b(4) also helped the player, so the player would get the same penalty (see Rule 23.9a(2)). (New)
In both 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) 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) and stroke playStroke Play: A form of play where a player or side competes against all other players or sides in the competition.(...Continued), when a player’s breach of a Rule helps their partnerPartner: A player who competes together with another player as a side, in either match play or stroke play., the partnerPartner: A player who competes together with another player as a side, in either match play or stroke play. gets the same penalty.
Examples of when both partnersPartner: A player who competes together with another player as a side, in either match play or stroke play. of Side A-B get the same penalty include:
With Side A-B playing Side C-D, Player B’s ball is near the hole and in a position to help Player A aim their putt. Player C requires Player B to mark and lift Player B’s ball. Player B declines to lift the ball and Player A putts with Player B’s ball helping them to aim.
Player B gets the general penaltyGeneral Penalty: Loss of hole in match play or two penalty strokes in stroke play. under Rule 15.3a (Ball on Putting Green Helping Play) for failing to lift the helping ball and, since this helped Player A, Player A also gets the general penaltyGeneral Penalty: Loss of hole in match play or two penalty strokes in stroke play..
Player A’s ball is out of boundsOut of Bounds: All areas outside the boundary edge of the course as defined by the Committee. All areas inside that edge are in bounds.(...Continued) and Player A decides not to complete the holeHole: The finishing point on the putting green for the hole being played:(...Continued). Player B’s ball is a similar distance from the holeHole: The finishing point on the putting green for the hole being played:(...Continued). Player A dropsDrop: To hold the ball and let go of it so that it falls through the air, with the intent for the ball to be in play.(...Continued) a ball near Player B’s ball and plays to the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued) and, by doing so, helps Player B.
As the hole is not complete and the result has yet to be decided, Player A’s further play is considered practice in breach of Rule 5.5a (Practice Strokes While Playing Hole). As Player A’s practice helped Player B, Player B also gets the general penaltyGeneral Penalty: Loss of hole in match play or two penalty strokes in stroke play..
In 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) 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), if a player’s breach of a Rule hurts an opponent’sOpponent: The person a player competes against in a match. The term opponent applies only in match play. play, the player’s partnerPartner: A player who competes together with another player as a side, in either match play or stroke play. also gets the same penalty.
For example, Side A-B are playing Side C-D in a 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) match. Player A provides the wrong number of strokes they have taken to either Player C or Player D while all four players are in contention during a hole. Side C-D bases its strategy on this information and one of them makes a strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued).
Player A gets the general penaltyGeneral Penalty: Loss of hole in match play or two penalty strokes in stroke play. under Rule 3.2d(1) (Telling Opponent about Number of Strokes Taken) for not giving the right number of strokes taken. Player B gets the same penalty because the breach hurt an opponent’sOpponent: The person a player competes against in a match. The term opponent applies only in match play. play. Side A-B therefore loses the hole.
When a player in a 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) match is out of contention on a hole and they either give the wrong number of strokes taken or fail to notify an opponentOpponent: The person a player competes against in a match. The term opponent applies only in match play. about a penalty, it is never considered to hurt the opponent’sOpponent: The person a player competes against in a match. The term opponent applies only in match play. play since the player’s score on the hole will not be relevant in the match.
For example, Side A-B is playing Side C-D in a 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) match. Player A gets one penalty stroke and fails to tell the opponent’sOpponent: The person a player competes against in a match. The term opponent applies only in match play. about it. If Player B then holes 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) before either Player C or Player D makes another strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) or takes a similar action and Player B’s score is lower than Player A could have made without the penalty being applied, Player A is considered out of contention and only they are disqualified from the hole under Rule 3.2d.