During the playing of a round of golf, a player shall not give advice to anyone in the competition except his partner and may ask for advice only from his partner or either of their caddies. When you asked your fellow competitor what club he just hit, you are asking for advice and consequently you are in violation of the rule.
Where can I find the rules of golf?
This Golf Rules FAQ covers golf rules codified by the USGA and the R&A. The Rules of Golf can be found on those governing bodies' Web sites, or by clicking over to our Golf Rules section. The questions posed below cover situations both common and uncommon, but tricky spots that can arise while playing golf.
What are some of the questions asked in golf FAQs?
The questions posed below cover situations both common and uncommon, but tricky spots that can arise while playing golf. Click on the title of an FAQ to read the answer. What's the Ruling? What does the ban on anchoring permit and prohibit in grips and strokes? My ball landed in a divot hole in the fairway; do I get free relief?
Can you ask a player for advice in golf?
Players can"t ask for advice from anyone besides their partner or the partner’s caddie. Examples: Before playing a shot to a green, a player may not ask another what club he hit for the same or similar shot; players are not allowed to ask for or give swing pointers during a round.
What are the rules of the USGA?
The USGA rule book is the law for tournament play; it is absolute, without discussion. If it's your first time entering in an event, from as comfortable as a club championship to U.S. Open qualifying, you need to be well-versed on golf's legislation. And because there are so many golf rules, one could feel overwhelmed.
Is it a penalty to ask what club?
The Rules of Golf do not specify any type of penalty, but it is strongly frowned upon and you should just aim to make your own decisions with your club choices.
Can you ask someone what club they hit?
Giving advice On the weekend, you may ask your friend what iron they just hit, or, while on the green, point to a spot and say, "I think this is the line." While such behavior is standard in a normal round, it's deemed illegal in competitive play. The penalty is two strokes.
What is the penalty for giving advice in golf?
There is no penalty when an authorized party gives advice, but "the player should take action to stop this irregular procedure." He would incur a two-stroke penalty in stroke play if he allowed such advice to be given again.
Can a player ask for advice from another player about which club he or she should use for their next shot Rule 10.2 A?
caddie10.2a/2 – Player Must Try to Stop Ongoing Advice That Is Given Voluntarily. If a player gets advice. Continued) from someone other than his or her caddie. Continued) (such as a spectator) without asking for it, he or she gets no penalty.
Can you ask for yardage in golf?
May I ask someone for a yardage? A. Yes. Matters of public information, such as yardages or the location of things on the course, are not advice (see Definition of Advice).
Can you give advice on a golf course?
A player may not give or seek advice to or from anyone except their caddie, partner or partner's caddie (or a nominated “advice giver”, if allowed, in a team competition).
Can you stand behind a golfer when he is putting?
When it comes to reading a putt's break, members of a four-ball team may stand nearly anywhere on the green to watch a partner putt, with one exception: They're not allowed to stand on or close to an extension of the player's line of putt behind the ball (Rule 14-2b).
Can caddies touch the green?
Reasons for Change: No advantage is gained if a player or his or her caddie merely touches the surface of the putting green on the line where the ball will be played.
Can caddies remove ball from hole?
The player's caddie is allowed to mark and lift the player's ball on the putting green any time the player is allowed to do so, without needing authorization. The caddie continues to be allowed to replace the player's ball only if the caddie was the one who had lifted or moved the ball.
Are you allowed to scoop the ball in golf?
But is it legal? Sadly, no this is not allowed. Under rule 12.1 of the Rules of Golf, said player's scoop would count as one stroke then be given a two-shot penalty for the scoop.
What is Rule 10.1 A in golf?
New rule: Now players are granted much more leniency under Rule 10.1a which states, “If your club accidentally hits the ball more than once, there has been only one stroke and there is no penalty.”
Can you putt with the back of your putter?
Yes, Dave, it's allowed — provided you didn't push, scrape or scoop the ball with the head of whatever the club, per Rule 10.1a, lest you get the general penalty of two strokes in stroke play and loss of hole in match play.
How many clubs do you need to play golf?
What Golf Clubs Do I Need to Play Golf? Choose clubs that give you the best chance of scoring well. According to United States Golf Association rules, a golfer is allowed to have a maximum number of 14 clubs in his bag during play. This rule was adopted in 1938 in response to some players bringing 20 or more clubs with them.
When was the USGA rule for playing golf?
This rule was adopted in 1938 in response to some players bringing 20 or more clubs with them. It was thought that having these additional clubs could provide a scoring advantage, and the USGA's goal is to make the game as fair as possible for everyone.
How many clubs can you carry in a golf bag?
Some golfers find that they can carry fewer clubs, nine or 10 , and score just as well. The lower number makes for a lighter golf bag that is easier to carry if the player chooses to walk the course rather than take a golf cart.
What are the standard sets of clubs?
The sets of clubs offered at golf retailers generally include a driver, two fairway woods, 3-iron through 9-iron, a pitching wedge and sand wedge. The golfer would select the putter that feels best to him, to round out the 14. It's not unusual for sets to include hybrids instead of the 3-iron and/or 4-iron.
When putting a ball on the green, what do you do?
When the player’s ball is on the putting green, the player, his partner or either of their caddies may, before but not during the stroke, point out a line for putting, but in so doing the putting green must not be touched. A mark must not be placed anywhere to indicate a line for putting.
What is a line of play other than putting green?
Except on the putting green, a player may have the line of play indicated to him by anyone, but no one may be positioned by the player on or close to the line or an extension of the line beyond the hole while the stroke is being made.
Can you ask for advice in golf?
8-1. Players cannot give advice to other players, except their own partners, during a round. Players can"t ask for advice from anyone besides their partner or the partner’s caddie. Examples: Before playing a shot to a green, a player may not ask another what club he hit for the same or similar shot; players are not allowed to ask ...
Can you have someone on the line on the putting green?
Players are allowed to have the intended line of a shot indicated to them by anyone, except on the putting green. The player cannot position someone on or close to the line either in front of or behind the hole while he’s playing. On the green, players are allowed to have the intended line pointed to by a caddie or partner before the stroke, ...
Can you hold a flagstick on the green?
On the green, players are allowed to have the intended line pointed to by a caddie or partner before the stroke, as long as the person doesn’t touch or place a marker on the green. Exception: The flagstick can be tended or held up for the player to see. Penalties for violating Rule 8-1 or 8-2: Match play – loss of hole.
How far back can you drop a golf ball?
Drop a ball within one club-length to either side of a straight line from the hole through the point where your ball last crossed the edge of the penalty area, going back as far as you'd like.
Can a caddie stand behind a ball?
Your caddie or partner is not allowed to stand on or close to a line behind your ball while you are taking your stance and until your stroke is made.
What is a 7-2 rule?
A note to Rule 7-2 states that a committee can institute a condition of competition that prohibits practicing between holes. The PGA Tour, for example, uses this condition of competition, so that practice between holes isn't allowed at PGA Tour events.
Can you practice putting and chipping on a golf course?
Yes. In fact, some courses have practice putting and chipping areas built into their tee boxes behind the championship tees for exactly this purpose. It's even OK to practice putting and chipping on Hole 8, for example, while waiting to play Hole 9 (just make sure nobody is trying to play up to Hole 8!).
