Rule 12. Searching for and Identifying Ball |
Definitions
All defined terms are in italics and are listed alphabetically in the Definitions section.
12-1. Searching for Ball; Seeing Ball
In searching for his ball anywhere on the course, the player may touch or bend long grass, rushes, bushes, whins, heather or the like, but only to the extent necessary to find and identify it, provided that this does not improve the lie of the ball, the area of his intended stance or swing or his line of play.
A player is not necessarily entitled to see his ball when making a stroke.
In a hazard, if a ball is believed to be covered by loose impediments or sand, the player may remove by probing or raking with a club or otherwise, as many loose impediments or as much sand as will enable him to see a part of the ball. If an excess is removed, there is no penalty and the ball must be re-covered so that only a part of the ball is visible. If the ball is moved during the removal, there is no penalty; the ball must be replaced and, if necessary, re-covered. As to removal of loose impediments outside a hazard, see Rule 23-1.
If a ball lying in or on an obstruction or in an abnormal ground condition is accidentally moved during search, there is no penalty; the ball must be replaced, unless the player elects to proceed under Rule 24-1b, 24-2b or 25-1b as applicable. If the player replaces the ball, he may still proceed under Rule 24-1b, 24-2b or 25-1b if applicable.
If a ball is believed to be lying in water in a water hazard, the player may probe for it with a club or otherwise. If the ball is moved in probing, it must be replaced, unless the player elects to proceed under Rule 26-1. There is no penalty for causing the ball to move, provided the movement of the ball was directly attributable to the specific act of probing. Otherwise, the player incurs a penalty stroke under Rule 18-2a.
Penalty for Breach of Rule 12-1:
Match play - Loss of hole; Stroke play - Two strokes.
Match play - Loss of hole; Stroke play - Two strokes.
12-2. Identifying Ball
The responsibility for playing the proper ball rests with the player. Each player should put an identification mark on his ball.
If a player has reason to believe a ball at rest is his and it is necessary to lift the ball in order to identify it, he may lift the ball, without penalty, in order to do so.
Before lifting the ball, the player must announce his intention to his opponent in match play or his marker or a fellow-competitor in stroke play and mark the position of the ball. He may then lift the ball and identify it, provided that he gives his opponent, marker or fellow-competitor an opportunity to observe the lifting and replacement. The ball must not be cleaned beyond the extent necessary for identification when lifted under Rule 12-2.
If the ball is the player's ball and he fails to comply with all or any part of this procedure, or he lifts his ball in order to identify it when not necessary to do so, he incurs a penalty of one stroke. If the lifted ball is the player's ball, he must replace it. If he fails to do so, he incurs the general penalty for a breach of Rule 12-2, but there is no additional penalty under this Rule.
Note: If the original lie of a ball to be placed or replaced has been altered, see Rule 20-3b.
*Penalty for Breach of Rule 12-2:
Match play - Loss of hole; Stroke play - Two strokes.
Match play - Loss of hole; Stroke play - Two strokes.
*If a player incurs the general penalty for a breach of Rule 12-2, there is no additional penalty under this Rule.
Rule 13. Ball Played as It Lies |
Definitions
All defined terms are in italics and are listed alphabetically in the Definitions section.
13-1. General
The ball must be played as it lies, except as otherwise provided in the Rules.
(Ball at rest moved - see Rule 18.)
13-2. Improving Lie, Area of Intended Stance or Swing, or Line of Play
A player must not improve or allow to be improved:
· the position or lie of his ball,· the area of his intended stance or swing,· his line of play or a reasonable extension of that line beyond the hole, or· the area in which he is to drop or place a ball,
by any of the following actions:
· pressing a club on the ground,· moving, bending or breaking anything growing or fixed (including immovable obstructions and objects defining out of bounds),· creating or eliminating irregularities of surface,· removing or pressing down sand, loose soil, replaced divots or other cut turf placed in position, or· removing dew, frost or water.
