Section II DEFINITIONS
The Definitions are listed alphabetically and, in the Rules
themselves, defined terms are in italics.
Abnormal Ground Conditions
An “abnormal ground condition” is any casual water, ground under
repair or hole, cast or runway on the course made by a burrowing
animal, a reptile or a bird.
Addressing the Ball
A player has “addressed the ball” when he has taken his stance
and has also grounded his club, except that in a hazard a player
has addressed the ball when he has taken his stance.
Advice
“Advice” is any counsel or suggestion that could influence a
player in determining his play, the choice of a club or the
method of making a stroke.
Information on the Rules, distance or matters of public information,
such as the position of hazards or the flagstick on the putting
green, is not advice.
Ball Deemed to Move
See “Move or Moved.”
Ball Holed
See “Holed.”
Ball Lost
See “Lost Ball.”
Ball in Play
A ball is “in play” as soon as the player has made a stroke on
the teeing ground. It remains in play until it is holed, except
when it is lost, out of bounds or lifted, or another ball has been
substituted, whether or not the substitution is permitted; a ball
so substituted becomes the ball in play.
If a ball is played from outside the teeing ground when the
player is starting play of a hole, or when attempting to
correct this mistake, the ball is not in play and Rule 11-4 or
11-5 applies. Otherwise, ball in play includes a ball played
from outside the teeing ground when the player elects or is
required to play his next stroke from the teeing ground.
Exception in match play: Ball in play includes a ball played by
the player from outside the teeing ground when starting play
of a hole if the opponent does not require the stroke to be canceled
in accordance with Rule 11-4a.
Best-Ball
See “Forms of Match Play.”
Bunker
A “bunker” is a hazard consisting of a prepared area of ground,
often a hollow, from which turf or soil has been removed and
replaced with sand or the like.
Grass-covered ground bordering or within a bunker, including a
stacked turf face (whether grass-covered or earthen), is not part
of the bunker. A wall or lip of the bunker not covered with grass
is part of the bunker. The margin of a bunker extends vertically
downwards, but not upwards.
A ball is in a bunker when it lies in or any part of it touches the
bunker.
Burrowing Animal
A “burrowing animal” is an animal (other than a worm, insect or
the like) that makes a hole for habitation or shelter, such as a
rabbit, mole, groundhog, gopher or salamander.
Note: A hole made by a non-burrowing animal, such as a dog,
is not an abnormal ground condition unless marked or declared
as ground under repair.
Caddie
A “caddie” is one who assists the player in accordance with the
Rules, which may include carrying or handling the player’s
clubs during play.
When one caddie is employed by more than one player, he is
always deemed to be the caddie of the player sharing the caddie
whose ball (or whose partner’s ball) is involved, and equipment
carried by him is deemed to be that player’s equipment, except
when the caddie acts upon specific directions of another player
Definitions
(or the partner of another player) sharing the caddie, in which
case he is considered to be that other player’s caddie.
Casual Water
“Casual water” is any temporary accumulation of water on the
course that is not in a water hazard and is visible before or after
the player takes his stance. Snow and natural ice, other than
frost, are either casual water or loose impediments, at the option
of the player. Manufactured ice is an obstruction. Dew and frost
are not casual water.
A ball is in casual water when it lies in or any part of it touches
the casual water.
Committee
The “Committee” is the committee in charge of the competition
or, if the matter does not arise in a competition, the committee
in charge of the course.
Competitor
A “competitor” is a player in a stroke-play competition. A “fellow-
competitor” is any person with whom the competitor plays.
Neither is partner of the other.
In stroke-play foursome and four-ball competitions, where the
context so admits, the word “competitor” or “fellow-competitor”
includes his partner.
Course
The “course” is the whole area within any boundaries established
by the Committee (see Rule 33-2).
Equipment
“Equipment” is anything used, worn or carried by the player or
anything carried for the player by his partner or either of their
caddies, except any ball he has played at the hole being played
and any small object, such as a coin or a tee, when used to
mark the position of a ball or the extent of an area in which a
ball is to be dropped. Equipment includes a golf cart, whether or
not motorized.
Note 1: A ball played at the hole being played is equipment
when it has been lifted and not put back into play.
Definitions
Note 2: When a golf cart is shared by two or more players, the
cart and everything in it are deemed to be the equipment of one
of the players sharing the cart.
If the cart is being moved by one of the players (or the partner of
one of the players) sharing it, the cart and everything in it are
deemed to be that player’s equipment. Otherwise, the cart and
everything in it are deemed to be the equipment of the player
sharing the cart whose ball (or whose partner’s ball) is involved.
Fellow-Competitor
See “Competitor.”
Flagstick
The “flagstick” is a movable straight indicator, with or without
bunting or other material attached, centered in the hole to
show its position. It must be circular in cross-section. Padding
or shock absorbent material that might unduly influence the
movement of the ball is prohibited.
Forecaddie
A “forecaddie” is one who is employed by the Committee to
indicate to players the position of balls during play. He is an
outside agency.
Forms of Match Play
Single: A match in which one player plays against another
player.
Threesome: A match in which one player plays against two
other players, and each side plays one ball.
Foursome: A match in which two players play against two
other players, and each side plays one ball.
Three-Ball: Three players play a match against one another,
each playing his own ball. Each player is playing two distinct
matches.
Best-Ball: A match in which one player plays against the better
ball of two other players or the best ball of three other players.
Four-Ball: A match in which two players play their better ball
against the better ball of two other players.
Definitions
Forms of Stroke Play
Individual: A competition in which each competitor plays as an
individual.
Foursome: A competition in which two competitors play as partners
and play one ball.
Four-Ball: A competition in which two competitors play as partners,
each playing his own ball. The lower score of the partners is the
score for the hole. If one partner fails to complete the play of the
hole, there is no penalty.
Note: For bogey, par and Stableford competitions, see Rule 32-1.
Four-Ball
See “Forms of Match Play” and “Forms of Stroke Play.”
Foursome
See “Forms of Match Play” and “Forms of Stroke Play.”
Ground Under Repair
“Ground under repair” is any part of the course so marked by order
of the Committee or so declared by its authorized representative.
All ground and any grass, bush, tree or other growing thing
within the ground under repair are part of the ground under repair.
Ground under repair includes material piled for removal and a hole
made by a greenkeeper, even if not so marked. Grass cuttings and
other material left on the course that have been abandoned and
are not intended to be removed are not ground under repair unless
so marked.
When the margin of ground under repair is defined by stakes, the
stakes are inside the ground under repair, and the margin of the
ground under repair is defined by the nearest outside points of the
stakes at ground level. When both stakes and lines are used to
indicate ground under repair, the stakes identify the ground under
repair and the lines define the margin of the ground under repair.
When the margin of ground under repair is defined by a line on the
ground, the line itself is in the ground under repair. The margin of
ground under repair extends vertically downwards but not upwards.
A ball is in ground under repair when it lies in or any part of it
touches the ground under repair.
