FAQ'S,
Rules of Golf
Click
on the links below to go to each question
| Q1 | |
What
are the Rules concerning the location of the hole on the putting green? |
| A | |
The
location of the hole on the putting green is not a matter covered under
the Rules of Golf. However, when setting such locations, various specific
points should be considered.
There must be enough putting surface between the hole and the front and the sides of the green to accommodate the required shot. For example, if the hole requires a long iron or wood shot to the green, the hole should be placed deeper in the green and farther from its sides than would be the case if the hole requires a short pitch shot. In any case, it is recommended that the hole should be positioned at least four paces from any edge of the green. In addition, an area of two or three feet in radius around the hole should be as nearly level as possible. In no case should holes be positioned within three paces of a very severe slope or ridge or of a recently used hole. In general, there should be a balanced selection of hole positions for the entire course with respect to left, right, central, front and back positions and six quite difficult, six moderately difficult and six relatively easy positions is recommended. One should also try to keep a balance of using the left and right of the green, e.g., first nine, four to the left, four to the right and one in the centre. The second nine should be similar. Finally, in order to observe the Rules of Golf, the greenkeeper who cuts the hole must make sure that any hole-liner does not exceed 4¼ inches in outer diameter, and if possible, any liner must be sunk at least one inch below the putting green surface. Additional recommendations to these
regarding hole positions for competitions can be obtained from the R&A. |
| Q2 | |
Why
can't spike marks be repaired? |
| A | |
The
repair of spike marks which might assist the player in his subsequent play
of the hole would constitute a breach of Rule 16-1c. Since it is not always
possible to distinguish spike marks from other damage or irregularities
of surface, allowing the repair of spike marks would, in effect, entail
permitting any damage or irregularity of surface on the putting green to
be repaired. This is contrary to the fundamental principle of "playing the
course as you find it" and it would undoubtedly lead to an increase of slow
play as players attempt to perfect their line of putt. |
| Q3 | |
Can
I use an "x-out" ball to play a round of golf? |
| A | |
Provided
the ball in question meets the prescribed specifications (Rule 5-1), and
the Committee has not laid down the conditions of the competition that the
ball to be used shall be of certain specifications, brand and marking as
detailed in the current List of Conforming Golf Balls issued by the R&A,
there is no reason why an x-out ball should not be used - see Decision 5-1/4. |
| Q4 | |
May
stakes defining a water hazard or lateral water hazard be moved? |
| A | |
A
water hazard stake is, by Definition, an obstruction. Consequently, if such
a stake is movable, it may be removed, without penalty, in accordance with
Rule 24-1. A player may remove a movable obstruction anywhere on the course,
irrespective of whether his ball lies in a water hazard or not. |
| Q5 | |
May
the player have the flagstick attended even if his ball is not on the putting
green? |
| A | |
Yes.
Rule 17-1 states that before and during the stroke, a player may have the
flagstick attended, removed or held up. |
| Q6 | |
May
a player putt with one hand while holding the flagstick with the other? |
| A | |
Yes,
provided the flagstick has been removed from the hole and the ball therefore
does not strike it. If the ball were to strike the flagstick, a breach of
Rule 17-3a would occur - see Decision 17-1/5. |
| Q7 | |
Must
a player use a small coin or similar object to mark the position of his
ball before lifting it? |
| A | |
The
Note to Rule 20-1 states in part that the position of the ball should be
marked by placing a ball-marker, small coin or other small object immediately
behind the ball. When the word "should" is used in the Rules of Golf it
is a recommendation only and failure to comply does not result in a penalty.
The intention is to emphasise that use of a ball-marker or other small object
(such as a coin) is considered to be the best way to mark a ball. |
| Q8 | |
Is
the person who lifted the player's ball the only person who may replace
it? |
| A | |
No.
Up to a maximum of three different people may replace a ball, depending
on the circumstances i.e. the player, his partner or the person who lifted
it. For example, in a four-ball match, if a player were to authorise his
caddie to lift his ball, the caddie, his partner or the player could replace
it. However, if the player lifts the ball himself, only the player or his
partner may replace it - see Rule 20-3a. |
| Q9 | |
How
is a tie in stroke play decided? |
| A | |
It
is up to the Committee, except that a tie shall not be decided by a match.
