Team Competitions
Purpose: Rule 24 covers team competitions (played in either match play or stroke play), where multiple players or sides compete as a team with the results of their rounds or matches combined to produce an overall team score.
24.1
Overview of Team Competitions
- A “team” is a group of players who play as individuals or as sides to compete against other teams.
- Their play in the team event may also be part of another competition (such as individual stroke play) that takes place at the same time.
Rules 1-23 apply in a team competition, as modified by these specific Rules.
24.2
Terms of Team Competition
The Committee decides the form of play, how a team’s overall score is to be calculated and other Terms of the Competition, such as:
- In match play, the number of points awarded for winning or tying a match.
- In stroke play, the number of scores to count in each team’s total score.
- Whether the competition may end in a tie and, if not, how the tie will be decided.
24.3
Team Captain
Each team may name a team captain to lead the team and make decisions for it, such as which players on the team will play in which rounds or matches, in what order they will play and who will play together as partners.
The team captain may be a player in the competition.
24.4
Advice Allowed in Team Competition
a
Person Allowed to Give Advice to Team (Advice Giver)
The Committee may adopt a Local Rule allowing each team to name one person (an “advice giver”) who may give advice and other help as allowed in Rule 10.2b(2) to players on the team during a round and who may be asked for advice by players on the team:
- The advice giver may be the team captain, a team coach or other person (including a team member playing in the competition).
- The advice giver must be identified to the Committee before giving advice.
- The Committee may allow a team’s advice giver to change during a round or during the competition.
See Committee Procedures, Section 8; Model Local Rule H-2 (the Committee may adopt a Local Rule allowing each team to name two advice givers).
b
Restriction on Advice Giver While Playing
If a team’s advice giver is a player on the team, he or she is not allowed to act in that role while playing a round in the competition.
While playing a round, the advice giver is treated like any other playing team member for purposes of the restrictions on advice in Rule 10.2a.
[Clarification available: Advice Giver Must Not Deliberately Stand Behind Player]
c
No Advice between Team Members Other Than Partners
Except when playing together as partners on a side:
A player must not ask for advice from or give advice to a member of his or her team playing on the course.
This applies whether the team member is playing in the same group as the player or in another group on the course.
See Committee Procedures, Section 8; Model Local Rule H-5 (in a stroke play team competition where a player’s score for the round counts only as part of the team’s score, the Committee may adopt a Local Rule allowing team members playing in the same group to give each other advice even if they are not partners).
Penalty for Breach of Rule 24.4: General Penalty.
Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play.
Each set of partners is a side, whether each partner plays his or her own ball (Four-Ball) or the partners play one ball (Foursomes).
A side is not the same as a team. In a team competition, each team consists of players competing as individuals or as sides.
A form of play where a player or side competes against all other players or sides in the competition.
In the regular form of stroke play (see Rule 3.3):
- A player’s or side’s score for a round is the total number of strokes (including strokes made and any penalty strokes) to hole out on each hole, and
- The winner is the player or side who completes all rounds in the fewest total strokes.
Other forms of stroke play with different scoring methods are Stableford, Maximum Score and Par/Bogey (see Rule 21).
All forms of stroke play can be played either in individual competitions (each player competing on his or her own) or in competitions involving sides of partners (Foursomes or Four-Ball).
The person or group in charge of the competition or the course.
See Committee Procedures, Section 1 (explaining the role of the Committee).
A form of play where a player or side plays directly against an opponent or opposing side in a head-to-head match of one or more rounds:
- A player or side wins a hole in the match by completing the hole in fewer strokes (including strokes made and penalty strokes), and
- The match is won when a player or side leads the opponent or opposing side by more holes than remain to be played.
Match play can be played as a singles match (where one player plays directly against one opponent), a Three-Ball match or a Foursomes or Four-Ball match between sides of two partners.
A form of play where a player or side competes against all other players or sides in the competition.
In the regular form of stroke play (see Rule 3.3):
- A player’s or side’s score for a round is the total number of strokes (including strokes made and any penalty strokes) to hole out on each hole, and
- The winner is the player or side who completes all rounds in the fewest total strokes.
