Questions & Comments

Frequently Asked Questions About the Rules of Golf

Q. What is the status of "waste areas" and "waste bunkers" under the Rules of Golf?
A. Under the Rules of Golf, there is no such thing as a "waste area" or "waste bunker." By Definition, a bunker is a prepared area of ground from which turf or soil has been removed and replaced with sand. There is nothing in the Rules under which a prepared area of sand (bunker) may be categorized as not a hazard, i.e., through the green, by terming it a "waste area" or "waste bunker." On the other hand, a natural sandy area is not a hazard, and a player whose ball lies in such an area may ground his club lightly in, or remove loose impediments from, the area.

Q. Are there established criteria under the Rules of Golf concerning the location of the hole on the putting green?
A. The RCGA frequently receives requests for guidelines with respect to selection of hole locations on the putting greens, particularly during competitions. There are no rules regarding hole locations, so there is no such thing as an "illegal" hole location.

The RCGA believes that many factors affect selection of hole locations. The first and most important is good judgment in deciding what will give fair results. Do not be tricky in locating holes.

Following are specific points:
1. Study the design of the hole as the architect intended it to be played. Know the length of the shot to the green and how it may be affected by the probable conditions for the day - that is, wind and other weather elements, conditions of the turf from which the shot will be played, and holding quality of the green.

2. There must be enough putting green surface between the hole and the front and the sides of the green to accommodate the required shot. For example, if the hole requires a long iron or wood shot to the green, the hole should be located deeper in the green and further from its sides than should be the case if the hole requires a short pitch shot.
In any case, it is recommended that generally the hole be located at least five paces from any edge of the green. If a bunker is close to the edge, or if the ground slopes away from the edge, the distance should be greater, especially if the shot is more than a pitch. Consideration should be given to fair opportunity for recovery after a reasonably good shot that just misses the green.

3. An area two to three feet in radius around the hole should be as nearly level as possible and of uniform grade. In no case should holes be located in tricky places, or on sharp slopes where a ball can gather speed. A player above the hole should be able to stop the ball at the hole.

4. Consider the condition of nearby turf, especially taking care to avoid old hole plugs which have not completely healed.

5. Holes should be cut as nearly on the vertical as possible, not plumb with the contour of the green.

6. There should be a balanced selection of hole locations for the entire course with respect to left, right, central, front and back positions. For example, avoid too many left positions with resulting premium on drawn or hooked shots.

7. For a competition played over several days, the course should be kept in balance daily as to degree of difficulty. In a stroke competition, the first hole of the first round is as important as the last hole of the last round, and so the course should not be set up appreciably more difficult for any round - balanced treatment is the aim. An old concept of making the course progressively harder round after round is fallacious. One form of balanced daily treatment is to select six quite difficult, six which are moderately difficult and six which are relatively easy.

8. During practice days before a competition, locate holes in areas not to be used during the competition and which will not result in areas to be used being impaired by foot traffic.

9. Anticipate the players' traffic patterns. Locate holes for early rounds so that good hole locations for later rounds will not be spoiled by players leaving the green.

10. In match play, a hole location may, if necessary, be changed during a round provided the players in each match play with the hole in the same location.
In stroke play, Rule 33-2b requires that all competitors in a single round play with each hole cut in the same position, but see Exception to that Rule.
When 36 holes are played in one day, it is not customary for hole locations to be changed between rounds, but there is no Rule to prohibit changing them. If they are changed, all players should be informed.

11. The greenkeeper who cuts the holes should make sure that the Rules of Golf are observed, especially the requirements that the hole-liner not exceed 4 1/4 inches in outer diameter and that it be sunk at least one inch below the putting green surface.

Q. Why can't spike marks be repaired?
A. The Rules of Golf are based on two fundamental principles: (1) play the ball as it lies and (2) play the course as you find it. Permitting the repair of spike marks on a player's line of play or putt would be contrary to these fundamental principles.
Rule 16-1c permits the repair of old hole plugs and ball marks but does not permit the repair of spike damage or other irregularities of surface on the putting green if they are on a player's line of play or putt or might assist him in his subsequent play of the hole. The distinction lies in the fact that old hole plugs and ball marks are easily identifiable as such, whereas it is impossible to differentiate between spike damage and other irregularities of surface on the putting green. Permitting the repair of spike marks would also inevitably lead to a slower place of play.

Please note that proper etiquette recommends that damage to the putting green caused by golf shoe spikes be repaired on completion of the hole by all players, just as a player should fill up and smooth over all holes and footprints made by him before leaving a bunker.