The Committee should announce the procedure in advance.
(1) In the event of a tie in a scratch stroke play competition, an 18-hole play-off is recommended. If that is not feasible, a sudden-death play-off is recommended. (2) In handicap stroke play, a play-off over 18 holes with handicaps is recommended. If a shorter play-off is necessary, the percentage of 18 holes to be played should be applied to the players’ handicaps to determine their play-off handicaps. It is advisable to arrange for a percentage of holes that will result in whole numbers in handicaps. (3) In either a scratch or handicap stroke play competition, if a play-off of any type is not feasible, matching cards is recommended. The method of matching cards should be announced in advance. An acceptable method of matching cards is to determine the winner on the basis of the best score for the last nine holes. If the tying players have the same score for the last nine, determine the winner on the basis of the last six holes, last three holes and finally the 18th hole. If such a method is used in a handicap stroke play competition, one-half, one-third, one-sixth, etc., of the handicaps should be deducted. (4) If the conditions of the competition
provide that ties shall be decided over the last nine, last six, last
three and last hole, they should also provide what will happen if this
procedure does not produce a winner (see Appendix I, Rules of Golf). |
| Q10 | |
Must
a player enter his handicap in the box provided on the card? |
| A | |
Although
under Rule 6-2b a competitor must ensure that his handicap is recorded on
his score card before it is returned to the Committee, it does not stipulate
where the handicap shall be recorded and, as long as it appears somewhere
on the card, the competitor has fulfilled his duty. Consequently, a competitor
should not be disqualified for failure to record his handicap in the "official"
box provided on the card. |
| Q11 | |
May
a player practice on the competition course? |
| A | |
Before
a competition in match play, a player may practise on the competition course
unless prohibited from doing so by the Committee - see Note to Rule 7-1.
However, in stroke play, a competitor is not permitted to practise on the
competition course before the competition or test the surface of any putting
green unless permitted to do so by the Committee. During a competition,
a player is not permitted to play a practice stroke either during the play
of a hole or between the play of two holes, except that, between the play
of two holes, the player may practise putting or chipping on or near the
putting green of the hole last played, any practice putting green or the
teeing ground of the next hole to be played, provided such a practice stroke
is not played from a hazard. |
| Q12 | |
What
differentiates a water hazard from a lateral water hazard? |
| A | |
A
water hazard is any sea, lake, pond, river, ditch, surface drainage ditch
or other open water course (whether or not containing water) and anything
of a similar nature - see Definition "Water Hazard". If a player's ball
lies in a water hazard, he may play the ball as it lies or proceed under
Rule 26-1a or b. A lateral water hazard is a water hazard or that part of
a water hazard so situated that it is not possible or is deemed by the Committee
to be impracticable to drop a ball behind the water hazard in accordance
with Rule 26-1b - see Definition "Lateral Water Hazard". If a player's ball
lies in a lateral water hazard, he may, in addition to the options available
when in a water hazard, proceed under Rule 26-1c. |
| Q13 | |
Can
I use a motorised cart? |
| A | |
Unless
the use of a motorised cart is prohibited by the Committee in the conditions
of competition (Rule 33-1), a player may use such equipment during a competition
- see Decision 33-1/8. |
| Q14 | |
What
are the Rules for greensomes, texas scrambles etc? |
| A | |
These
are not recognised forms of play and thus are not covered by the Rules of
Golf. Therefore, it is a matter for the Committee in charge of the competition
to decide upon any matters that may arise and its decision shall be final
(Rule 34-3). |
| Q15 | |
When
is a record score officially recognised as a "course record"? |
| A | |
The
term "course record" is not defined in the Rules of Golf, therefore, it
is a matter for the Committee in charge of the competition to decide whether
it recognises a score as a course record. It is recommended that a record score should only be recognised if made in an individual stroke play competition with the holes and tee markers in their championship positions and a Local Rule on preferred lies is not in operation - see Decision Misc/1. |
| Q16 | |
Can
a player be disqualified for not initialling any alterations made on his
score card? |
| A | |
A
Committee cannot require that alterations made on score cards be initialled.