Other forms of stroke play with different scoring methods are Stableford, Maximum Score and Par/Bogey (see Rule 21).
All forms of stroke play can be played either in individual competitions (each player competing on his or her own) or in competitions involving sides of partners (Foursomes or Four-Ball).
A player who competes together with another player as a side, in either match play or stroke play.
The person or group in charge of the competition or the course.
See Committee Procedures, Section 1 (explaining the role of the Committee).
Any verbal comment or action (such as showing what club was just used to make a stroke) that is intended to influence a player in:
- Choosing a club,
- Making a stroke, or
- Deciding how to play during a hole or round.
But advice does not include public information, such as:
- The location of things on the course such as the hole, the putting green, the fairway, penalty areas, bunkers, or another player’s ball,
- The distance from one point to another, or
- The Rules.
Interpretation Advice/1 - Verbal Comments or Actions That Are Advice
Examples of when comments or actions are considered advice and are not allowed include:
- A player makes a statement regarding club selection that was intended to be overheard by another player who had a similar stroke.
- In individual stroke play, Player A, who has just holed out on the 7th hole, demonstrates to Player B, whose ball was just off the putting green, how to make the next stroke. Because Player B has not completed the hole, Player A gets the penalty on the 7th hole. But, if both Player A and Player B had completed the 7th hole, Player A gets the penalty on the 8th hole.
- A player's ball is lying badly and the player is deliberating what action to take. Another player comments, "You have no shot at all. If I were you, I would decide to take unplayable ball relief." This comment is advice because it could have influenced the player in deciding how to play during a hole.
- While a player is setting up to hit his or her shot over a large penalty area filled with water, another player in the group comments, "You know the wind is in your face and it's 250 yards to carry that water?"
Interpretation Advice/2 - Verbal Comments or Actions That Are Not Advice
Examples of comments or actions that are not advice include:
- During play of the 6th hole, a player asks another player what club he or she used on the 4th hole that is a par-3 of similar length.
- A player makes a second stroke that lands on the putting green. Another player does likewise. The first player then asks the second player what club was used for the second stroke.
- After making a stroke, a player says, "I should have used a 5-iron" to another player in the group that has yet to play onto the green, but not intending to influence his or her play.
- A player looks into another player's bag to determine which club he or she used for the last stroke without touching or moving anything.
- While lining up a putt, a player mistakenly seeks advice from another player's caddie, believing that caddie to be the player's caddie. The player immediately realizes the mistake and tells the other caddie not to answer.
Any verbal comment or action (such as showing what club was just used to make a stroke) that is intended to influence a player in:
- Choosing a club,
- Making a stroke, or
- Deciding how to play during a hole or round.
But advice does not include public information, such as:
- The location of things on the course such as the hole, the putting green, the fairway, penalty areas, bunkers, or another player’s ball,
- The distance from one point to another, or
- The Rules.
Interpretation Advice/1 - Verbal Comments or Actions That Are Advice
Examples of when comments or actions are considered advice and are not allowed include:
- A player makes a statement regarding club selection that was intended to be overheard by another player who had a similar stroke.
- In individual stroke play, Player A, who has just holed out on the 7th hole, demonstrates to Player B, whose ball was just off the putting green, how to make the next stroke. Because Player B has not completed the hole, Player A gets the penalty on the 7th hole. But, if both Player A and Player B had completed the 7th hole, Player A gets the penalty on the 8th hole.
- A player's ball is lying badly and the player is deliberating what action to take. Another player comments, "You have no shot at all. If I were you, I would decide to take unplayable ball relief." This comment is advice because it could have influenced the player in deciding how to play during a hole.
- While a player is setting up to hit his or her shot over a large penalty area filled with water, another player in the group comments, "You know the wind is in your face and it's 250 yards to carry that water?"
Interpretation Advice/2 - Verbal Comments or Actions That Are Not Advice
Examples of comments or actions that are not advice include:
- During play of the 6th hole, a player asks another player what club he or she used on the 4th hole that is a par-3 of similar length.
- A player makes a second stroke that lands on the putting green. Another player does likewise. The first player then asks the second player what club was used for the second stroke.
- After making a stroke, a player says, "I should have used a 5-iron" to another player in the group that has yet to play onto the green, but not intending to influence his or her play.
