Rules of Golf: all 25 rules

The Rules of Golf from the USGA and The R&A have 25 Rules. Here they are in order, each with a one-line summary and a plain-English guide built from USGA and R&A publications. Rule titles follow the official Rules of Golf.

• Rule 1: The Game, Player Conduct and the Rules

  Play the course as you find it, act in the spirit of the game, and how penalties work.

• Rule 2: The Course

  The five defined areas of the course and the objects and conditions that can affect play.

• Rule 3: The Competition

  Match play vs. stroke play, playing as an individual or partner, and handicaps.

• Rule 4: The Player's Equipment

  Conforming clubs and balls, the 14-club limit, and equipment you may not use.

• Rule 5: Playing the Round

  Starting times, practicing before and during a round, pace of play, and stopping play.

• Rule 6: Playing a Hole

  Starting from the teeing area, the order of play, and playing a wrong ball.

• Rule 7: Ball Search

  Searching reasonably, identifying your ball, and a ball moved during the search.

• Rule 8: Course Played as It Is Found

  What you may and may not change around your ball before a stroke.

• Rule 9: Ball Played as It Lies; Ball at Rest Lifted or Moved

  Play it as it lies, and what happens when a ball at rest moves.

• Rule 10: Preparing for and Making a Stroke; Advice and Help; Caddies

  Anchoring, advice, alignment help and what a caddie may do.

• Rule 11: Ball in Motion Accidentally Hits Person, Animal or Object

  Play a deflected ball as it lies, with the putting green exceptions.

• Rule 12: Bunkers

  When a ball is in a bunker, touching the sand, and relief options.

• Rule 13: Putting Greens

  Repairing damage, marking and lifting, the flagstick, and the 10-second wait.

• Rule 14: Procedures for Ball

  Marking, lifting, cleaning, replacing and dropping a ball, and playing from a wrong place.

• Rule 15: Relief from Loose Impediments and Movable Obstructions

  Removing leaves, stones, rakes and other movable things.

• Rule 16: Relief from Abnormal Course Conditions, Dangerous Animal Condition, Embedded Ball

  Free relief from ground under repair, temporary water, immovable obstructions and embedded balls.

• Rule 17: Penalty Areas

  Playing from a penalty area or taking one-stroke relief from yellow and red areas.

• Rule 18: Stroke-and-Distance Relief, Ball Lost or Out of Bounds, Provisional Ball

  Lost and out-of-bounds balls and when to play a provisional.

• Rule 19: Unplayable Ball

  Declaring a ball unplayable and the three one-stroke relief options.

• Rule 20: Resolving Rules Issues During Round; Rulings by Referee and Committee

  What to do when you are unsure of the Rules during a round.

• Rule 21: Other Forms of Individual Stroke Play and Match Play

  Stableford, Maximum Score, and Par/Bogey scoring.

• Rule 22: Foursomes (Also Known as Alternate Shot)

  Partners take turns hitting one ball.

• Rule 23: Four-Ball

  Partners each play their own ball and the better score counts.

• Rule 24: Team Competitions

  Team captains, advice within a team, and how team results are scored.

• Rule 25: Modifications for Players with Disabilities

  Modified Rules for players who are blind, amputees, use mobility devices or have intellectual disabilities.

Also in Golf Practice: 2026 Model Local Rules · World Handicap System

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