Q. What constitutes a valid hole-in-one?
A. The Rules of Golf do not address the issue of the validity of a hole-in-one. It is up to the Committee to determine whether a hole-in-one is valid.
The RCGA recommends that a hole-in-one be considered valid:
a) If made during a round of at least nine holes, except that a hole-in-one made during a match should be acceptable even if the match ends before the stipulated round is completed.
b) If the player is playing one ball; a hole-in-one made in a practice round in which the player is playing two or more balls should not be acceptable.
c) If attested by someone acceptable to the Committee.
d) If made at a hole with a temporary tee and/or putting green in use, even if the Committee did not specifically define the teeing ground with tee-markers; the length of the hole at the time should be stated on any certificate.
e) If made in a "scramble" competition, which is played as follows: A side comprises four players. Each member of a side plays from the teeing ground, the best drive is selected, each member plays a second shot from where the best drive is located, and so on.

Q. Can I use an "x-out" ball to play a round of golf?
A. The RCGA has no way of knowing whether a particular brand of golf ball conforms to the Rules of Golf, unless the ball has been tested for performance.
The RCGA publishes a list of brands of golf balls that have been tested and found to conform to the Rules. It is a condition of all RCGA Championships that only brands of balls on the conforming list may be used. It is the RCGA's view that, if the conforming list is not posted as a condition, the player should not be subject to penalty regardless of the brand of ball (including an "X-d Out" ball) he uses, provided he does not use a ball which obviously is nonconforming, e.g. a 1.62" ball or a brand of ball which the RCGA has found to be nonconforming and the player is aware, or should be aware, of that fact. (Based on Decision 5-1/4)

Q. May stakes defining a water hazard or lateral water hazard be moved if they interfere physically with the player's play or if they interfere with his line of play?
A. The stake(s) in question are obstructions, and provided they are readily movable, they may be removed.

Q. If a player runs out of golf balls during a round, may he borrow a ball from another player?
A. Yes. There is nothing in the Rules of Golf that prohibits a player from borrowing a golf ball from an opponent or fellow-competitor. A player who runs out of balls may get a new supply from any source, provided he does not unduly delay play (Rule 6-7) in the process. Although golf balls are part of a player's equipment, the only type of equipment that the Rules prohibit the borrowing of is clubs (Rule 4-4a). (Based on Decision 5-1/5)

Q. In the course of making a practice swing, a player accidentally strikes and moves his ball. What is the ruling? 
A. If the ball was not in play, i.e., the incident occurred on the teeing ground and a stroke had not yet been made, there is no penalty. However, if the ball was in play, the player incurred a penalty stroke under Rule 18-2a and the ball must be replaced. (Based on Decisions 18-2a/19 and 18-2a/20)

Q. May a player have the flagstick attended even if his ball is not on the putting green?
A. Yes. The provisions of Rule 17-1 apply regardless of the location of the ball.

Q. Does the location of the ball on the course, i.e., the fringe, a bunker or the putting green, have a bearing on determining the order of play?
A. No. The order of play is determined solely by the distance from the hole of each ball.

Q. Is a player entitled to relief without penalty from his ball embedded in its own pitch-mark in the rough? 
A. The player is entitled to relief only if the Local Rule for an embedded ball anywhere through the green is in effect (see Appendix I of the Rules of Golf). Otherwise, the player must play the ball as it lies or declare it unplayable as Rule 25-2 grants relief for an embedded ball in a closely-mown area through the green.

Q. May a player putt with one hand while holding the flagstick with the other?
A. Yes, provided that (1) the player does not use the flagstick to support himself (see Decision 14-3/9) and (2) the ball does not strike the flagstick. (Based on Decision 17-1/5)

Q. Must a player use a small coin or similar object to mark the position of his ball before lifting it?
A. No. While the Note to Rule 20-1 recommends using such an object, the player is not required to do so. For example, it is permissible to use a tee or the toe of the putter to mark the position of the ball before lifting it. However, some Committees (such as the professional tours) adopt the Local Rule in Appendix I of the Rules of Golf that requires players to use such an object.

Q. Is the player who lifted the ball the only one who may replace it?
A. Not necessarily. One of three people may replace the ball: (1) the player, (2) his partner or (3) the person who lifted or moved it.

Q. Is my opponent or fellow-competitor permitted to stand on an extension of my line of putt or line of play behind my ball while I am making a stroke?
A. Although it is a breach of etiquette (Section I), there is no penalty. The provisions of Rule 14-2 apply only to a player's caddie, partner, or partner's caddie.