If, in starting the play of the hole 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), a strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) made from outside the teeing areaTeeing Area: The area the player must play from in starting the hole they are playing.(...Continued) is not cancelled, Rule 6.1b(1) provides that the player plays the ball as it lies. However, the player may not always be permitted to play the ball as it lies.
For example, when starting play of a hole, a player hits a ball 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) from outside the teeing areaTeeing Area: The area the player must play from in starting the hole they are playing.(...Continued) (such as from a wrong set of tee-markers) and the opponentOpponent: The person a player competes against in a match. The term opponent applies only in match play. does not cancel the strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued).
Since, the player’s strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) is not cancelled, and the 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), they must take stroke-and-distanceStroke and Distance: The procedure and penalty when a player takes relief under Rules 17, 18 or 19 by playing a ball from where the previous stroke was made (see Rule 14.6).(...Continued) relief by playing a ball from where the previous strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) was made. However, as the stroke was not made from inside the teeing areaTeeing Area: The area the player must play from in starting the hole they are playing.(...Continued), the ball must be droppedDrop: 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), not teed (see Rule 14.6b – Previous Stroke from General Area, Penalty Area or Bunker).
If a player causes a tee-marker to move, (such as by tripping over it, hitting it in anger or lifting it for no apparent reason), but this does not improveImprove: To alter one or more of the conditions affecting the stroke or other physical conditions affecting play so that a player gains a potential advantage for a stroke. the conditions affecting the strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued), there is no penalty, even if the player does not replace it before playing from the teeing areaTeeing Area: The area the player must play from in starting the hole they are playing.(...Continued).
But because moving tee-markers can have a significant effect on the competition, they should not be moved and, if they are moved, they should be replaced. However, if a player moves a tee-marker because he or she thinks it should be in a different position, or deliberately destroys the tee-marker, the CommitteeCommittee: The person or group in charge of the competition or the course. may choose to disqualify the player for serious misconduct contrary to the spirit of the game (Rule 1.2a).
If, after holing 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), two players discover that they finished a hole with the other player’s ball but cannot establish whether the balls were exchanged during play of the hole, there is no penalty.
For example, after play of a hole, it was discovered that Player A 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) with Player B’s ball 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) with Player A’s ball. Both players are certain they 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) with the ball they played from the teeing areaTeeing Area: The area the player must play from in starting the hole they are playing.(...Continued).
In this situation, and because a player is allowed to start each hole with any conforming ball (Rule 6.3a), it should be determined that the balls were exchanged before play on that hole began, unless there is evidence to the contrary.
When the strokesStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) made at a particular ball do not count in the player’s score, any penalty strokes that the player gets while playing that ball do not count unless the player gets a penalty that could also apply to their 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).
Examples of penalties that are disregarded because they could not also apply to the 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) include:
Deliberately touching or causing the ball 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) (Rule 9.4).
The player’s caddieCaddie: Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:(...Continued) standing in the "restricted area" while the player is taking a stanceStance: The position of a player’s feet and body in preparing for and making a stroke.(...Continued) (Rule 10.2b(4)).
Touching sand in the backswing for the strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) (Rule 12.2b(2)).
Examples of penalties that are not disregarded because they also apply to the 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) include:
Making a practice strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) during a hole (Rule 5.5a).
Playing a wrong ballWrong Ball: Any ball other than the player’s:(...Continued) (Rule 6.3c(1)).
Asking for or giving 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) (Rule 10.2a).
The term “same order” in Rule 6.4b(1) refers to the order in which the players in the group should have played from the previous teeing areaTeeing Area: The area the player must play from in starting the hole they are playing.(...Continued), even if they played in a different order.
For example, Player A has the honourHonour: The right of a player to play first from the teeing area (see Rule 6.4). on the 6th hole, but Player B plays first from the teeing areaTeeing Area: The area the player must play from in starting the hole they are playing.(...Continued) to save time. If the players have the same score on the 6th hole, the honourHonour: The right of a player to play first from the teeing area (see Rule 6.4). on the 7th hole remains with Player A as that is the same order that the players would have played in from the previous teeing areaTeeing Area: The area the player must play from in starting the hole they are playing.(...Continued) had they not chosen to play “ready golf”. (New)
If a player who has the honourHonour: The right of a player to play first from the teeing area (see Rule 6.4). decides to play a provisional ballProvisional Ball: Another ball played in case the ball just played by the player may be:(...Continued) after their opponentOpponent: The person a player competes against in a match. The term opponent applies only in match play. has played a provisional ballProvisional Ball: Another ball played in case the ball just played by the player may be:(...Continued), the player may not cancel the opponent’sOpponent: The person a player competes against in a match. The term opponent applies only in match play. strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) with the provisional ballProvisional Ball: Another ball played in case the ball just played by the player may be:(...Continued) under Rule 6.4a(2).
For example, Player A has the honourHonour: The right of a player to play first from the teeing area (see Rule 6.4). and plays first from the teeing areaTeeing Area: The area the player must play from in starting the hole they are playing.(...Continued). Player B (the opponentOpponent: The person a player competes against in a match. The term opponent applies only in match play.) plays next and since their ball may be 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), decides to play a provisional ballProvisional Ball: Another ball played in case the ball just played by the player may be:(...Continued) and does so. After Player B plays the provisional ballProvisional Ball: Another ball played in case the ball just played by the player may be:(...Continued), Player A decides that they will also play a provisional ballProvisional Ball: Another ball played in case the ball just played by the player may be:(...Continued).
Since Player A only made their intentions to play a provisional ballProvisional Ball: Another ball played in case the ball just played by the player may be:(...Continued) known after Player B had played, Player A has abandoned the right to cancel Player B’s strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) with the provisional ballProvisional Ball: Another ball played in case the ball just played by the player may be:(...Continued). However, Player A may still play a provisional ballProvisional Ball: Another ball played in case the ball just played by the player may be:(...Continued).
There are several Rules (such as Rules 4.1b, 4.3, 5.5b and 20.1b(2)) where it is important to understand when a hole has been completed.
Examples of when a player has completed a hole and is therefore between the play of two holes:
Single: When the player has holed out, their next stroke has been conceded, or the outcome of the hole has been determined.
FoursomeFoursomes (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): When the side has holed out, its next stroke has been conceded, or the outcome of the hole has been determined.
Four-Ball: When both partners have holed out, their next strokes have been conceded, or the outcome of the hole has been determined.
Individual: When the player has holed out.
FoursomeFoursomes (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): When the side has holed out.
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 both partners have holed out, or one partner has holed out and the other cannot better the side’s score.
StablefordStableford: A form of stroke play where:, Par/BogeyPar/Bogey: A form of stroke play that uses scoring as in match play where:, and 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.: When the player has holed out, or has picked up after scoring zero points, losing the hole or reaching the maximum score.