THE RULES OF GOLF THE UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION

THE RULES OF GOLF

as approved by

THE UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION®

and

R&A Rules Limited

Effective January 1, 2008

Copyright© 2007 By

THE UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION

HOW TO USE THE RULES BOOK

UNDERSTAND THE WORDS

The Rules book is written in a very precise and deliberate fashion. You

should be aware of and understand the following differences in word use:

may = optional

should = recommendation

must = instruction (and penalty if not carried out)

a ball = you may substitute another ball (e.g., Rules 26, 27 and 28)

the ball = you may not substitute another ball (e.g., Rules 24-2 and 25-1)

KNOW THE DEFINITIONS

There are over 50 defined terms and these form the foundation on

which the Rules of Play are written. A good knowledge of the defined

terms (which are italicized throughout the book) is very important to

the correct application of the Rules.

WHICH RULE APPLIES?

The Contents pages may help you find the relevant Rule; alternatively,

there is an Index at the back of the book.

WHAT IS THE RULING?

To answer any question on the Rules you must first establish the facts

of the case.

To do so you should identify:

1. The form of play (e.g., match play or stroke play; single, foursome

or four-ball?).

2. Who is involved (e.g., the player, his partner or caddie, an outside

agency?).

3. Where the incident occurred (e.g., on the teeing ground, in a bunker

or water hazard, on the putting green or elsewhere on the course?).

4. The player’s intentions (e.g., what was he doing and what does he

want to do?).

5. Any subsequent events (e.g., the player has returned his score card

or the competition has closed).

REFER TO THE BOOK

It is recommended that you carry a Rules book in your golf bag and

use it whenever a question arises. If in doubt, play the course as

you find it and play the ball as it lies. Once back in the Clubhouse,

reference to “Decisions on the Rules of Golf” should help resolve any

outstanding queries.

II

Foreword from the chairmen

This book contains the Rules of Golf, which will be effective

worldwide from January 1, 2008. It represents the culmination

of four years of work by the United States Golf Association

(USGA) and R&A Rules Limited following consultation with

other golfing bodies throughout the world.

While it is considered important that the Rules be faithful

to their historical principles, they must be clear, comprehensive

and understandable, and the penalties must be appropriate.

The Rules need regular review to ensure these goals are met,

and this set of Rules is the latest stage of this evolution. The

principal changes are summarized on pages III to VI.

Both the USGA and R&A Rules Limited wish to promote

respect for and adherence to the Rules and to preserve the

integrity of golf at all levels.

We express our grateful thanks not only for the work done

by our respective committees, but also to all those others

whose varied contributions have made this revision possible.

The USGA wishes to thank in particular Jim Reinhart and

Paul Caruso, each of whom served as Rules Chairman during

this revision cycle.

The USGA also wishes to thank Rolex for its generous

funding of this publication.

James T. Bunch W. Michael B. Brown

Chairman Chairman

Rules of Golf Committee Rules of Golf Committee

United States Golf Association R&A Rules Limited

Principal Changes to the Rules

The USGA publication entitled “A Modification of the Rules

of Golf for Golfers with Disabilities” that contains permissible

modifications to The Rules of Golf to accommodate disabled

golfers is available through the USGA.

Principal Changes

General

The changes to the Rules generally fall into two broad categories:

(1) those that improve the clarity of the Rules and (2)

those that reduce the penalties in certain circumstances to

ensure that they are proportionate.

Definitions

Advice —

Amended to allow the exchange of information on

distance, as it is not considered to be “advice.”

Lost Ball —

Amended to clarify substituted ball issues and to

include the concept of “stroke-and-distance” (see corresponding

changes to Rules 18-1, 24-3, 25-1c, 26 and 27-1).

Matches —

Definition withdrawn and replaced by two new

Definitions, “Forms of Match Play” and “Forms of Stroke Play.”

Rules

Rule 1-2. Exerting Influence on Ball —

Note added to clarify

what constitutes a serious breach of Rule 1-2.

