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Rule 20.2

Referee

Also searched as: rules official, match referee, roving referee

An official named by the Committee to decide questions of fact and apply the Rules.

The Committee may appoint referees for a competition. If there is none, it decides itself.

In stroke play, a referee acts on any breach of the Rules they see or are told about. In match play it depends on whether the referee is assigned to your match. If so, they must rule on any issue that comes to their attention in time. A referee who is only roving the course has no authority to intervene and rules only when someone asks in time.

If a referee gives a wrong ruling, it is corrected as long as the Rules still allow it. Otherwise the wrong ruling stands.

If nobody can be reached, you may play two balls in stroke play. In match play, you tell your opponent before either of you tees off on the next hole that you will seek a ruling.

Step by step

  1. 1Ask for a ruling. If you are unsure or you and another player disagree, you ask the referee for a ruling.
  2. 2Follow the ruling. It is binding on all players. You have no right to appeal to the Committee.
  3. 3Play on. If a referee mistakenly allows you to do something that breaches the Rules, you get no penalty for it.