However, the player incurs no penalty if the action occurs:
· in grounding the club lightly when addressing the ball,· in fairly taking his stance,· in creating or eliminating irregularities of surface within the teeing ground (Rule 11-1) or in removing dew, frost or water from the teeing ground, or· on the putting green in removing sand and loose soil or in repairing damage (Rule 16-1).
13-3. Building Stance
13-4. Ball in Hazard; Prohibited Actions
Except as provided in the Rules, before making a stroke at a ball that is in a hazard (whether a bunker or a water hazard) or that, having been lifted from a hazard, may be dropped or placed in the hazard, the player must not:
Exceptions:
1. Provided nothing is done that constitutes testing the condition of the hazard or improves the lie of the ball, there is no penalty if the player (a) touches the ground or loose impediments in any hazard or water in a water hazard as a result of or to prevent falling, in removing an obstruction, in measuring or in marking the position of, retrieving, lifting, placing or replacing a ball under any Rule or
(b) places his clubs in a hazard.2. After making the stroke, if the ball is still in the hazard or has been lifted from thehazard and may be dropped or placed in the hazard, the player may smooth sand or soil in the hazard, provided nothing is done to breach Rule 13-2 with respect to his next stroke. If the ball is outside the hazard after the stroke, the player may smooth sand or soil in the hazard without restriction.
Note: At any time, including at address or in the backward movement for the stroke, the player may touch, with a club or otherwise, any obstruction, any construction declared by the Committee to be an integral part of the course or any grass, bush, tree or other growing thing.
Penalty For Breach of Rule:
Match play - Loss of hole; Stroke play - Two strokes.
Match play - Loss of hole; Stroke play - Two strokes.
(Searching for ball - see Rule 12-1.)
(Relief for ball in water hazard - see Rule 26.)
(Relief for ball in water hazard - see Rule 26.)
Rule 14. Striking the Ball |
Definitions
All defined terms are in italics and are listed alphabetically in the Definitions section.
14-1. Ball to Be Fairly Struck At
The ball must be fairly struck at with the head of the club and must not be pushed, scraped or spooned.
14-2. Assistance
In making a stroke, a player must not:
a. Accept physical assistance or protection from the elements; or
b. Allow his caddie, his partner or his partner's caddie to position himself on or close to an extension of the line of play or the line of putt behind the ball.
b. Allow his caddie, his partner or his partner's caddie to position himself on or close to an extension of the line of play or the line of putt behind the ball.
Penalty for Breach of Rule 14-1 or 14-2:
Match play - Loss of hole; Stroke play - Two strokes.
Match play - Loss of hole; Stroke play - Two strokes.
14-3. Artificial Devices, Unusual Equipment and Unusual Use of Equipment
The United States Golf Association (USGA) reserves the right, at any time, to change the Rules relating to artificial devices, unusual equipment and the unusual use of equipment, and make or change the interpretations relating to these Rules.
A player in doubt as to whether use of an item would constitute a breach of Rule 14-3 should consult the USGA.
A manufacturer should submit to the USGA a sample of an item to be manufactured for a ruling as to whether its use during a stipulated round would cause a player to be in breach of Rule 14-3. The sample becomes the property of the USGA for reference purposes. If a manufacturer fails to submit a sample or, having submitted a sample, fails to await a ruling before manufacturing and/or marketing the item, the manufacturer assumes the risk of a ruling that use of the item would be contrary to the Rules.
Except as provided in the Rules, during a stipulated round the player must not use any artificial device or unusual equipment, or use any equipment in an unusual manner:
a. That might assist him in making a stroke or in his play; or
b. For the purpose of gauging or measuring distance or conditions that might affect his play; or
c. That might assist him in gripping the club, except that:(i) plain gloves may be worn;
(ii) resin, powder and drying or moisturizing agents may be used; and
(iii) a towel or handkerchief may be wrapped around the grip.
