Definitions

Question 1

Abnormal Course Condition

Answer 1

Any of these four defined conditions: 
Animal Hole
Ground Under Repair
Immovable Obstruction
Temporary Water

Question 2

Advice

Answer 2

Any verbal comment or action (such as showing what club was just used to make a stroke) that is intended to influence a player in:
Choosing a club,
Making a stroke
Deciding how to play during a hole or round

But advice
does not include public information, such as:
The location of things on the course such as the hole
the putting green
the fairway, penalty areas
bunkers
or another player’s ball,
The distance from one point to another, or
The Rules.

Question 3

Animal

Answer 3

Any living member of the animal kingdom (other than humans), including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates (such as worms, insects, spiders and crustaceans).

Question 4

Animal Hole

Answer 4

Any hole dug in the ground by an animal
, except for holes dug by animals
that are also defined as loose impediments
(such as worms or insects).
The term animal hole
includes:
The loose material the animal
dug out of the hole,
Any worn-down track or trail leading into the hole, and
Any area on the ground pushed up or altered as a result of the animal
digging the hole underground.

Question 5

Areas of the Course

Answer 5

The five defined areas that make up the course:
The general area
The teeing area the player must play from in starting the hole he or she is playing,
All penalty areas
All bunkers and
The putting green of the hole the player is playing.

Question 6

Ball-Marker

Answer 6

An artificial object when used to mark the spot of a ball to be lifted, such as a tee, a coin, an object made to be a ball-marker or another small piece of equipment.
When a Rule refers to a ball-marker being moved, this means a ball-marker in place on the course to mark the spot of a ball that has been lifted and not yet replaced.

Question 7

Boundary Object

Answer 7

Artificial objects defining or showing out of bounds, such as walls, fences, stakes and railings, from which free relief is not allowed.
This includes any base and post of a boundary fence, but does not include:
Angled supports or guy wires that are attached to a wall or fence, or
Any steps, bridge or similar construction used for getting over the wall or fence.
Boundary objects are treated as immovable even if they are movable or any part of them is movable (see Rule 8.1a).
Boundary objects are not obstructions or integral objects.

Question 8

Bunker

Answer 8

A specially prepared area of sand, which is often a hollow from which turf or soil was removed.
These are not part of a bunker:
A lip, wall or face at the edge of a prepared area and consisting of soil, grass, stacked turf or artificial materials,
Soil or any growing or attached natural object inside the edge of a prepared area (such as grass, bushes or trees),
Sand that has spilled over or is outside the edge of a prepared area, and
All other areas of sand on the course
that are not inside the edge of a prepared area (such as deserts and other natural sand areas or areas sometimes referred to as waste areas).
Bunkers are one of the five defined areas of the course.
A Committee may define a prepared area of sand as part of the general area (which means it is not a bunker) or may define a non-prepared area of sand as a bunker.
When a bunker is being repaired and the Committee defines the entire bunker as ground under repair, it is treated as part of the general area (which means it is not a bunker).
The word “sand” as used in this Definition and Rule 12 includes any material similar to sand that is used as bunker material (such as crushed shells), as well as any soil that is mixed in with the sand.

Question 9

Caddie

Answer 9

Someone who helps a player during a round, including in these ways:
Carrying, Transporting or Handling Clubs: A person who carries, transports (such as by cart or trolley) or handles a player’s clubs during play is the player’s caddie, even if not named as a caddie by the player, except when done to move the player’s clubs, bag or cart out of the way or as a courtesy (such as getting a club the player left behind).
Giving Advice: A player’s caddie is the only person (other than a partner or partner’s caddie) a player may ask for advice.
A caddie may also help the player in other ways allowed by the Rules (see Rule 10.3b).

Question 10

Club Length

Answer 10

The length of the longest club of the 14 (or fewer) clubs the player has during the round
(as allowed by Rule 4.1b(1)), other than a putter.
For example, if the longest club (other than a putter) a player has during a round
is a 43-inch (109.22 cm) driver, a club-length is 43 inches for that player for that round.
Club-lengths are used in defining the player’s teeing area on each hole and in determining the size of the player’s relief area when taking relief under a Rule.

