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3

The Competition

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Official Rules
3.1Central Elements of Every Competition
3.2Match Play
3.3Stroke Play
Rule 2Rule 4
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3
The Competition
Purpose of Rule: Rule 3 covers the three central elements of all golf competitions:
  • Playing either match play or stroke play,
  • Playing either as an individual or with a partner as part of a side, and
  • Scoring either by gross scores (no handicap strokes applied) or net scores (handicap strokes applied).
3
The Competition
3.2

Match Play

Purpose of Rule: Match play has specific Rules (particularly about concessions and giving information about the number of strokes taken) because the player and opponent:
  • Compete solely against each other on every hole,
  • Can see each other’s play, and
  • Can protect their own interests.
3.3

Stroke Play

Purpose of Rule: Stroke play has specific Rules (particularly for scorecards and holing out) because:
  • Each player competes against all the other players in the competition, and
  • All players need to be treated equally under the Rules.
After the round, the player and the marker (who keeps the player’s score) must certify that the player’s score for each hole is right and the player must return the scorecard to the Committee.
EXPLORE MORE
Rule 1The Game, Player Conduct and the Rules
Purpose of Rule: Rule 1 introduces these central principles of the game for the player: Play the course as you find it and play the ball as it lies....
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