Rule 25 of Golf Explained: Modified Rules for Players with Disabilities
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How we wrote this: A plain-English summary of Rule 25 of the Rules of Golf as published by The R&A (the same Rules the USGA publishes), checked October 29, 2026. Read the official Rule text for every detail.
Purpose (Rule 25.1)
Rule 25 modifies certain Rules so players with specific disabilities can play fairly with others. That includes players with no disability, the same disability or a different one. It applies to all competitions and forms of play. Your category of disability and your eligibility decide which modifications you can use.
The categories covered are:
- players who are blind (including certain levels of vision impairment);
- amputees (limb deficiency or limb loss);
- players who use assistive mobility devices;
- players with intellectual disabilities.
Other conditions, such as neurological or orthopaedic conditions, short stature or deafness, aren't covered because no need for Rule changes has been identified so far. Medical equipment is handled under Rule 4.3b.
Players who are blind (Rule 25.2)
- You may have an aide and a caddie at the same time, and get advice from both. You may have only one aide at a time.
- The aide can help with aiming and taking a stance. The aide must not carry or handle clubs except to guide or help you.
- In a bunker, you may touch the sand lightly with the club before the stroke, no more than lightly grounding it would. Testing the sand and practice swings that touch the sand are still banned.
- Your aide may lift your ball on the putting green. You may give general authorization to anyone to drop, place and replace your ball.
Amputees (Rule 25.3)
- Prosthetic limbs are allowed if there's a medical reason and the Committee decides they give no unfair advantage.
- If you can't hold and swing most of your clubs without anchoring, you may anchor the club without penalty.
- Anyone you authorize may drop, place and replace your ball. You may also replace it with equipment, such as rolling it with a club.
Assistive mobility devices (Rule 25.4)
This covers canes, crutches, wheelchairs and other wheeled devices.
- You can get help with lifting, dropping and placing the ball, and with positioning yourself or the device before the stroke.
- Wheeled devices have modified relief options for red penalty areas, unplayable balls and unplayable relief in bunkers.
Players with intellectual disabilities (Rule 25.5)
The Committee may provide or allow an aide or a supervisor. An aide helps one player and has caddie status, while a supervisor isn't assigned to a specific player and can't give advice. For players with both intellectual and physical disabilities, the Rule recommends the Committee combine the relevant modifications.
Related: advice, anchoring and caddies, bunker rules, equipment and the 14-club limit.