Question 11

Committee

Answer 11

The person or group in charge of the competition or the course.
See Committee Procedures, Section 1 (explaining the role of the Committee).

Question 12

Conditions Affecting the Stroke

Answer 12

The lie of the player’s ball at rest, the area of intended stance, the area of intended swing, the line of play and the relief area where the player will drop or place a ball.
The “area of intended stance ” includes both where the player will place his or her feet and the entire area that might reasonably affect how and where the player’s body is positioned in preparing for and making the intended stroke.
The “area of intended swing” includes the entire area that might reasonably affect any part of the backswing, the downswing or the completion of the swing for the intended stroke.
Each of the terms “lie ”, “line of play ” and “relief area” has its own Definition.

Question 13

Course

Answer 13

The entire area of play within the edge of any boundaries set by the Committee:
All areas inside the boundary edge are in bounds and part of the course.
All areas outside the boundary edge are out of bounds and not part of the course.
The boundary edge extends both up above the ground and down below the ground.
The course is made up of the five defined areas of the course.

Question 14

Drop

Answer 14

To hold the ball and let go of it so that it falls through the air, with the intent for the ball to be in play.
If the player lets go of a ball without intending it to be in play, the ball has not been dropped and is not in play
(see Rule 14.4).
Each relief Rule identifies a specific relief area where the ball must be dropped and come to rest.
In taking relief, the player must let go of the ball from a location at knee height so that the ball:
Falls straight down, without the player throwing, spinning or rolling it or using any other motion that might affect where the ball will come to rest, and
Does not touch any part of the player’s body or equipment before it hits the ground (see Rule 14.3b).

Question 15

Embedded

Answer 15

When a player’s ball is in its own pitch-mark made as a result of the player’s previous stroke and where part of the ball is below the level of the ground.
A ball does not necessarily have to touch soil to be embedded (for example, grass and loose impediments may be between the ball and the soil).

Question 16

Equipment

Answer 16

When a player’s ball is in its own pitch-mark made as a result of the player’s previous stroke and where part of the ball is below the level of the ground.
A ball does not necessarily have to touch soil to be embedded (for example, grass and loose impediments may be between the ball and the soil).

Question 17

Equipment Rules

Answer 17

The specifications and other regulations for clubs, balls and other equipment that players are allowed to use during a round. The Equipment Rules are found at usga.org.

Question 18

Flagstick

Answer 18

A movable pole provided by the Committee that is placed in the hole to show players where the hole is. The flagstick includes the flag and any other material or objects attached to the pole.
The requirements for a flagstick are stated in the Equipment Rules.

Question 19

Four-Ball

Answer 19

A form of play where sides of two partners compete, with each player playing his or her own ball. A side’s score for a hole is the lower score of the two partners on that hole.
Four-Ball may be played as a match-play competition between one side of two partners and another side of two partners or a stroke-play competition among multiple sides of two partners.

Question 20

Foursomes (AKA Alternate Shot)

Answer 20

A form of play where two partners compete as a side by playing one ball in alternating order on each hole.
Foursomes may be played as a match-play competition between one side of two partners and another side of two partners or a stroke-play competition among multiple sides of two partners.

Question 21

General Area

Answer 21

The area of the course that covers all of the course
except for the other four defined areas:
(1) the teeing area the player must play from in starting the hole he or she is playing,
(2) all penalty areas
(3) all bunkers
(4) the putting green of the hole the player is playing.
The general area includes:
All teeing locations on the course other than the teeing area, and
All wrong greens.

Question 22

General Penalty

Answer 22

Loss of hole in match play or two penalty strokes in stroke play.

