Simpler Rules: Rule 14

Rule 14: Striking the Ball 

14-1. Ball to be Fairly Struck At

The ball must be fairly struck at with the head of the club and must not be pushed, scraped or spooned. 

PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE 14-1:

Match play – Loss of hole; Stroke play – Two strokes.
 

14-2. Assistance

a. Physical Assistance and Protection from Elements

A player must not make a stroke while accepting physical assistance or protection from the elements. 

b. Positioning of Caddie or Partner Behind Ball

A player must not make a stroke with his caddie, his partner or his partner’s caddie positioned on, behind or beyond the line of play or line of putt for the purpose of assisting the player with his direction of play. (see also Rule 8-2) 

PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE 14-2:

Match play – Loss of hole; Stroke play – Two strokes.
 

14-3. Artificial Devices; Unusual Equipment and Unusual Use of Equipment

A player in doubt as to whether use of an item would constitute a breach of this Rule should consult the Committee.

Except as provided in the Rules, during a stipulated round the player must not, in making a stroke, use any artificial device or unusual equipment or use any equipment in an unusual manner: 

(a)  That might assist him in making the stroke or in his play; or  

(b)  That might assist him in gripping the club, except that: 
       •  a golf glove(s) may be worn; 
       •  resin, powder and drying or moisturising agents may be used; and 
       •  a towel or handkerchief may be wrapped around the grip.

Exception:

A player is not in breach of this Rule if:

(a)  the equipment or device is designed for or has the effect of alleviating a medical condition;

(b)  the player has a legitimate medical reason to use the equipment or device; or

(c)  the Committee is satisfied that its use does not give the player any undue advantage over other players.  

PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE 14-3:

Disqualification from the competition.
 

14-4. Striking the Ball More Than Once

If a player’s club strikes the ball more than once in the course of a stroke, the player must count the stroke and add a penalty stroke, making two strokes in all.
 

14-5. Playing Moving Ball

A player must not make a stroke at his ball while it is moving. 

Exceptions:

•    Ball falling off tee – Rule 11-3

•    Striking the ball more than once – Rule 14-4

•    Ball moving in water – Rule 14-6  

When the ball begins to move only after the player has begun the stroke or the backward movement of his club for the stroke, he incurs no penalty under this Rule for playing a moving ball, but he is not exempt from any penalty under Rules 18-2a or 18-2b. 

(Ball purposely deflected or stopped by player, partner or caddie – see Rule 1-2) 

PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE 14-5:

Match play – Loss of hole; Stroke play – Two strokes.
 

14-6. Ball Moving in Water

When a ball is moving in water in a water hazard, the player may, without penalty, make a stroke, but he must not delay making his stroke in order to allow the wind or current to improve the position of the ball. A ball moving in water in a water hazard may be lifted if the player elects to invoke Rule 26. 

PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE 14-6:

Match play – Loss of hole; Stroke play – Two strokes.

 

Simpler Rules: Rule 13

New and Revised Definitions

 

Grounded Club

A club is ‘grounded’ when it touches sand or soil or when grass supports the weight of the club.

 

Stroke and Distance

At any time permitted by the rules, a player may play a ball within one clublength of the spot from which the original ball was last played. Except where otherwise provided in the Rules, this incurs a ‘stroke and distance penalty’. That is, the stroke so played counts and an additional penalty of one stroke applies. 

 

Note: When such relief is taken, if the ball originally lay,

(a)   on the fairway, it must be placed on the fairway;

(b)   in the rough, it must be placed in the rough;

(c)   in a hazard, it must be placed in  the hazard;

(d)   on the tee, it must be placed on the tee and the ball may be re-teed.

 

Rule 13: Ball Played as It Lies 

13-1. General

The ball must be played as it lies, except as otherwise provided in the Rules. 

