Rules School

Rule 25 - Modifications for Players with Disabilities (2023)

(Effective January 2023) Rule 25 provides modifications to certain Rules of Golf to allow players with specific disabilities to play fairly with players who have no disab

Rule 24 - Team Competitions (2023)

(Effective January 2023) Rule 24 covers team competitions (played in either match play or stroke play), where multiple players or sides compete as a team with the results

Rule 23 - Four-Ball (2023)

(Effective January 2023) Rule 23 covers Four-Ball (played either in match play or stroke play), where partners compete as a side with each playing a separate ball. The si

Rule 22 - Foursomes (Also Known as Alternate Shot) (2023)

(Effective January 2023) Rule 22 covers Foursomes (played either in match play or stroke play), where two partners compete together as a side by alternating in making str

Rule 21 - Other Forms of Individual Stroke Play and Match Play (2023)

(Effective January 2023) Rule 21 covers four other forms of individual play, including three forms of stroke play where scoring is different than in regular stroke play:

Rule 20 - Resolving Rules Issues During Round; Rulings by Referee and Committee (2023)

(Effective January 2023) Rule 20 covers what players should do when they have questions about the Rules during a round, including the procedures (which differ in match pl

Rule 19 - Unplayable Ball (2023)

(Effective January 2023) Rule 19 covers the player's several relief options for an unplayable ball. This allows the player to choose which option to use - normally with o

Rule 18 - Stroke-and-Distance Relief; Ball Lost or Out of Bounds; Provisional Ball (2023)

(Effective January 2023) Rule 18 covers taking relief under penalty of stroke and distance. When a ball is lost outside a penalty area or comes to rest out of bounds, the

Rule 17 - Penalty Areas (2023)

(Effective January 2023) Rule 17 is a specific Rule for penalty areas, which are bodies of water or other areas defined by the Committee where a ball is often lost or una

Rule 16 - Relief from Abnormal Course Conditions (Including Immovable Obstructions), Dangerous Animal Condition, Embedded Ball (2023)

(Effective January 2023) Rule 16 covers when and how the player may take free relief by playing a ball from a different place, such as when there is interference by an ab

Rule 15 - Relief from Loose Impediments and Movable Obstructions (Including Ball or Ball-Marker Helping or Interfering with Play) (2023)

(Effective January 2023) Rule 15 covers when and how the player may take free relief from loose impediments and movable obstructions. These movable natural and artifici

Rule 14 - Procedures for Ball: Marking, Lifting and Cleaning; Replacing on Spot; Dropping in Relief Area; Playing from Wrong Place (2023)

(Effective January 2023) Rule 14 covers when and how the player may mark the spot of a ball at rest and lift and clean the ball and how to put a ball back into play so th

Rule 13 - Putting Greens (2023)

(Effective January 2023) Rule 13 is a specific Rule for putting greens. Putting greens are specially prepared for playing the ball along the ground and there is a flagsti

Rule 12 - Bunkers (2023)

(Effective January 2023) Rule 12 is a specific Rule for bunkers, which are specially prepared areas intended to test the player's ability to play a ball from the sand. To

Rule 11 - Ball in Motion Accidentally Hits Person, Animal or Object; Deliberate Actions to Affect Ball in Motion (2023)

(Effective January 2023) Rule 11 covers what to do if the player's ball in motion hits a person, animal, equipment or anything else on the course. When this happens accid

Rule 10 - Preparing for and Making a Stroke; Advice and Help; Caddies (2023)

(Effective January 2023) Rule 10 covers how to prepare for and make a stroke, including advice and other help the player may get from others (including caddies). The unde

Rule 9 - Ball Played as It Lies; Ball at Rest Lifted or Moved (2023)

(Effective January 2023) Rule 9 covers a central principle of the game: "play the ball as it lies".  If the player's ball comes to rest and is then moved by natural for

Rule 8 - Course Played as It Is Found (2023)

(Effective January 2023) Rule 8 covers a central principle of the game: "play the course as you find it". When the player's ball comes to rest, they normally have to acce

Rule 7 - Ball Search: Finding and Identifying Ball (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 car

Rule 6 - Playing a Hole (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