Question 23

Ground Under Repair

Answer 23

Any part of the course the Committee defines to be ground under repair (whether by marking it or otherwise). Any defined ground under repair includes both:
All ground inside the edge of the defined area, and
Any grass, bush, tree or other growing or attached natural object rooted in the defined area, including any part of those objects that extends up above the ground outside the edge of the defined area (but not when such object is attached to or below the ground outside the edge of the defined area, such as a tree root that is part of a tree rooted inside the edge.)
Ground under repair also includes the following things, even if the Committee does not define them as such:
Any hole made by the Committee or the maintenance staff in:
Setting up the course (such as a hole where a stake has been removed or the hole on a double green being used for the play of another hole), or
Maintaining the course (such as a hole made in removing turf or a tree stump or laying pipelines, but not including aeration holes).
Grass cuttings, leaves and any other material piled for later removal. But:
Any natural materials that are piled for removal are also loose impediments, and
Any materials left on the course that are not intended to be removed are not ground under repair unless the Committee has defined them as such.
Any animal habitat (such as a bird’s nest) that is so near a player’s ball that the player’s stroke or stance might damage it, except when the habitat has been made by animals that are defined as loose impediments (such as worms or insects).
The edge of ground under repair should be defined by stakes, lines or physical features:
Stakes: When defined by stakes, the edge of the ground under repair is defined by the line between the outside points of the stakes at ground level, and the stakes are inside the ground under repair.
Lines: When defined by a painted line on the ground, the edge of the ground under repair is the outside edge of the line, and the line itself is in the ground under repair.
Physical Features: When defined by physical features (such as a flower bed or a turf nursery), the Committee should say how the edge of the ground under repair is defined.
When the edge of ground under repair is defined by lines or physical features, stakes may be used to show where the ground under repair is, but they have no other meaning.

Question 24

Hole

Answer 24

The finishing point on the putting green for the hole being played:
The hole must be 4 ¼ inches (108 mm) in diameter and at least 4 inches (101.6 mm) deep.
If a lining is used, its outer diameter must not exceed 4 ¼ inches (108 mm). The lining must be sunk at least 1 inch (25.4 mm) below the putting green surface, unless the nature of the soil requires that it be closer to the surface.
The word “hole” (when not used as a Definition in italics) is used throughout the Rules to mean the part of the course associated with a particular teeing area, putting green and hole. Play of a hole begins from the teeing area and ends when the ball is holed on the putting green (or when the Rules otherwise say the hole is completed).

Question 25

Holed

Answer 25

When a ball is at rest in the hole after a stroke and the entire ball is below the surface of the putting green.
When the Rules refer to “holing out ” or “hole out,” it means when the player’s ball is holed.
For the special case of a ball resting against the flagstick in the hole, see Rule 13.2c (ball is treated as holed if any part of the ball is below the surface of the putting green).

Question 26

Honour

Answer 26

The right of a player to play first from the teeing area (see Rule 6.4).

Question 27

Immovable Obstruction

Answer 27

Any obstruction that:
Cannot be moved without unreasonable effort or without damaging the obstruction or the course, and
Otherwise does not meet the definition of a movable obstruction.
The Committee may define any obstruction to be an immovable obstruction, even if it meets the definition of movable obstruction.

Question 28

Improve

Answer 28

To alter one or more of the conditions affecting the stroke or other physical conditions affecting play so that a player gains a potential advantage for a stroke.

Question 29

In Play

Answer 29

The status of a player’s ball when it lies on the course and is being used in the play of a hole:
A ball first becomes in play on a hole:
When the player makes a stroke at it from inside the teeing area, or
In match play, when the player makes a stroke at it from outside the teeing area and the opponent does not cancel the stroke under Rule 6.1b.
That ball remains in play until it is holed
except that it is no longer in play:
When it is lifted from the course,
When it is lost (even if it is at rest on the course) or comes to rest out of bounds, or
When another ball has been substituted for it, even if not allowed by a Rule.
A ball that is not in play is a wrong ball.
The player cannot have more than one ball in play at any time. (See Rule 6.3d for the limited cases when a player may play more than one ball at the same time on a hole.)
When the Rules refer to a ball at rest or in motion, this means a ball that is in play.
When a ball-marker is in place to mark the spot of a ball in play:
If the ball has not been lifted, it is still in play, and
If the ball has been lifted and replaced, it is in play even if the ball-marker has not been removed.

