Purpose: Rule 3 covers the three central elements of all golf competitions:
Forms of Play. Match play and stroke play are very different forms of play:
You either play as an individual competing on your own or with a partner competing together as a side. Although Rules 1-20 focus on individual play, they also apply where partners and teams are included.
Gross or Net Scores. In a scratch competition, your "gross score" for a hole or the round is your total number of strokes. In a handicap competition, your "net score" for a hole or the round is your gross score adjusted for your handicap strokes.
Purpose: Match play has specific Rules (particularly about concessions and giving information about the number of strokes taken) because you and your opponent:
In match play the result of the hole or match is decided as follows:
You may concede your opponent's next stroke, a hole or the match, but a concession is only made when it is clearly communicated.
A concession is final - you cannot withdraw it once made and your opponent cannot decline the concession.
See Full Rules For more information on concessions, including how they are made.
You and your opponent should tell each other your handicaps before the match. If you declare a wrong handicap and don't correct the mistake before your opponent makes a stroke:
Handicap strokes are given by hole, and the lower net score wins the hole. If a tied match is extended, handicap strokes are given by hole in the same way as in the round.
See Full Rules For more information on applying handicaps in a match.
You have a responsibility to:
In a match you should protect your own rights and interests under the Rules:
See Full Rules For more information on responsibilities and when a penalty applies for giving the wrong number of strokes or failing to make your opponent aware of a penalty.
Purpose: Stroke play has specific Rules (particularly for scorecards and holing out) because:
After the round, you and your marker must certify that your score for each hole is right and you must return the scorecard to the Committee
The player who completes all rounds in the fewest total strokes is the winner.
Marker's Responsibility. After each hole during the round, your marker should confirm the number of strokes you took on that hole and enter that gross score on your scorecard.
When the round has ended, your marker must certify the hole scores on your scorecard. If you had more than one marker, each marker must certify the scores for those holes where he or she was your marker.
Your Responsibility. When the round has ended, you:
If you breach any of these requirements, you are disqualified.
Wrong Score for a Hole. If you return a scorecard with a wrong score for any hole:
Scoring in Handicap Competition. You are responsible for making sure that your handicap is shown on your scorecard. If you return a scorecard without the right handicap:
See Full Rules For information on the Exception for failure to include an unknown penalty on your scorecard.
You must hole out at each hole in a round. If you fail to do so, you must correct that mistake before making a stroke to begin another hole or, for the final hole of the round, before returning your scorecard.
If you do not correct the mistake in that time, you are disqualified.
A form of play where you or your side plays directly against an opponent or opposing side in a head-to-head match of one or more rounds.
A form of play where you or your side competes against all other players or sides in the competition.
A form of play where you or your side plays directly against an opponent or opposing side in a head-to-head match of one or more rounds.
A form of play where you or your side competes against all other players or sides in the competition.
A form of play where you or your side competes against all other players or sides in the competition.
A player who competes together with another player as a side, in either match play or stroke play.
A form of play where you or your side plays directly against an opponent or opposing side in a head-to-head match of one or more rounds.
In stroke play, the person responsible for entering your score on your scorecard and for certifying that scorecard. The marker may be another player, but not your partner.
In stroke play, the person responsible for entering your score on your scorecard and for certifying that scorecard. The marker may be another player, but not your partner.
In stroke play, the person responsible for entering your score on your scorecard and for certifying that scorecard. The marker may be another player, but not your partner.
In stroke play, the person responsible for entering your score on your scorecard and for certifying that scorecard. The marker may be another player, but not your partner.
In stroke play, the person responsible for entering your score on your scorecard and for certifying that scorecard. The marker may be another player, but not your partner.
In stroke play, the person responsible for entering your score on your scorecard and for certifying that scorecard. The marker may be another player, but not your partner.
In stroke play, the person responsible for entering your score on your scorecard and for certifying that scorecard. The marker may be another player, but not your partner.
In stroke play, the person responsible for entering your score on your scorecard and for certifying that scorecard. The marker may be another player, but not your partner.
In stroke play, the person responsible for entering your score on your scorecard and for certifying that scorecard. The marker may be another player, but not your partner.
When your ball is at rest in the hole after your stroke and the entire ball is below the surface of the putting green. When the Rules refer to "holing out"or "hole out", it means when your ball is holed.
For the special case of a ball resting against the flagstick in the hole, see Rule 13.2c (your ball is treated as holed if any part of your ball is below the surface of the putting green).