Rule 4-1. Form and Make of Clubs —

Amended to reduce the

penalty for carrying, but not using, a non-conforming club or

a club in breach of Rule 4-2, from disqualification to the same

as carrying more than 14 clubs.

Rule 12-1. Searching for Ball; Seeing Ball —

Amended to

include searching for a ball in an obstruction.

Rule 12-2. Identifying Ball —

Amended to allow a player to

lift his ball for identification in a hazard (see corresponding

IV

change to Rule 15-3, removing the exemption from penalty

for playing a wrong ball in a hazard).

Rule 13-4. Ball in Hazard; Prohibited Actions —

Exception 1

amended for clarification; Exception 2 amended to refer to

Rule 13-2; Exception 3 added to exempt a player from penalty

under Rule 13-4a (testing the condition of the hazard) in certain

circumstances.

Rule 14-3. Artificial Devices, Unusual Equipment and

Unusual Use of Equipment —

Amended to refer to the unusual

use of equipment (see also new Exception on use of equipment

in a traditionally accepted manner) and new Exception

added for players with a legitimate medical reason to use an

artificial device or unusual equipment.

Note added to clarify that a Local Rule may be introduced

allowing the use of distance-measuring devices; previously

authorized by Decision only.

Rule 15-2. Substituted Ball —

Exception added to avoid a

“double penalty” when the player incorrectly substitutes a

ball and plays from a wrong place (see corresponding change

to Rule 20-7c).

Rule 15-3. Wrong Ball —

Amended to remove the exemption

from penalty for playing a wrong ball in a hazard (see corresponding

change to Rule 12-2, allowing the player to lift a ball

for identification in a hazard).

Rule 16-1e. Standing Astride or on Line of Putt —

Exception

added to apply no penalty if the act was inadvertent or to

avoid standing on another player’s line of putt; previously

authorized by Decision only.

Rule 18. Ball at Rest Moved —

Penalty statement amended to

avoid a “double penalty” when the player lifts a ball without

authority and incorrectly substitutes a ball (see related changes

to Rules 15-2 and 20-7c).

Rule 18-1. Ball at Rest Moved; By Outside Agency —

Note

added to clarify the procedure when a ball might have been

moved by an outside agency.

Rule 19-2. Ball in Motion Deflected or Stopped By Player,

Partner, Caddie or Equipment —

Amended to reduce the penalty

in both match play and stroke play to one stroke.

Rule 20-3a. Placing and Replacing; By Whom and Where Amended

to reduce the penalty for having the wrong person

place or replace a ball to one stroke.

Rule 20-7c. Playing from Wrong Place; Stroke Play —

Note

added to avoid a “double penalty” when the player plays from

a wrong place and incorrectly substitutes a ball (see corresponding

change to Rule 15-2).

Rule 24-1. Movable Obstruction —

Amended to allow a flagstick,

whether attended, removed or held up, to be moved

when a ball is in motion.

Rule 24-3. Ball in Obstruction Not Found;

Rule 25-1c. Ball in Abnormal Ground Condition Not Found;

Rule 26-1. Water Hazards (Including Lateral Water Hazards);

Rule 27-1. Stroke and Distance; Ball Out of Bounds; Ball Not

Found Within Five Minutes The

term “reasonable evidence” has been replaced by “known

or virtually certain” when determining whether a ball that

has not been found may be treated as lost in an obstruction

(Rule 24-3), an abnormal ground condition (Rule 25-1)

or a water hazard (Rule 26-1). See corresponding change to

Definition of “Lost Ball” and Rule 18-1.

Appendix I

Seams of Cut Turf —

New Specimen Local Rule added.

Temporary Immovable Obstruction —

Clause II of the

Specimen Local Rule amended to include an additional

VI

requirement that, for intervention relief to be granted, the

temporary immovable obstruction must be on the player’s

line of play.

Appendix II

Adjustability — Amended to allow forms of adjustability

other than weight adjustment, subject to evaluation by the

USGA.