Question 30

Integral Object

Answer 30

An artificial object defined by the Committee as part of the challenge of playing the course from which free relief is not allowed.
Integral objects are treated as immovable (see Rule 8.1a). But if part of an integral object (such as a gate or door or part of an attached cable) meets the definition of movable obstruction, that part is treated as a movable obstruction.
Artificial objects defined by the Committee as integral objects are not obstructions or boundary objects.

Question 31

Known or Virtually Certain

Answer 31

The standard for deciding what happened to a player’s ball – for example, whether the ball came to rest in a penalty area, whether it moved or what caused it to move.
Known or virtually certain means more than just possible or probable. It means that either:
There is conclusive evidence that the event in question happened to the player’s ball, such as when the player or other witnesses saw it happen, or
Although there is a very small degree of doubt, all reasonably available information shows that it is at least 95% likely that the event in question happened.
“All reasonably available information” includes all information the player knows and all other information he or she can get with reasonable effort and without unreasonable delay.

Question 32

Lie

Answer 32

The spot on which a ball is at rest and any growing or attached natural object, immovable obstruction, integral object, or boundary object touching the ball or right next to it.
Loose impediments and movable obstructions are not part of the lie of a ball.

Question 33

Line of Play

Answer 33

The line where the player intends his or her ball to go after a stroke, including the area on that line that is a reasonable distance up above the ground and on either side of that line.
The line of play is not necessarily a straight line between two points (for example, it may be a curved line based on where the player intends the ball to go).

Question 34

Loose Impediment

Answer 34

Any unattached natural object such as:
Stones, loose grass, leaves, branches and sticks, Dead animals and animal waste, Worms, insects and similar animals that can be removed easily, and the mounds or webs they build (such as worm casts and ant hills), and Clumps of compacted soil (including aeration plugs).
Such natural objects are not loose if they are:
Attached or growing,
Solidly embedded in the ground (that is, cannot be picked out easily), or
Sticking to the ball.
Special cases:
Sand and Loose Soil are not loose impediments.
Dew, Frost and Water are not loose impediments.
Snow and Natural Ice (other than frost) are either loose impediments or, when on the ground, temporary water, at the player’s option.
Spider Webs are loose impediments even though they are attached to another object.

Question 35

Lost

Answer 35

The status of a ball that is not found in three minutes after the player or his or her caddie (or the player’s partner or partner’s caddie) begins to search for it.
If the search begins and is then temporarily interrupted for a good reason (such as when the player stops searching when play is suspended or needs to stand aside to wait for another player to play) or when the player has mistakenly identified a wrong ball
:
The time between the interruption and when the search resumes does not count, and
The time allowed for search is three minutes in total, counting the search time both before the interruption and after the search resumes.

Question 36

Mark

Answer 36

To show the spot where a ball is at rest by either:
Placing a ball-marker
right behind or right next to the ball, or
Holding a club on the ground right behind or right next to the ball.
This is done to show the spot where the ball must be replaced after it is lifted.

Question 37

Marker

Answer 37

In stroke play, the person responsible for entering a player’s score on the player’s scorecard and for certifying that scorecard. The marker may be another player, but not a partner.
The Committee may identify who will be the player’s marker or tell the players how they may choose a marker.

Question 38

Match Play

Answer 38

A form of play where a player or side plays directly against an opponent or opposing side in a head-to-head match of one or more rounds:
A player or side wins a hole in the match by completing the hole in fewer strokes (including strokes made and penalty strokes), and
The match is won when a player or side leads the opponent or opposing side by more holes than remain to be played.
Match play can be played as a singles match (where one player plays directly against one opponent), a Three-Ball match or a Foursomes or Four-Ball match between sides of two partners.

Question 39

Maximum Score

Answer 39

A form of stroke play where a player’s or side’s score for a hole is capped at a maximum number of strokes (including strokes made and any penalty strokes) set by the Committee, such as two times par, a fixed number or net double bogey.