(Ball at rest moved – see Rule 18)

 

13-2. Improving Lie, Area of Stance or Swing, or Line of Play

A player must not improve or allow to be improved: 

(i)   the position or lie of his ball,  

(ii)   the area of his stance or swing,  

(iii)   his line of play or a reasonable extension of that line beyond the hole, or  

(iv)   the area in which he is to place a ball,  

by any of the following actions: 

(i)   pressing a club on the ground,  

(ii)   moving, bending or breaking anything growing or fixed (including immovable obstructions and objects defining out of bounds),  

(iii)   creating or eliminating irregularities of surface,  

(iv)   removing or pressing down sand, loose soil or turf replaced in a divot, or  

(v)   removing dew, frost or water.  

However, except when the ball lies in a hazard (see 13-4 below), the player incurs no penalty if any of these outcomes occurs as a result of the player: 

(i)   grounding the club lightly when addressing the ball,  

(ii)   fairly taking his stance,  

(iii)  making a stroke or the backward movement of his club for a stroke and the stroke     is made,  

(iv)  creating or eliminating irregularities of surface within the tee or in removing dew, frost or water from the tee, or  

(v)  removing sand and loose soil or in repairing damage on the putting green (Rule 16-1). 

 

13-3. Building Stance

A player is entitled to place his feet firmly in taking his stance, but he must not take any action to significantly alter the area in which the stance is being taken or to use any object to assist in taking the stance.

 

13-4. Ball in Hazard; Prohibited Actions

Except as provided in the Rules, before making a stroke at a ball that is in a hazard or that, having been lifted from a hazard, may be placed in the hazard, the player must not: 

(i)  Test the condition of the hazard or any similar hazard; or 

(ii)  Touch the ground in the hazard or water in the water hazard with his hand or a club. 

Exceptions:

1. Provided nothing is done that constitutes testing the condition of the hazard or improves the lie of the ball, there is no penalty if the player; 

(i)      touches the ground or loose impediments in any hazard, or water in a water hazard, as a result of or to prevent falling, in removing an obstruction, in measuring or in marking the position of, retrieving, lifting, placing a ball under any Rule, or 

(ii)     places his clubs in a hazard. 

2.  At any time, the player may smooth sand or soil in a hazard provided nothing is done to breach Rule 13-2 or Rule 13-4a.  

Note: At any time, including at address or in the backward movement for the stroke, the player may touch, with a club or otherwise, any obstruction, any construction declared by the Committee to be an integral part of the course or any grass, bush, tree or other growing thing. 

PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE:

Match play – Loss of hole; Stroke play – Two strokes. 

(Searching for ball – see Rule 12-1) 

(Relief for ball in water hazard – see Rule 26)

 

 

Simpler Rules: Rule 12

Rule 12: Searching for and Identifying Ball 

12-1. Seeing Ball; Searching for Ball

A player is not necessarily entitled to see his ball when making a stroke. 

In searching for his ball anywhere on the course, the player may touch or bend long grass, rushes, bushes, or the like, but only to the extent necessary to find or identify the ball, provided that this does not improve the lie of the ball, the area of his intended stance or swing or his line of play. If the ball is moved, Rule 18-2a applies except as provided in clauses a - d of this Rule. 

In addition to the methods of searching for and identifying a ball that are otherwise permitted by the Rules, the player may search for and identify a ball under this Rule as follows: 

a. Searching for or Identifying Ball Covered by Sand

If the player’s ball lying anywhere on the course is believed to be covered by sand, to the extent that he cannot find or identify it, he may, without penalty, touch or move the sand with a club, his hand or  otherwise in order to find or identify the ball. If the ball is found, and identified as his, the player must re-create the lie as nearly as possible by replacing the sand. If the ball is moved during the touching or moving of sand while searching for or identifying the ball, there is no penalty; the ball must be replaced and the lie re-created. 

In re-creating a lie under this Rule, the player is permitted to leave a small part of the ball visible. 

b. Searching for or Identifying Ball Covered by Loose Impediments

If the player’s ball at rest anywhere on the course is believed to be covered by loose impediments to the extent that he cannot find or identify it, he may, without penalty, touch or move loose impediments in order to find or identify the ball. If the ball is moved during the touching or moving of loose impediments while searching for or identifying the ball, there is no penalty; the ball must be replaced and the lie re-created to reflect its state prior to the ball moving. 