Consequently, a player should not be disqualified for failure to do so -
see Decision 6-6a/6. |
| Q17 | |
Can
a player be disqualified for an omission or error in entering his score
into a computer? |
| A | |
The
Rules of Golf do not require a competitor to enter scores into a computer.
Therefore, a competitor may not be penalised or disqualified under the Rules
of Golf if the scores entered into the computer are incorrect, or indeed,
he fails to enter these scores - see also Decision 6-6b/8. |
| Q18 | |
Must
a player announce to his opponent(s) or fellow-competitor(s) that he intends
to substitute his ball between the play of two holes? |
| A | |
Although
such an announcement would be courteous, a player is not required under
the Rules to inform an opponent or fellow-competitor that he intends to
play a different ball between the play of two holes. |
| Q19 | |
What
should a player do if his ball at rest is moved by a gust of wind? |
| A | |
Wind
is not an "Outside Agency" (see Definition) and therefore, as a general
rule, if a sudden gust of wind moves a player's ball, there is no penalty
and the ball is played from its new position. However, if this happens after
the player has addressed the ball, the player is deemed to have moved it,
he incurs a penalty stroke and the ball must be replaced (Rule 18-2b). |
| Q20 | |
Must
a ball be marked when taking a drop from an immovable obstruction, an abnormal
ground condition or because the ball is considered to be unplayable (i.e.
under Rules 24, 25 or 28)? |
| A | |
The
position of a ball need only be marked when it is lifted under a Rule that
requires it to be replaced e.g. Rule 16-1b, or 20-1. A ball to be dropped
or placed in any other position, such as when taking relief from an immovable
obstruction, an abnormal ground condition or an unplayable lie, does not
need to be marked, but it would always be considered good practice to do
so. |
| Q21 | |
May
a player take free relief from interference by an out of bounds fence? |
| A | |
No.
Objects defining out of bounds, such as walls, fences, stakes and railings
are considered fixed and therefore are not obstructions. |
| Q22 | |
Can
a player verbally declare his ball to be lost? |
| A | |
A
player may not render a ball lost solely by declaration. A ball can only
be considered lost when (a) it is not found or identified as his by the
player within 5 minutes after the player's side or his or their caddies
have begun to search for it; or (b) the player has put another ball into
play under the Rules, even though he may not have searched for the original
ball; or (c) the player has played any stroke with a provisional ball from
the place where the original is likely to be or from a point nearer the
hole than that place, whereupon the provisional ball becomes the ball in
play. |
| Q23 | |
May
a player, after going forward to search for his ball, return to where he
last played in order to play a provisional ball? |
| A | |
No.
If the player did so the second ball would become the ball in play and the
original ball would be lost (see Rule 27-2a and Definition "Lost Ball").
He must play a provisional ball "before going forward to search". |
| Q24 | |
Should
rakes be placed inside or outside bunkers? |
| A | |
It
is recommended that rakes be placed outside bunkers as on balance it is
felt there is less likelihood of an advantage or disadvantage to the player.
In practice players who leave rakes in bunkers frequently leave them at the side which tends to stop a ball rolling into the flat part of the bunker, resulting in a much more difficult shot than would otherwise have been the case. This is especially true of small bunkers. If a ball comes to rest against a rake in the bunker, the player must proceed under Rule 24-1 and it may not be possible to replace the ball on the same spot or find a spot in the bunker which is not nearer the hole - see Decision 20-3d/2. If rakes are left in the middle of
the bunker, the only way to do so is to throw them into the bunker, damaging
the surface. Also, if a rake is in the middle of a large bunker it is
either not used or the player is obliged to rake a large area of the bunker
resulting in unnecessary delay. Ultimately, it is a matter for the Committee
to decide where it wishes rakes to be placed (see Decision Misc./2). |
| Q25 | |
Can
a player be disqualified for an omission or error in adding his score or
points on his score card? |
| A | |
The
competitor is responsible only for the correctness of the score recorded
for each hole (Rule 6-6d) and the Committee is responsible for the addition
of scores or points (Rule 33-5). If a total recorded by the competitor is
incorrect, it is the responsibility of the Committee to correct the error,
without penalty to the competitor (see Decision 6-6d/2). |