Question 40

Movable Obstruction

Answer 40

An obstruction that can be moved with reasonable effort and without damaging the obstruction or the course.
If part of an immovable obstruction or integral object (such as a gate or door or part of an attached cable) meets these two standards, that part is treated as a movable obstruction.
But this does not apply if the movable part of an immovable obstructionor integral object is not meant to be moved (such as a loose stone that is part of a stone wall).
Even when an obstruction is movable, the Committee may define it to be an immovable obstruction.

Question 41

Moved

Answer 41

When a ball at rest has left its original spot and come to rest on any other spot, and this can be seen by the naked eye (whether or not anyone actually sees it do so).
This applies whether the ball has gone up, down or horizontally in any direction away from its original spot.
If the ball only wobbles (sometimes referred to as oscillating) and stays on or returns to its original spot, the ball has not moved.

Question 42

Natural Forces

Answer 42

The effects of nature such as wind, water or when something happens for no apparent reason because of the effects of gravity.

Question 43

Nearest Point of Complete Relief

Answer 43

The reference point for taking free relief from an abnormal course condition (Rule 16.1), dangerous animal condition (Rule 16.2), wrong green (Rule 13.1f) or no play zone (Rules 16.1f and 17.1e), or in taking relief under certain Local Rules.
It is the estimated point where the ball would lie that is:
Nearest to the ball’s original spot, but not nearer the hole than that spot,
In the required area of the course, and
Where the condition does not interfere with the stroke the player would have made from the original spot if the condition was not there.
Estimating this reference point requires the player to identify the choice of club, stance, swing and line of play he or she would have used for that stroke.
The player does not need to simulate that stroke by taking an actual stance and swinging with the chosen club (but it is recommended that the player normally do this to help in making an accurate estimate).
The nearest point of complete relief relates solely to the particular condition from which relief is being taken and may be in a location where there is interference by something else:
If the player takes relief and then has interference by another condition from which relief is allowed, the player may take relief again by determining a new nearest point of complete relief from the new condition.
Relief must be taken separately for each condition, except that the player may take relief from both conditions at the same time (based on determining the nearest point of complete relief from both) when, having already taken relief separately from each condition, it becomes reasonable to conclude that continuing to do so will result in continued interference by one or the other.

Question 44

No Play Zone

Answer 44

A part of the coursewhere the Committee has prohibited play. A no play zone must be defined as part of either an abnormal course condition or a penalty area.
The Committee may use no play zones for any reason, such as:
Protecting wildlife, animal habitats, and environmentally sensitive areas,
Preventing damage to young trees, flower beds, turf nurseries, re-turfed areas or other planted areas,
Protecting players from danger, and
Preserving sites of historical or cultural interest.
The Committee should define the edge of a no play zone with a line or stakes, and the line or stakes (or the tops of those stakes) should identify the no play zone as different than a regular abnormal course condition or penalty area that does not contain a no play zone.

Question 45

Obstruction

Answer 45

Any artificial object except for integral objects and boundary objects.
Examples of obstructions:
Artificially surfaced roads and paths, including their artificial borders.
Buildings and rain shelters.
Sprinkler heads, drains and irrigation or control boxes.
Stakes, walls, railings and fences (but not when they are boundary objects that define or show the boundary edge of the course).
Golf carts, mowers, cars and other vehicles.
Waste containers, signposts and benches.
Player equipment, flagsticks, and rakes.
An obstruction is either a movable obstruction or an immovable obstruction. If part of an immovable obstruction (such as a gate or door or part of an attached cable) meets the definition of movable obstruction, that part is treated as a movable obstruction.
See Committee Procedures, Section 8; Model Local Rule F-23 (Committee may adopt a Local Rule defining certain obstructions as temporary immovable obstructions for which special relief procedures apply).

Question 46

Opponent

Answer 46

The person a player competes against in a match. The term opponent applies only in match play.

