General; Winner
A stroke-play competition
consists of competitors completing
each hole of a stipulated
round or rounds and, for each round, returning
a score card on which there is a gross score
for each hole. Each competitor is playing against
every other competitor in the competition.
The competitor who plays
the stipulated round or rounds in the fewest strokes is
the winner.
In a handicap competition,
the competitor with the lowest net score for
the stipulated round or rounds is the winner.
3-2. Failure to Hole Out
* If a competitor fails to hole out
at any hole and does not correct his mistake
before he makes a stroke on the next teeing
ground or, in the case of the last hole of
the round, before he leaves the putting
green, he is disqualified.
3-3. Doubt as to Procedure
* a. Procedure
In stroke play, if a competitor is doubtful of
his rights or the correct procedure during the
play of a hole,
he may, without penalty, complete the hole with
two balls.
After the doubtful situation
has arisen and before taking further action,
the competitor must announce to his marker or
a fellow-
competitor that he intends to play two
balls and which ball he wishes to count if
the Rules permit
The competitor must report the
facts of the situation to the Committee before
returning his score card. If he fails to do
so, he is disqualified.
Note: If
the competitor takes further action before dealing
with the doubtful situation, Rule 3-3 is not
applicable. The score with the original ball
counts or, if the original ball is not one of
the balls being played, the score with the first
ball put into play counts, even if the Rules
do not allow the procedure adopted for that ball.
However, the competitor incurs no penalty for
having played a second ball, and any penalty
strokes incurred solely by playing that ball
do not count in his score.
* b. Determination of
Score for Hole:
(i) If the ball that the
competitor selected in advance to count has
been played in accordance with the Rules, the
score with that ball is the competitor’s
score for the hole. Otherwise, the score with
the other ball counts if the Rules allow the
procedure adopted for that ball.; Stroke
play — Disqualification
of competitors concerned.
(ii) If the competitor fails to announce in
advance his decision to complete the hole with
two balls, or which ball he wishes to count,
the score with the original ball counts, provided
it has been played in accordance with the Rules.
If the original ball is not one of the balls
being played, the first ball put into play
counts, provided it has been played in accordance
with the Rules. Otherwise, the score with the
other ball counts if the Rules allow the procedure
adopted for that ball.
Note 1: If
a competitor plays a second ball under Rule 3-3,
the strokes made after this Rule has been invoked
with the ball ruled not to count and penalty
strokes incurred solely by playing that ball
are disregarded.
Note 2: A
second ball played under Rule 3-3 is not a provisional
ball under Rule
27-2.
3-4. Refusal to Comply
with a Rule.
If a competitor refuses to comply with a Rule
affecting the rights of another competitor, he
is disqualified.
3-5. General Penalty.
The penalty for a breach of a Rule in stroke play
is two strokes except when otherwise provided.
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