General Golf Rules

Golf clubs and golf balls must conform to specifications laid down in The Rules of Golf. Players must not start a stipulated round with more than fourteen clubs. The total of fourteen clubs may consist of different clubs or be made up of multiples of identical clubs. For example a player may carry 2 Drivers, 2 Putters, 3 wedges plus 7 other clubs. This does not breach the total of fourteen. A damaged club, which becomes unfit for play, may be replaced with any club during a round but not with a club borrowed from another person playing on the course who had previously selected that club for play.

A player may use whatever type of ball he/she chooses, except in certain competitions where the Committee has specified a local rule insisting that the same brand and type of ball is used by the player over the duration of the competition. Unlike golf clubs, balls may be borrowed from other players. Any ball used by a player must be easily recognisable. It is the duty of all players to ensure that an identification mark is apparent in order to determine ownership of the ball during play. Except in a hazard, the ball may be lifted in order to identify it so long as his opponent or fellow competitor is advised of his intention and the position of the ball is marked.

During the play of a hole a golf ball may be changed if it becomes cut, cracked or out of shape. The player must inform his playing partners of his intention to determine if the ball is unfit and mark the position of the ball prior to examination. The playing partners should be given the opportunity to examine the ball also prior to giving agreement for the change to be made. If a ball shatters as the result of a stroke, the player must play a replacement ball from a point as near as possible to where the stroke was played. The original stroke is cancelled.

A stipulated round of golf consists of 18 holes played in the correct order, Hole 1 to 18. Occasionally the order may be modified by the Committee, for example players may be allowed to play the second nine holes prior to playing the first nine holes.

The play of any hole begins when the player has made a stroke on the teeing ground and is completed when the ball has been holed. A stroke is the forward movement of a club made with intention of striking the ball. If the downswing is stopped before the club head reaches the ball then a stroke has not been made. If the downswing is completed and passes the ball position without touching the ball a stroke has been made and the players score is incremented by one. A player must hole out with the ball originally played from the teeing ground unless the ball has been lost, out of bounds or substituted under the rules.

Players may not make practice strokes during the play of a hole or between the play of two holes. Players may practice putting and chipping on any practice putting green, on the putting green of the hole last played or on the teeing ground of the next hole to be played provided that play is not unduly delayed and following groups are not kept waiting.

The position or movement of the ball must not be influenced by any action taken by the player or his caddie.

A player cannot give advice to anyone, other than his partner, playing in the same competition. He cannot ask for advice from anyone other than his partner his caddie, or his partners caddie.


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