Question 47

Outside Influence

Answer 47

Any of these people or things that can affect what happens to a player’s ball or equipment or to the course:
Any person (including another player), except the player or his or her caddie
or the player’s partner
or opponent
or any of their caddies,
Any animal, and
Any natural or artificial object or anything else (including another ball in motion), except for natural forces.

Question 48

Out of Bounds

Answer 48

All areas outside the boundary edge of the course as defined by the Committee. All areas inside that edge are in bounds.
The boundary edge of the course extends both up above the ground and down below the ground:
This means that all ground and anything else (such as any natural or artificial object) inside the boundary edge is in bounds, whether on, above or below the surface of the ground.
If an object is both inside and outside the boundary edge (such as steps attached to a boundary fence, or a tree rooted outside the edge with branches extending inside the edge or vice versa), only the part of the object that is outside the edge is out of bounds.
The boundary edge should be defined by boundary objects or lines:
Boundary Objects: When defined by stakes or a fence, the boundary edge is defined by the line between the course-side points of the stakes or fence posts at ground level (excluding angled supports), and those stakes or fence posts are out of bounds.
When defined by other objects such as a wall or when the Committee wishes to treat a boundary fence in a different way, the Committee should define the boundary edge.
Lines: When defined by a painted line on the ground, the boundary edge is the course-side edge of the line, and the line itself is out of bounds.
When a line on the ground defines the boundary edge, stakes may be used to show where the boundary edge is, but they have no other meaning.
Boundary stakes or lines should be white.

Question 49

Par/Bogey

Answer 49

A form of stroke play that uses scoring as in match play where:
A player or side wins or loses a hole by completing the hole in fewer strokes or more strokes (including strokes made and any penalty strokes) than a fixed target score for that hole set by the Committee, and
The competition is won by the player or side with the highest total of holes won versus holes lost (that is, adding up the holes won and subtracting the holes lost).

Question 50

Partner

Answer 50

A player who competes together with another player as a side, in either match play or stroke play.

Question 51

Penalty Area

Answer 51

An area from which relief with a one-stroke penalty is allowed if the player’s ball comes to rest there.
A penalty area is:
Any body of water on the course (whether or not marked by the Committee), including a sea, lake, pond, river, ditch, surface drainage ditch or other open watercourse (even if not containing water), and
Any other part of the course the Committee defines as a penalty area.
A penalty area is one of the five defined areas of the course.
There are two different types of penalty areas, distinguished by the colour used to mark them:
]Yellow penalty areas (marked with yellow lines or yellow stakes) give the player two relief options (Rules 17.1d(1) and (2)).
Red penalty areas (marked with red lines or red stakes) give the player an extra lateral relief option (Rule 17.1d(3)), in addition to the two relief options available for yellow penalty areas.
If the colour of a penalty area has not been marked or indicated by the Committee, it is treated as a red penalty area.
The edge of a penalty area extends both up above the ground and down below the ground:
This means that all ground and anything else (such as any natural or artificial object) inside the edge is part of the penalty area, whether on, above or below the surface of the ground.
If an object is both inside and outside the edge (such as a bridge over the penalty area, or a tree rooted inside the edge with branches extending outside the edge or vice versa), only the part of the object that is inside the edge is part of the penalty area.
The edge of a penalty area should be defined by stakes, lines or physical features:
Stakes: When defined by stakes, the edge of the penalty area is defined by the line between the outside points of the stakes at ground level, and the stakes are inside the penalty area.
Lines: When defined by a painted line on the ground, the edge of the penalty area is the outside edge of the line, and the line itself is in the penalty area.
Physical Features: When defined by physical features (such as a beach or desert area or a retaining wall), the Committee should say how the edge of the penalty area is defined.
When the edge of a penalty area is defined by lines or by physical features, stakes may be used to show where the penalty area is, but they have no other meaning.
When the edge of a body of water is not defined by the Committee, the edge of that penalty area is defined by its natural boundaries (that is, where the ground slopes down to form the depression that can hold the water).
If an open watercourse usually does not contain water (such as a drainage ditch or run-off area that is dry except during a rainy season), the Committee may define that area as part of the general area (which means it is not a penalty area).

