Provided by Rules Official Terry Kildea
Golf will undergo significant rule changes in January of 2019, but even with those new rules it’s important to note that many rules vary between stroke play and match play competition. Four such scenarios are outlined below:
It’s discovered on the putting green of the 7th hole that one of the players has 15 golf clubs in the bag.
Stroke play: Add a 2-stroke penalty to holes number 1 & 2 (max of four strokes for the round).
Match play: Adjust the state of the match by two holes. For Example, the player with too many clubs was 3 up when the breach was discovered – she would now only be 1 up. If 2 down, now 4 down, etc.
On the fairway of the 10th hole, both payers make a stroke at the other player’s ball.
Stroke play: 2-stroke penalty for both players but do NOT count any strokes at the wrong ball. Each must play her ball from as near as possible to the original spot (estimate if spot not determinable). If the error is not corrected before teeing off on the next hole, the player is disqualified.
Match play: Loss of hole for the FIRST player who played the wrong ball.
On the 15th hole, player A shanks his chip shot and the ball hits player B’s golf bag.
Stroke play: no penalty and play the ball where it lies.
Match play: no penalty. Player A has two options: play the ball as it lies or cancel the stroke and replay the shot.
On the 16th hole, Player B plays from the wrong teeing ground.
Stroke play: 2-stroke penalty and must replay from within the correct teeing ground. Do NOT count the stroke made from the wrong teeing ground. Must correct before playing from the next tee or the player is disqualified.
Match play: no penalty but Player A has the options this time. Allow Player B’s stroke to stand (regardless of where it went). OR, Player A can immediately recall the stroke and have Player B play from within the correct teeing ground. For the second option, do NOT count B’s stroke from the wrong teeing ground.