- A player looks into another player's bag to determine which club he or she used for the last stroke without touching or moving anything.
- While lining up a putt, a player mistakenly seeks advice from another player's caddie, believing that caddie to be the player's caddie. The player immediately realizes the mistake and tells the other caddie not to answer.
The person or group in charge of the competition or the course.
See Committee Procedures, Section 1 (explaining the role of the Committee).
Any verbal comment or action (such as showing what club was just used to make a stroke) that is intended to influence a player in:
- Choosing a club,
- Making a stroke, or
- Deciding how to play during a hole or round.
But advice does not include public information, such as:
- The location of things on the course such as the hole, the putting green, the fairway, penalty areas, bunkers, or another player’s ball,
- The distance from one point to another, or
- The Rules.
Interpretation Advice/1 - Verbal Comments or Actions That Are Advice
Examples of when comments or actions are considered advice and are not allowed include:
- A player makes a statement regarding club selection that was intended to be overheard by another player who had a similar stroke.
- In individual stroke play, Player A, who has just holed out on the 7th hole, demonstrates to Player B, whose ball was just off the putting green, how to make the next stroke. Because Player B has not completed the hole, Player A gets the penalty on the 7th hole. But, if both Player A and Player B had completed the 7th hole, Player A gets the penalty on the 8th hole.
- A player's ball is lying badly and the player is deliberating what action to take. Another player comments, "You have no shot at all. If I were you, I would decide to take unplayable ball relief." This comment is advice because it could have influenced the player in deciding how to play during a hole.
- While a player is setting up to hit his or her shot over a large penalty area filled with water, another player in the group comments, "You know the wind is in your face and it's 250 yards to carry that water?"
Interpretation Advice/2 - Verbal Comments or Actions That Are Not Advice
Examples of comments or actions that are not advice include:
- During play of the 6th hole, a player asks another player what club he or she used on the 4th hole that is a par-3 of similar length.
- A player makes a second stroke that lands on the putting green. Another player does likewise. The first player then asks the second player what club was used for the second stroke.
- After making a stroke, a player says, "I should have used a 5-iron" to another player in the group that has yet to play onto the green, but not intending to influence his or her play.
- A player looks into another player's bag to determine which club he or she used for the last stroke without touching or moving anything.
- While lining up a putt, a player mistakenly seeks advice from another player's caddie, believing that caddie to be the player's caddie. The player immediately realizes the mistake and tells the other caddie not to answer.
The person or group in charge of the competition or the course.
See Committee Procedures, Section 1 (explaining the role of the Committee).
The person or group in charge of the competition or the course.
See Committee Procedures, Section 1 (explaining the role of the Committee).
Any verbal comment or action (such as showing what club was just used to make a stroke) that is intended to influence a player in:
- Choosing a club,
- Making a stroke, or
- Deciding how to play during a hole or round.
But advice does not include public information, such as:
- The location of things on the course such as the hole, the putting green, the fairway, penalty areas, bunkers, or another player’s ball,
- The distance from one point to another, or
- The Rules.
Interpretation Advice/1 - Verbal Comments or Actions That Are Advice
Examples of when comments or actions are considered advice and are not allowed include:
- A player makes a statement regarding club selection that was intended to be overheard by another player who had a similar stroke.
- In individual stroke play, Player A, who has just holed out on the 7th hole, demonstrates to Player B, whose ball was just off the putting green, how to make the next stroke. Because Player B has not completed the hole, Player A gets the penalty on the 7th hole. But, if both Player A and Player B had completed the 7th hole, Player A gets the penalty on the 8th hole.
- A player's ball is lying badly and the player is deliberating what action to take. Another player comments, "You have no shot at all. If I were you, I would decide to take unplayable ball relief." This comment is advice because it could have influenced the player in deciding how to play during a hole.
- While a player is setting up to hit his or her shot over a large penalty area filled with water, another player in the group comments, "You know the wind is in your face and it's 250 yards to carry that water?"
Interpretation Advice/2 - Verbal Comments or Actions That Are Not Advice
Examples of comments or actions that are not advice include:
- During play of the 6th hole, a player asks another player what club he or she used on the 4th hole that is a par-3 of similar length.