Clubhead; Plain in Shape — Amended to clarify meaning of

“plain in shape” and list some of the features that are not

permitted; previously detailed in guidelines on equipment

Rules.

Clubhead; Dimensions, Volume and Moment of Inertia

— Sections added on moment of inertia and putter head

dimensions; previously detailed in guidelines on equipment

Rules and test protocols.

Clubhead; Spring Effect and Dynamic Properties — New

section added on spring effect. The limit, as detailed in the

Pendulum Test Protocol, now applies to all clubs (except

putters) and in all forms of the game; previously covered by

condition of competition.

Rules of Amateur Status

Rule 3-2a —

Exception amended to clarify a cash prize for a

hole-in-one made while playing golf is permissible.

Rule 4-2b —

Note added regarding the rules of the National

Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

Rule 4-2c —

Note added regarding the rules of the NCAA.

Rule 6-2 —

Exception added for a player promoting (a) his

national, state or county union or association, (b) certain types

of golf competitions or events or (c) a recognized charity.

CONTENTS

SECTION I ETIQUETTE.................................................................... 1

SECTION II DEFINITIONS................................................................ 5

SECTION III THE RULES OF PLAY................................................. 19

The Game

Rule 1 The Game......................................................................... 19

Rule 2 M atch Play....................................................................... 20

Rule 3 Stroke Play....................................................................... 22

Clubs and the Ball

Rule 4 Clubs................................................................................. 24

Rule 5 The Ball............................................................................. 27

Player’s Responsibilities

Rule 6 The Player........................................................................ 29

Rule 7 Practice............................................................................. 35

Rule 8 Advice; Indicating Line of Play.................................. 36

Rule 9 Information as to Strokes Taken.............................. 37

Order of Play

Rule 10 Order of Play................................................................... 39

Teeing Ground

Rule 11 Teeing Ground............................................................... 41

Playing the Ball

Rule 12 Searching for and Identifying Ball........................... 43

Rule 13 Ball Played as It Lies..................................................... 45

Rule 14 Striking the Ball............................................................ 47

Rule 15 Substituted Ball; Wrong Ball..................................... 50

The Putting Green

Rule 16 The Putting Green......................................................... 52

Rule 17 The Flagstick................................................................... 54

Ball Moved, Deflected or Stopped

Rule 18 Ball at Rest Moved......................................................... 56

Rule 19 Ball in Motion Deflected or Stopped....................... 58

Relief Situations and Procedure

Rule 20 Lifting, Dropping and Placing;

Playing from Wrong Place.......................................... 61

Rule 21 Cleaning Ball.................................................................. 68

Rule 22 Ball Assisting or Interfering with Play.................... 68

Rule 23 Loose Impediments....................................................... 69

Rule 24 Obstructions................................................................... 70

Rule 25 Abnormal Ground Conditions,

Embedded Ball and Wrong Putting Green............ 74

Rule 26 Water Hazards

(Including Lateral Water Hazards)........................... 78

Rule 27 Ball Lost or Out of Bounds; Provisional Ball......... 80

Rule 28 Ball Unplayable.............................................................. 83

Other Forms of Play

Rule 29 Threesomes and Foursomes....................................... 84

Rule 30 Three-Ball, Best-Ball and Four-Ball Match Play..... 84

Rule 31 Four-Ball Stroke Play.................................................... 87

Rule 32 Bogey, Par and Stableford Competitions............... 90

Administration

Rule 33 The Committee.............................................................. 93

Rule 34 Disputes and Decisions............................................... 96

Appendix I: Local Rules; Conditions of the Competition

Contents ................................................................................................. 98

Part A: Local Rules.............................................................................. 100

Part B: Specimen Local Rules.......................................................... 102

Part C: Conditions of the Competition........................................ 117

Appendix II: Design of Clubs 126

Appendix III: The Ball 138

Rules of Amateur Status 139

Policy on Gambling 153

Index to The Rules of Golf 155