50 Rule 15
Rule 15. Substituted Ball; Wrong Ball
Definitions
All defined terms are in italics and are listed alphabetically in
the Definitions section — see pages 5-18.
15-1. General
A player must hole out with the ball played from the teeing
ground unless the ball is lost or out of bounds or the player substitutes
another ball, whether or not substitution is permitted (see
Rule 15-2). If a player plays a wrong ball, see Rule 15-3.
15-2. Substituted Ball
A player may substitute a ball when proceeding under a Rule
that permits the player to play, drop or place another ball in
completing the play of a hole. The substituted ball becomes the
ball in play.
If a player substitutes a ball when not permitted to do so under
the Rules, that substituted ball is not a wrong ball; it becomes the
ball in play. If the mistake is not corrected as provided in Rule
20-6 and the player makes a stroke at a wrongly substituted ball,
he loses the hole in match play or incurs a penalty of two
strokes in stroke play under the applicable Rule and, in stroke
play, must play out the hole with the substituted ball.
Exception: If a player incurs a penalty for making a stroke
from a wrong place, there is no additional penalty for substituting
a ball when not permitted.
(Playing from wrong place — see Rule 20-7.)
15-3. Wrong Ball
g a. Match Play
If a player makes a stroke at a wrong ball, he loses the hole.
If the wrong ball belongs to another player, its owner must place
a ball on the spot from which the wrong ball was first played.
If the player and opponent exchange balls during the play of
a hole, the first to make a stroke at a wrong ball loses the hole;
Rule 15 51
when this cannot be determined, the hole must be played out
with the balls exchanged.
Exception: There is no penalty if a player makes a stroke at a
wrong ball that is moving in water in a water hazard. Any strokes
made at a wrong ball moving in water in a water hazard do not
count in the player’s score. The player must correct his mistake
by playing the correct ball or by proceeding under the Rules.
g b. Stroke Play
If a competitor makes a stroke or strokes at a wrong ball, he incurs
a penalty of two strokes.
The competitor must correct his mistake by playing the correct
ball or by proceeding under the Rules. If he fails to correct his
mistake before making a stroke on the next teeing ground or, in
the case of the last hole of the round, fails to declare his intention
to correct his mistake before leaving the putting green, he
is disqualified.
Strokes made by a competitor with a wrong ball do not count in
his score. If the wrong ball belongs to another competitor, its
owner must place a ball on the spot from which the wrong
ball was first played.
Exception: There is no penalty if a competitor makes a stroke
at a wrong ball that is moving in water in a water hazard. Any
strokes made at a wrong ball moving in water in a water hazard
do not count in the competitor’s score.
(Lie of ball to be placed or replaced altered — see Rule 20-3b.)
(Spot not determinable — see Rule 20-3c.)