Exceptions:
1. A player is not in breach of this Rule if (a) the equipment or device is designed for or has the effect of alleviating a medical condition, (b) the player has a legitimate medical reason to use the equipment or device, and (c) the Committee is satisfied that its use does not give the player any undue advantage over other players.2. A player is not in breach of this Rule if he uses equipment in a traditionally accepted manner.
Penalty for Breach of Rule 14-3: Disqualification.
Note: The Committee may make a Local Rule allowing players to use devices that measure or gauge distance only.
14-4. Striking the Ball More Than Once
If a player's club strikes the ball more than once in the course of a stroke, the player must count the stroke and add a penalty stroke, making two strokes in all.
14-5. Playing Moving Ball
A player must not make a stroke at his ball while it is moving.
Exceptions:
When the ball begins to move only after the player has begun the stroke or the backward movement of his club for the stroke, he incurs no penalty under this Rule for playing a moving ball, but he is not exempt from any penalty under the following Rules:
(Ball purposely deflected or stopped by player, partner or caddie - see Rule 1-2.)
14-6. Ball Moving in Water
When a ball is moving in water in a water hazard, the player may, without penalty, make a stroke, but he must not delay making his stroke in order to allow the wind or current to improve the position of the ball. A ball moving in water in a water hazard may be lifted if the player elects to invoke Rule 26.
Penalty for Breach of Rule 14-5 or 14-6:
Match play - Loss of hole; Stroke play - Two strokes.
a. Match Play
b. Stroke Play
Match play - Loss of hole; Stroke play - Two strokes.
Rule 15. Substituted Ball; Wrong Ball |
Definitions
All defined terms are in italics and are listed alphabetically in the Definitions section.
15-1. General
A player must hole out with the ball played from the teeing ground unless the ball is lost or out of bounds or the player substitutes another ball, whether or not substitution is permitted (see 15-2). If a player plays a wrong ball, see Rule 15-3.
15-2. Substituted Ball
A player may substitute a ball when proceeding under a Rule that permits the player to play, drop or place another ball in completing the play of a hole. The substituted ball becomes the ball in play.
If a player substitutes a ball when not permitted to do so under the Rules, that substituted ball is not a wrong ball; it becomes the ball in play. If the mistake is not corrected as provided in Rule 20-6 and the player makes a stroke at a wrongly substituted ball,he loses the hole in match play or incurs a penalty of two strokes in stroke play under the applicable Rule and, in stroke play, must play out the hole with the substituted ball.
Exception: If a player incurs a penalty for making a stroke from a wrong place, there is no additional penalty for substituting a ball when not permitted.
(Playing from wrong place - see Rule 20-7.)
15-3. Wrong Ball
a. Match PlayIf the wrong ball belongs to another player, its owner must place a ball on the spot from which the wrong ball was first played.
If the player and opponent exchange balls during the play of a hole, the first to make a stroke at a wrong ballloses the hole; when this cannot be determined, the hole must be played out with the balls exchanged.
Exception: There is no penalty if a player makes a stroke at a wrong ball that is moving in water in a water hazard. Any strokes made at a wrong ball moving in water in a water hazard do not count in the player's score. The player must correct his mistake by playing the correct ball or by proceeding under the Rules.
b. Stroke PlayThe competitor must correct his mistake by playing the correct ball or by proceeding under the Rules. If he fails to correct his mistake before making a stroke on the next teeing ground or, in the case of the last hole of the round, fails to declare his intention to correct his mistake before leaving the putting green,he is disqualified.
strokes made by a competitor with a wrong ball do not count in his score. If the wrong ball belongs to another competitor, its owner must place a ball on the spot from which the wrong ball was first played.
Exception: There is no penalty if a competitor makes a stroke at a wrong ball that is moving in water in a water hazard. Any strokes made at a wrong ball moving in water in a water hazard do not count in the competitor's score.