- A player makes a second stroke that lands on the putting green. Another player does likewise. The first player then asks the second player what club was used for the second stroke.
- After making a stroke, a player says, "I should have used a 5-iron" to another player in the group that has yet to play onto the green, but not intending to influence his or her play.
- A player looks into another player's bag to determine which club he or she used for the last stroke without touching or moving anything.
- While lining up a putt, a player mistakenly seeks advice from another player's caddie, believing that caddie to be the player's caddie. The player immediately realizes the mistake and tells the other caddie not to answer.
A player who competes together with another player as a side, in either match play or stroke play.
Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play.
Each set of partners is a side, whether each partner plays his or her own ball (Four-Ball) or the partners play one ball (Foursomes).
A side is not the same as a team. In a team competition, each team consists of players competing as individuals or as sides.
Any verbal comment or action (such as showing what club was just used to make a stroke) that is intended to influence a player in:
- Choosing a club,
- Making a stroke, or
- Deciding how to play during a hole or round.
But advice does not include public information, such as:
- The location of things on the course such as the hole, the putting green, the fairway, penalty areas, bunkers, or another player’s ball,
- The distance from one point to another, or
- The Rules.
Interpretation Advice/1 - Verbal Comments or Actions That Are Advice
Examples of when comments or actions are considered advice and are not allowed include:
- A player makes a statement regarding club selection that was intended to be overheard by another player who had a similar stroke.
- In individual stroke play, Player A, who has just holed out on the 7th hole, demonstrates to Player B, whose ball was just off the putting green, how to make the next stroke. Because Player B has not completed the hole, Player A gets the penalty on the 7th hole. But, if both Player A and Player B had completed the 7th hole, Player A gets the penalty on the 8th hole.
- A player's ball is lying badly and the player is deliberating what action to take. Another player comments, "You have no shot at all. If I were you, I would decide to take unplayable ball relief." This comment is advice because it could have influenced the player in deciding how to play during a hole.
- While a player is setting up to hit his or her shot over a large penalty area filled with water, another player in the group comments, "You know the wind is in your face and it's 250 yards to carry that water?"
Interpretation Advice/2 - Verbal Comments or Actions That Are Not Advice
Examples of comments or actions that are not advice include:
- During play of the 6th hole, a player asks another player what club he or she used on the 4th hole that is a par-3 of similar length.
- A player makes a second stroke that lands on the putting green. Another player does likewise. The first player then asks the second player what club was used for the second stroke.
- After making a stroke, a player says, "I should have used a 5-iron" to another player in the group that has yet to play onto the green, but not intending to influence his or her play.
- A player looks into another player's bag to determine which club he or she used for the last stroke without touching or moving anything.
- While lining up a putt, a player mistakenly seeks advice from another player's caddie, believing that caddie to be the player's caddie. The player immediately realizes the mistake and tells the other caddie not to answer.
Any verbal comment or action (such as showing what club was just used to make a stroke) that is intended to influence a player in:
- Choosing a club,
- Making a stroke, or
- Deciding how to play during a hole or round.
But advice does not include public information, such as:
- The location of things on the course such as the hole, the putting green, the fairway, penalty areas, bunkers, or another player’s ball,
- The distance from one point to another, or
- The Rules.
Interpretation Advice/1 - Verbal Comments or Actions That Are Advice
Examples of when comments or actions are considered advice and are not allowed include:
- A player makes a statement regarding club selection that was intended to be overheard by another player who had a similar stroke.
- In individual stroke play, Player A, who has just holed out on the 7th hole, demonstrates to Player B, whose ball was just off the putting green, how to make the next stroke. Because Player B has not completed the hole, Player A gets the penalty on the 7th hole. But, if both Player A and Player B had completed the 7th hole, Player A gets the penalty on the 8th hole.
- A player's ball is lying badly and the player is deliberating what action to take. Another player comments, "You have no shot at all. If I were you, I would decide to take unplayable ball relief." This comment is advice because it could have influenced the player in deciding how to play during a hole.
- While a player is setting up to hit his or her shot over a large penalty area filled with water, another player in the group comments, "You know the wind is in your face and it's 250 yards to carry that water?"
