Adopted by the: Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews on 29th September 1891, as amended on 1st May 1895.

1. The game of golf is played by two or more sides, each playing its own ball. A side may consist of one or more persons

2. The game consists in each side playing a ball from a tee into a hole by successive strokes, and the hole is won by the side holing its ball in the fewest strokes, except as otherwise provided for in the rules. If two sides hole out in the same number of strokes, the hole is halved.

These two rules are explanatory of the game.

3. The teeing-ground shall be indicated by two marks placed in a line at right angles to the course, and the player shall not tee in front of, nor on either side of, these marks, nor more than two club-lemrths behind them. A ball played from outside the limits of the teeing-ground, as thus defined, may be recalled by the opposite side.

The hole shall be 4 ¼ inches in diameter, and at least 4 inches deep.

The proper method of indicating the teeing-ground is as above provided. On some courses, however, the teeing-grounds are indicated by four marks - two in front and two behind - in which case the ball must be teed within the space so marked off, as the two latter marks are intended to show the limit of two club-lengths, behind which the ball cannot be teed. If a ball is teed outside of the defined limits, the proper and sportsmanlike course for the opponent to adopt is to demand that the ball be brought within the limits before the stroke is played. At the same time the above is the rule (which I have frequently seen enforced), and the opponent is entitled, if he so choose, to recall a ball driven from outside the teeing-ground. This means that he may insist on another ball being played from within the proper place, but of course the playing of the first ball which is recalled does not count as a stroke. The size of the hole should be measured inside any lining which may be placed in it.

4. The ball must be fairly struck at, and not pushed, scraped, or spooned, under penalty of the loss of the hole. Any movement of the club which is intended to strike the ball is a stroke.

The ball must of course be struck at with a golf-club. It is not allowable to play a ball with the shaft of a club as with a billiard-cue, nor is it allowable to place the club-head close down beside the ball and lift it forward, as I have seen done when the ball lay in a bunker. The ball must be struck. It is counted a stroke if the ball be struck at, even if it be not actually touched or moved, either through the club hitting the ground behind the ball, or through swinging the club right over the top of it.

5. The game commences by each side playing a ball from the first teeing-ground. In a match with two or more on a side, the partners shall strike off alternately from the tees, and shall strike alternately during the play of the hole.

The players who are to strike against each other shall be named at starting, and shall continue in the same order during the match.

The player who shall play first on each side shall be named by his own side.

In case of failure to agree, it shall be settled by lot or toss which side shall have the option of leading.

The last sentence of the first paragraph and the second and third paragraphs refer to foursome play. The last paragraph applies to all matches. If the parties cannot agree which is to have the honour, it shall be settled by lot. The custom used to be to give the first honour to the captain of the club, or oldest member of the club playing in the match.

6. If a player shall play when his partner should have done so, his side shall lose the hole, except in the case of the tee-shot, when the stroke may be recalled at the option of the opponents.

As before pointed out, the recalled stroke is not counted.

7. The side winning a hole shall lead in starting for the next hole, and may recall the opponent's stroke should he play out of order. This privilege is called the 'honour.' On starting for a new match, the winner of the long match in the previous round is entitled to the 'honour.' Should the first match have been halved, the winner of the last hole gained is entitled to the ' honour.'

The 'long match' means the previous match, irrespective of the bye which may have remained to play after the match was decided. Thus a golfer wins his match by four up and three to play, but loses all the remaining three holes, which in all probability will be played as a bye. Notwithstanding his losing the bye, he - as the winner of the match (or the long match) - is entitled to the honour in starting for a new round.

8. One round of the links -generally eighteen holes - is a match, unless otherwise agreed upon. The match is won by the side which gets more holes ahead than there remain holes to be played, or by the side winning the last hole when the match was all even at the second last hole. If both sides have won the same number, it, is a halved match.

9. After the balls arc struck from the tee, the ball furthest from the hole to which the parties are placing shall bo played first, except as otherwise provided for in the rules. Should the wrong side play first, the opponent may recall the stroke before his side has played.

Observe the wording of the first part of this rule. Suppose the player who has the honour (1) misses the globe altogether, or (2) that his ball after being driven hits a stone or a post, or some obstruction, and rebounds to a distance behind the teeing-ground, he does not immediately play a second stroke; he must allow his opponent to play his tee-shot, the like, and the first player then plays the odd. 'Except as otherwise provided for in the rules' - see Rule 32 and Special Rules for Medal Play, 9. As before explained, the recalled stroke is not counted.

10. Unless with the opponent's consent, a ball struck from the tee shall not be changed, touched, or moved before the hole is played out, under the penalty of one stroke, except as otherwise provided for in the rules.