Rule 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.

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Two sides of single players constitute a match called a "Single."

Two sides of two players each constitute a "Foursome," and the players on either side are called "Partners."

Rule 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.

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"Match Play" is decided by the number of holes won.

" Medal Play" is decided by the aggregate number of strokes.

Unless otherwise stated, a match shall consist of the play of the game over eighteen holes of the links. By agreement a match may consist of the play over any number of holes.

In match play, the player plays against an "Opponent," and opponents have certain privileges and responsibilities defined by the rules.

In medal play and bogey competitions the players are all " competitors "and have special privileges (Medal Rules 5, 6, 7 and 8), and a distinct responsibility. (Medal Rule 4.)

" Col. Bogey " is an imaginary opponent against whose arbitrary score each player plays by holes; otherwise bogey competitions are governed by medal play rules, except that the player loses a hole:

When the ball is struck twice, or is stopped by the player, or his caddie, or clubs;

When a ball is lost;

When a ball is not played wherever it lies, except as provided for in Rules 17 and 21.

Rule 3

The teeing ground shall be indicated by two marks placed in a line at right angles to the course, and the players shall not tee in front of, nor on either side of these marks, nor more than two club lengths 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 four and one-quarter inches in diameter and at least four inches deep.

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The penalty for playing the ball outside the limits, as thus defined, shall be:

In match play, the ball may be recalled by the opposite side (no stroke being counted for the misplay).

In medal play, the ball must be recalled (no stroke being counted for the misplay) or the player shall be disqualified.

The option of recalling a ball is in all cases forfeited unless exercised at once before another stroke has been played.

Rule 4

The ball must be fairly struck at and not pushed, scraped nor spooned, under penalty of the loss of the hole.

Any movement of the club which is intended to strike the ball is a stroke.

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Penalty for breach of this rule: In Match Play, loss of the hole. In Medal Play, disqualification.

Rule 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.

Rule 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.

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Penalty for breach of this rule: In Match Play, loss of the hole. In Medal Play, if the player play the tee shot when his partner should have done so, the ball must be recalled (no stroke being counted for the misplay) or the side shall be disqualified. If a player play when his partner should have done so through the green, the ball shall be recalled and dropped, and a stroke counted for the misplay.

Rule 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 "honor."

On starting for a new match the winner of the long match in the previous round is entitled to the honor. Should the first match have been halved, the winner of the last hole gained is entitled to the honor.

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In Match Play, the stroke recalled is not counted.

In Medal Play, the stroke may not be recalled.

Rule 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.

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In competitions:

In Match Play, when two competitors have halved their match, they shall continue playing hole by hole till one or the other shall have won a hole, which shall determine the winner of the match.

Should the match play competition be a handicap, the competitors must decide the tie by playing either one hole, three or five more holes, according to the manner in which the handicap ceded falls upon certain holes so as to make the game a fairly proportionate representation of the round.

In Medal Play, where two or more competitors are tied, the winner shall be determined by another round of the course; except that By-Laws 15 and 19 of the United States Golf Association provide that, in case of ties for the sixteenth place in the Amateur Championship medal rounds, or the eighth place in the Women's Championship medal rounds, respectively, the contestants so tied shall continue to play until one or the other shall have gained a lead by strokes, the hole or holes to be played out.