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The official Rules, in our own words

Rules of Golf

All 25 Rules, each in one sentence. Behind every number are the individual cases, with rules questions and videos. Based on the 2023 Rules.

What happened?

The basics

  1. 1Principles, conduct, penaltiesPlay the course as you find it and the ball as it lies. Act fairly and apply your own penalties.10 questions
  2. 2The courseFive areas and out of bounds. The area your ball lies in often decides what you may do.6 questions
  3. 3Match play, stroke play, scorecardThe form of play, gross or net, concessions and what must be on your scorecard.27 questions
  4. 4Clubs, balls, equipmentNo more than 14 clubs, only conforming clubs and balls, and what a distance-measuring device may do.23 questions

The round and the hole

  1. 5The roundStarting time, practising on the course, pace of play and what to do when play is stopped.13 questions
  2. 6Teeing off, order of play, wrong ballHow a hole starts, who plays when, when you may change ball and when a hole is completed.22 questions

Playing the ball

  1. 7Searching for and identifying your ballYou may search within reason. If you accidentally move your ball while searching, there is no penalty and it goes back.10 questions1 video
  2. 8Do not improve the courseNo breaking branches, no pressing down grass: you normally have to leave whatever affects your next stroke.16 questions
  3. 9Play the ball as it lies; ball movedIf wind or water moves it, you normally play from the new spot. If a person moves it, it goes back.16 questions
  4. 10Stroke, advice, caddieHow you may make a stroke, whom you may ask for advice and what your caddie may do for you.25 questions
  5. 11Ball in motion hits somethingIf your ball accidentally hits someone or something, there is normally no penalty. Deliberately deflecting it is prohibited.14 questions

Bunkers and putting greens

  1. 12BunkersSince 2019 you may remove leaves and stones. You must not test the sand or touch it right next to your ball.11 questions
  2. 13Putting green and flagstickMarking and cleaning your ball, repairing damage, leaving or removing the flagstick, ten seconds at the edge of the hole.31 questions

Lifting and returning a ball

  1. 14Marking, replacing, droppingHow to lift your ball correctly and put it back in play, and what applies if you played from a wrong place.28 questions2 videos

Relief without penalty

  1. 15Leaves, stones, rake, another ballYou can normally remove what can be moved. A ball that gets in the way is lifted too.16 questions
  2. 16Cart path, puddle, animal hole, embedded ballWhat is not part of the challenge of the course normally costs you nothing: you take free relief.30 questions1 video

Relief with a penalty

  1. 17Penalty areasPlay it as it lies, or take one penalty stroke and play from outside. Red also gives you lateral relief.19 questions4 videos
  2. 18Lost ball, out of bounds, provisional ballOne penalty stroke and back to the previous spot. A provisional ball saves you the walk.19 questions2 videos
  3. 19Unplayable ballYou alone decide, everywhere except in a penalty area. One penalty stroke, three options, and a fourth in a bunker for two penalty strokes.12 questions2 videos

Resolving Rules issues

  1. 20Not sure what applies? Referee and CommitteeIn stroke play you may play a second ball, in match play you ask for a ruling in time.13 questions

Other forms of play

  1. 21Stableford and other individual formsStableford, Maximum Score, Par/Bogey and Three-Ball Match Play, each with its own scoring.8 questions
  2. 22FoursomesTwo partners play one ball, taking turns.7 questions
  3. 23Four-ballTwo partners each play their own ball, and the better score counts.8 questions
  4. 24Team competitionsThe captain, the Terms of the Competition and who may give advice to the team.2 questions

Players with disabilities

  1. 25Modified RulesA Rule of its own since 2023: for players who are blind, amputees, players using mobility devices and players with intellectual disabilities.