Rules of the Game of Golf

Posted 8/11/09— Match Play

2-1. General
A match consists of one side playing against another over a stipulated round unless otherwise decreed by the Committee.

In match play the game is played by holes. Except as otherwise provided in the Rules, a hole is won by the side that holes its ball in the fewer strokes. In a handicap match, the lower net score wins the hole.

The state of the match is expressed by the terms: so many "holes up" or "all square," and so many "to play." A side is "dormie" when it is as many holes up as there are holes remaining to be played.

2-2. Halved Hole
A hole is halved if each side holes out in the same number of strokes.

When a player has holed out and his opponent has been left with a stroke for the half, if the player subsequently incurs a penalty, the hole is halved.

2-3. Winner of Match
A match is won when one side leads by a number of holes greater than the number remaining to be played.

Posted 7/9/09— Golf Etiquette

KEEP IT SAFE
•	Do not swing your club until you know that others in your group are at a safe distance. Likewise, keep your distance when others are swinging. Be aware to steer clear of trouble.
•	When practicing your swing, never swing in the direction of another player. There may be pebbles or twigs or other matter in the grass that could fly up and injure a playing partner.
•	Do not hit the ball until you are certain that the group ahead of you is out of range.
•	If your ball appears headed toward another player or another group, give them a warning by yelling out, "Fore!" (an internationally recognized alert).

GAME RULES

1-1. General
The Game of Golf consists of playing a ball with a club from the teeing ground into the hole by astroke or successive strokes in accordance with the Rules.

1-2. Exerting Influence on Ball
A player or caddie must not take any action to influence the position or the movement of a ball except in accordance with the Rules.
Removal of loose impediment — see Rule 23-1.)

*PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE 1-2:
Match play — Loss of hole; Stroke play — Two strokes.
*In the case of a serious breach of Rule 1-2, theCommittee may impose a penalty of disqualification.

Note: A player is deemed to have committed a serious breach of Rule 1-2 if the Committee considers that his act of influencing the position or movement of the ball has allowed him or another player to gain a significant advantage or has placed another player, other than hispartner, at a significant disadvantage.