Interpretation Advice/2 - Verbal Comments or Actions That Are Not Advice
Examples of comments or actions that are not advice include:
- During play of the 6th hole, a player asks another player what club he or she used on the 4th hole that is a par-3 of similar length.
- A player makes a second stroke that lands on the putting green. Another player does likewise. The first player then asks the second player what club was used for the second stroke.
- After making a stroke, a player says, "I should have used a 5-iron" to another player in the group that has yet to play onto the green, but not intending to influence his or her play.
- A player looks into another player's bag to determine which club he or she used for the last stroke without touching or moving anything.
- While lining up a putt, a player mistakenly seeks advice from another player's caddie, believing that caddie to be the player's caddie. The player immediately realizes the mistake and tells the other caddie not to answer.
The entire area of play within the edge of any boundaries set by the Committee:
- All areas inside the boundary edge are in bounds and part of the course.
- All areas outside the boundary edge are out of bounds and not part of the course.
- The boundary edge extends both up above the ground and down below the ground.
The course is made up of the five defined areas of the course.
The entire area of play within the edge of any boundaries set by the Committee:
- All areas inside the boundary edge are in bounds and part of the course.
- All areas outside the boundary edge are out of bounds and not part of the course.
- The boundary edge extends both up above the ground and down below the ground.
The course is made up of the five defined areas of the course.
A form of play where a player or side competes against all other players or sides in the competition.
In the regular form of stroke play (see Rule 3.3):
- A player’s or side’s score for a round is the total number of strokes (including strokes made and any penalty strokes) to hole out on each hole, and
- The winner is the player or side who completes all rounds in the fewest total strokes.
Other forms of stroke play with different scoring methods are Stableford, Maximum Score and Par/Bogey (see Rule 21).
All forms of stroke play can be played either in individual competitions (each player competing on his or her own) or in competitions involving sides of partners (Foursomes or Four-Ball).
The person or group in charge of the competition or the course.
See Committee Procedures, Section 1 (explaining the role of the Committee).
Any verbal comment or action (such as showing what club was just used to make a stroke) that is intended to influence a player in:
- Choosing a club,
- Making a stroke, or
- Deciding how to play during a hole or round.
But advice does not include public information, such as:
- The location of things on the course such as the hole, the putting green, the fairway, penalty areas, bunkers, or another player’s ball,
- The distance from one point to another, or
- The Rules.
Interpretation Advice/1 - Verbal Comments or Actions That Are Advice
Examples of when comments or actions are considered advice and are not allowed include:
- A player makes a statement regarding club selection that was intended to be overheard by another player who had a similar stroke.
- In individual stroke play, Player A, who has just holed out on the 7th hole, demonstrates to Player B, whose ball was just off the putting green, how to make the next stroke. Because Player B has not completed the hole, Player A gets the penalty on the 7th hole. But, if both Player A and Player B had completed the 7th hole, Player A gets the penalty on the 8th hole.
- A player's ball is lying badly and the player is deliberating what action to take. Another player comments, "You have no shot at all. If I were you, I would decide to take unplayable ball relief." This comment is advice because it could have influenced the player in deciding how to play during a hole.
- While a player is setting up to hit his or her shot over a large penalty area filled with water, another player in the group comments, "You know the wind is in your face and it's 250 yards to carry that water?"
Interpretation Advice/2 - Verbal Comments or Actions That Are Not Advice
Examples of comments or actions that are not advice include:
- During play of the 6th hole, a player asks another player what club he or she used on the 4th hole that is a par-3 of similar length.
- A player makes a second stroke that lands on the putting green. Another player does likewise. The first player then asks the second player what club was used for the second stroke.
- After making a stroke, a player says, "I should have used a 5-iron" to another player in the group that has yet to play onto the green, but not intending to influence his or her play.
- A player looks into another player's bag to determine which club he or she used for the last stroke without touching or moving anything.
- While lining up a putt, a player mistakenly seeks advice from another player's caddie, believing that caddie to be the player's caddie. The player immediately realizes the mistake and tells the other caddie not to answer.
A player who competes together with another player as a side, in either match play or stroke play.