Rules School

Jan 27, 2023

(Effective January 2023) Rule 7 allows the player to take reasonable actions to fairly search for their ball in play after each stroke.

• But the player still must be careful, as a penalty will apply if the player acts excessively and causes improvement to the conditions affecting their next stroke.
• The player gets no...

Jan 27, 2023

(Effective January 2023) Rule 6 covers how to play a hole - such as the specific Rules for teeing off to start a hole, the requirement to use the same ball for an entire hole except when substitution is allowed, the order of play (which matters more in match play than stroke play) and completing a hole.

Jan 24, 2023

(Effective January 2023) Rule 5 covers how to play a round - such as where and when a player may practise on the course before or during a round, when a round starts and ends and what happens when play has to stop or resume. Players are expected to:

• Start each round on time, and
• Play continuously and at a promt pace...

Jan 20, 2023

(Effective January 2023) Rule 4 covers the equipment that players may use during a round. Based on the principle that golf is a challenging game in which success should depend on the player's judgement, skills and abilities, the player:

• Must use conforming clubs and balls,
• Is limited to no more than 14 clubs, and
• Is...

Jan 19, 2023

(Effective January 2023) Rule 3 covers the three central elements of all golf competitions:

• Playing either match play or stroke play,
• Playing either as an individual or with a partner as part of a side, and
• Scoring either by gross scores (no handicap strokes applied) or net scores (handicap stroke applied).