In re-creating a lie under this Rule, the player is permitted to leave a small part of the ball visible. 

c. Searching for Ball in Water in Water Hazard

If a ball is believed to be lying in water in a water hazard, the player may, without penalty, probe for it with a club, his hand or otherwise. If the ball is accidentally moved while probing, there is no penalty; the ball must be replaced, unless the player elects to proceed under Rule 26-1. 

d. Searching for Ball Within Obstruction or Abnormal Ground Condition

If a ball lying in or on an obstruction or in an abnormal ground condition is accidentally moved during search, there is no penalty; the ball must be replaced unless the player elects to proceed under Rule 24-1b, 24-2b or 25-1b as applicable. If the player replaces the ball, he may still proceed under one of those Rules, if applicable. 

PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE 12-1:

Match Play – Loss of Hole; Stroke Play – Two Strokes. 

(Improving lie, area of intended stance or swing, or line of play – see Rule 13-2)

 

Rule 12-2. Lifting Ball for Identification

The responsibility for playing the proper ball rests with the player. Each player should put an identification mark on his ball. 

If a player believes that a ball at rest might be his, but he cannot identify it, the player may lift the ball for identification, without penalty. The right to lift a ball for identification is in addition to the actions permitted under Rule 12-1. 

Before lifting the ball, the player must announce his intention to his opponent in match play or his marker or a fellow-competitor in stroke play and mark the position of the ball. He may then lift the ball and identify it, provided that he gives his opponent, marker or fellow-competitor an opportunity to observe the lifting and replacement. The ball must not be cleaned beyond the extent necessary for identification when lifted under this Rule. 

If the ball is the player’s ball and he fails to comply with all or any part of this procedure, or he lifts his ball in order to identify it without having good reason to do so, he incurs a penalty of one stroke. If the lifted ball is the player’s ball, he must replace it.  

Note:  If the original lie of a ball to be replaced has been altered, see Rule 20-3b. 

*PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE 12-2:

Match Play – Loss of hole; Stroke Play – Two strokes. 

*If a player incurs the general penalty for a breach of Rule 12-2, there is no additional penalty under this Rule.

 

 

Simpler Rules: Rule 11

Rule 11: Teeing the Ball 

11-1. Teeing

When a player is putting a ball into play from the tee, it must be played from within the tee.  

If a player makes a stroke at a ball on a tee-peg exceeding 100mm in length, or at a ball teed in a manner not permitted by this Rule, he is disqualified from the competition. 

A player may stand outside the tee to play a ball within it.

 

11-2. Tee-Markers

When a player makes his first stroke with any ball on the tee of the hole being played, the tee-markers are deemed to be fixed. If the player moves or allows to be moved a tee-marker for the purpose of avoiding interference with his stance, the area of his intended swing or his line of play, he incurs the penalty of loss of hole or two strokes (for a breach of Rule 13-2). 

For any subsequent stroke played from the tee, the tee-markers remain immovable obstructions.

 

11-3. Ball Moved on the Tee

If a ball, when not in play, is moved by the player in the act of addressing it or during a practice swing it may be replaced or played as it lies, without penalty. However, if a stroke is made at the ball in these circumstances, whether the ball is moving or not, the stroke counts, but there is no penalty.

 

11-4. Playing from Outside Tee

a. Match Play

If a player, when starting a hole, plays a ball from outside the tee, there is no penalty, but the opponent may immediately require the player to cancel the stroke and play a ball from within the tee. 

b. Stroke Play

If a competitor, when starting a hole, plays a ball from outside the tee, he incurs a penalty of two strokes and must then play a ball from within the tee. 

If the competitor makes a stroke from the next tee without first correcting his mistake or, in the case of the last hole of the round, leaves the putting green without first declaring his intention to correct his mistake, he is disqualified from the competition. In par and Stableford competition, the player is disqualified from the hole at which the breach occurred. 

The stroke made from outside the tee, and any subsequent stroke made by the competitor on that hole prior to correcting his mistake, does not count in his score.

 

11-5. Playing from Wrong Tee

The provisions of Rule 11-4 apply.


 

Simpler Rules: Rule 10

Revised 14/04/13

Rule 10: Order of Play 

10-1. Match Play

a. When Starting Play of Hole

The side that has the honour on the first tee is determined by the order of the draw. In the absence of a draw, the honour should be decided by lot. 

