Simpler Rules: Definitions (M-Z)

Marker

A ‘marker’ is a person who records and certifies a competitor’s score in stroke play. He may be, but need not be, a fellow-competitor.

Move or Moved

A ball is deemed to have ‘moved’ if it leaves its position and comes to rest in any other place.

Nearest Point of Relief

The ‘nearest point of relief’ is the point on the course nearest to where the ball lies:

(i)  that is not nearer the hole, and

(ii) where, if the ball were so positioned, no interference by the condition from which relief is sought would exist for the stroke the player would have made from the original position if the condition were not there.

Note: In order to determine the nearest point of relief accurately, the player should use the club with which he would have made his next stroke if the condition were not there to simulate the address position, direction of play and swing for such a stroke.

Obstructions

An ‘obstruction’ is anything artificial, including the artificial surfaces and sides of roads and paths and manufactured ice, except:

a.  Objects defining out of bounds, such as walls, fences, stakes and railings;

b.  Any part of an immovable artificial object that is out of bounds; and

c.  Any construction declared by the Committee to be an integral part of the course.

An obstruction is a movable obstruction if it may be moved by the player with the assistance of no more than one other person, without unduly delaying play and without causing damage. Otherwise, it is an immovable obstruction.

Note: The Committee may make a Local Rule declaring a movable obstruction to be an immovable obstruction.

Opponent

An ‘opponent’ is a member of a side against whom the player’s side is competing in match play.

Out of Bounds

‘Out of bounds’ is beyond the boundaries of the course, or any part of the course so marked by the Committee.

When out of bounds is defined by stakes or a fence, the out of bounds line is determined by the nearest inside points at ground level of the stakes or fence posts (excluding angled supports). When both stakes and lines are used to indicate out of bounds, the stakes identify out of bounds and the lines define out of bounds. When out of bounds is defined by a line on the ground, the line itself is out of bounds. The out of bounds line extends vertically upwards and downwards.

The colour of stakes identifying out of bounds is determined by the Committee, but usually will be white.

A ball is out of bounds when all of it lies out of bounds.

A player may stand out of bounds to play a ball lying within bounds.

Objects defining out of bounds such as walls, fences, stakes and railings are not obstructions and are deemed to be fixed. Stakes identifying out of bounds are not obstructions and are deemed to be fixed.

Outside Agency

In match play, an ‘outside agency’ is any agency other than either the player’s or opponent’s side, any caddie of either side, any ball played by either side at the hole being played or any equipment of either side.

In stroke play, an outside agency is any agency other than the competitor’s side, any caddie of the side, any ball played by the side at the hole being played or any equipment of the side.

An outside agency includes a referee, a marker and any other person assisting the Committee in the conduct of the competition. Neither wind nor water is an outside agency.

Partner

A ‘partner’ is a player associated with another player on the same side.

In foursome and better-ball play, where the context so allows, the word ‘player’ includes his partner or partners.

Penalty Stroke

A ‘penalty stroke’ is one added to the score of a player or side under certain Rules. In foursome play, penalty strokes do not affect the order of play.

Player

A player is any opponent or competitor.

Provisional Ball

A ‘provisional ball’ is a ball played under Rule 27-2 for a ball that may be lost outside a water hazard or may be out of bounds.

Putting Green

The ‘putting green’ is all ground of the hole being played that is specially prepared for putting or otherwise defined as such by the Committee. A ball is on the putting green when any part of it touches the putting green.

Referee

A ‘referee’ is a person who is appointed by the Committee to decide questions of fact and apply the Rules. He must act on any breach of a Rule that he observes or is reported to him.

A referee should not attend the flagstick, stand at or mark the position of the hole, or lift the ball or mark its position.

Exception in match play: Unless a referee is assigned to accompany the players throughout a match, he has no authority to intervene in a match other than in relation to Rule 1-3, 6-7 or 33-7.

Rough

The ‘rough’ is the entire course except teeing grounds, putting greens, hazards and fairways.

Serious Breach

A ‘serious breach’ of the Rules occurs where the Committee deems that the action taken by the player has allowed him or another player to gain a significant advantage or has placed another player, other than his partner, at a significant disadvantage.

Side

A ‘side’ is a player, or two or more players who are partners. In match play, each member of the opposing side is an opponent. In stroke play, members of all sides are competitors and members of different sides playing together are fellow-competitors.

Single

See ‘Forms of Match Play’ and ‘Forms of Stroke Play’.

Stance

Taking the ‘stance’ consists in a player placing his feet in position for and preparatory to making a stroke.

Stipulated Round

The ‘stipulated round’ consists of playing the holes of the course in their correct sequence, unless otherwise authorised by the Committee. The number of holes in a stipulated round is 18 unless a smaller number is authorised by the Committee. As to extension of stipulated round in match play, see Rule 2-3.

Stroke

A ‘stroke’ is the forward movement of the club made with the intention of striking at and moving the ball, but if a player checks his downswing before the clubhead reaches the ball he has not made a stroke.

Substituted Ball

A ‘substituted ball’ is a ball put into play in place of the original ball. A ball substituted contrary to the Rules may become the ball in play.

Swing

The ‘swing’ includes the take away of the club in preparation for a stroke and the stroke itself.

Tee

The ‘tee’ is the starting place for the hole to be played. It is a rectangular area two club-lengths in depth, the front and the sides of which are defined by the outside limits of two tee-markers.

A ball is outside the tee when all of it lies outside the tee.

Teeing Ground

A ‘teeing ground’ is any area of the course specially prepared for placement of the tee by the Committee.  Any part of the course upon which a tee is placed, is deemed to be a teeing ground.

Through the Green

‘Through the green’ is the whole area of the course except:

a.  The tee and putting green of the hole being played; and

b.  All hazards on the course.

Water Hazard

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 on the course. All ground and water within the margin of a water hazard are part of the water hazard.

A water hazard is marked by yellow stakes and/or lines and a lateral water hazard by red stakes and/or lines.  If a water hazard is unmarked it should be treated as a lateral water hazard.

When the margin of a water hazard is defined by stakes, the stakes are inside the water hazard, and the margin of the hazard is defined by the nearest outside points of the stakes at ground level. When both stakes and lines are used to indicate a water hazard, the stakes identify the hazard and the lines define the hazard margin. When the margin of a water hazard is defined by a line on the ground, the line itself is in the water hazard. The margin of a water hazard extends vertically upwards and downwards.

A ball is in a water hazard when it lies in or any part of it touches the water hazard.

Stakes used to define the margin of or identify a water hazard are obstructions.

Note: The Committee may make a Local Rule prohibiting play from an environmentally-sensitive area defined as a water hazard.

Wrong Ball

A ‘wrong ball’ is any ball other than the player’s:

•    ball in play;

•    provisional ball; or

•    second ball played under Rule 3-3 or Rule 20-7c in stroke play;

and includes:

•    another player’s ball;

•    an abandoned ball; and

•    the player’s original ball when it is no longer in play.

Note: Ball in play includes a ball substituted for the ball in play, whether or not the substitution is permitted.

Wrong Putting Green

A ‘wrong putting green’ is any putting green other than that of the hole being played. Unless otherwise prescribed by the Committee, this term includes a practice putting green or pitching green on the course.