The side that wins a hole has the honour at the next tee. If a hole has been halved, the side that had the honour at the previous tee retains it. 

b. During Play of Hole

After both players have started play of the hole, the ball farther from the hole must be played first. If the balls are equidistant from the hole or their positions relative to the hole are not determinable, the ball to be played first should be decided by lot. 

Exception:  Rule 30-3b (Better-ball match play). 

Note: When the original ball is not to be played as it lies and the player is required to play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5), the order of play is determined by that spot. When a ball may be played from a spot other than where the original ball was last played, the order of play is determined by the position where the original ball came to rest. 

c. Playing Out of Turn

If a player plays when his opponent should have played, there is no penalty, but the opponent may immediately require the player to cancel the stroke so made and, in correct order, play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5).

 

10-2. Stroke Play

a. When Starting Play of Hole

The competitor who has the honour at the first tee is determined by the order of the draw. In the absence of a draw, the honour should be decided by lot. 
 

The competitor with the lowest score at a hole takes the honour at the next tee; the competitor with the second lowest score plays next and so on.

If two or more competitors have the same score at a hole, they play from the next tee in the same order as at the previous tee.
 

Note: In par and Stableford competitions the player with the best par or Stableford score takes the honour at the next tee.

b. During Play of Hole

After the competitors have started play of the hole, the ball farthest from the hole should be played first. If two or more balls are equidistant from the hole or their positions relative to the hole are not determinable, the ball to be played first should be decided by lot. 

Exceptions: Rules 22 (ball assisting or interfering with play) and 31-4 (better-ball stroke play). 

Note: When the original ball is not to be played as it lies and the player is required to play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5), the order of play is determined by that spot. When a ball may be played from a spot other than where the original ball was last played, the order of play is determined by the position where the original ball came to rest. 

c. Playing Out of Turn

If a competitor plays out of turn, there is no penalty and the ball is played as it lies. If, however, the Committee determines that competitors have agreed to play out of turn to give one of them an advantage, they are disqualified from the competition. 

(Making stroke while another ball in motion after stroke from putting green – see Rule 16-1f)

(Incorrect order of play in foursome stroke play – see Rule 29-3)

 

10-3. Provisional Ball or Another Ball from Tee

If a player plays a provisional ball or another ball from the tee, he must do so after his opponent or fellow-competitor has made his first stroke. If more than one player elects to play a provisional ball or is required to play another ball from the tee, the original order of play must be retained. If a player plays a provisional ball or another ball out of turn, Rule 10-1c or 10-2c applies.

 

 

 

Simpler Rules: Rule 9

Revised 12/04/13

Rule 9: Information as to Strokes Taken

9-1. General

The number of strokes a player has taken includes any penalty strokes incurred. 

9-2. Match Play

a. Information as to Strokes Taken

An opponent is entitled to ascertain from the player, during the play of a hole, the number of strokes he has taken and, after play of a hole, the number of strokes taken on the hole just completed. 

b. Wrong Information

A player must not give wrong information to his opponent. If a player gives wrong information, he loses the hole. 

A player is deemed to have given wrong information if he: 

(i)    fails to inform his opponent as soon as practicable that he has incurred a penalty, unless (a) he was obviously proceeding under a Rule involving a penalty and this was observed by his opponent, or (b) he corrects the mistake before his opponent makes his next stroke; or  

(ii)   gives incorrect information during play of a hole regarding the number of strokes taken and does not correct the mistake before his opponent makes his next stroke; or  

(iii)  gives incorrect information regarding the number of strokes taken to complete a hole and this affects the opponent’s understanding of the result of the hole, unless he corrects the mistake before any player makes a stroke from the next tee or, in the case of the last hole of the match, before all players leave the putting green.  

A player has given wrong information even if it is due to the failure to include a penalty that he did not know he had incurred. It is the player’s responsibility to know the Rules. 

9-3. Stroke Play

A competitor who has incurred a penalty should inform his marker as soon as practicable.
 

Note: Refer to Rule 6-6 for requirements on the completion and submission of the score card.