Question 52

Point of Maximum Available Relief

Answer 52

The reference point for taking free relief from an abnormal course condition in a bunker (Rule 16.1c) or on the putting green (Rule 16.1d) when there is no nearest point of complete relief.
It is the estimated point where the ball would lie that is:
Nearest to the ball’s original spot, but not nearer the hole than that spot,
In the required area of the course, and
Where that abnormal course condition least interferes with the stroke the player would have made from the original spot if the condition was not there.
Estimating this reference point requires the player to identify the choice of club, stance, swing and line of play the player would have used for that stroke.
The player does not need to simulate that stroke by taking an actual stance and swinging with the chosen club (but it is recommended that the player normally do this to help in making an accurate estimate).
The point of maximum available relief is found by comparing the relative amount of interference with the lie of the ball and the player’s area of intended stance and swing and, on the putting green only, the line of play. For example, when taking relief from temporary water:
The point of maximum available relief may be where the ball will be in shallower water than where the player will stand (affecting the stance more than the lie and swing), or where the ball is in deeper water than where the player will stand (affecting the lie and swing more than the stance).
On the putting green, the point of maximum available relief may be based on the line of play where the ball will need to go through the shallowest or shortest stretch of temporary water.

Question 53

Putting Green

Answer 53

The area on the hole the player is playing that:
Is specially prepared for putting, or
The Committee has defined as the putting green (such as when a temporary green is used).
The putting green for a hole contains the hole into which the player tries to play a ball.
The putting green is one of the five defined areas of the course. The putting greens for all other holes (which the player is not playing at the time) are wrong greens and part of the general area.
The edge of a putting green is defined by where it can be seen that the specially prepared area starts (such as where the grass has been distinctly cut to show the edge), unless the Committee defines the edge in a different way (such as by using a line or dots).
If a double green is used for two different holes:
The entire prepared area containing both holes is treated as the putting green when playing each hole.
But the Committee may define an edge that divides the double green into two different putting greens, so that when a player is playing one of the holes, the part of the double green on the side of the edge that is used for the other hole is a wrong green.

Question 54

Referee

Answer 54

An official named by the Committee to decide questions of fact and apply the Rules.
See Committee Procedures, Section 6C (explaining the responsibilities and authority of a referee).

Question 55

Relief Area

Answer 55

The area where a player must drop a ball when taking relief under a Rule. Each relief Rule requires the player to use a specific relief area whose size and location are based on these three factors:
Reference Point: The point from which the size of relief area is measured.
Size of Relief Area Measured from Reference Point: The relief area is either one or two club-lengths from the reference point, but with certain limits:
Limits on Location of Relief Area: The location of the relief area may be limited in one or more ways so that, for example:
It is only in certain defined areas of the course, such as only in the general area, or not in a bunker or a penalty area,
It is not nearer the hole than the reference point or must be outside a penalty area or a bunker from which relief is being taken, or
It is where there is no interference (as defined in the particular Rule) from the condition from which relief is being taken.
In using club-lengths to determine the size of a relief area, the player may measure directly across a ditch, hole or similar thing, and directly across or through an object (such as a tree, fence, wall, tunnel, drain or sprinkler head), but is not allowed to measure through ground that naturally slopes up and down.
See Committee Procedures, Section 2I (Committee may choose to allow or require the player to use a dropping zone as a relief area when taking certain relief).

Question 56

Replace

Answer 56

To place a ball by setting it down and letting it go, with the intent for it to be in play.
If the player sets a ball down without intending it to be in play, the ball has not been replaced and is not in play (see Rule 14.4).
Whenever a Rule requires a ball to be replaced, the Rule involved identifies a specific spot where the ball must be replaced.

Question 57

Round

Answer 57

18 or fewer holes played in the order set by the Committee.

Question 58

Scorecard

Answer 58

The document where a player’s score for each hole is entered in stroke play.
The scorecard may be in any paper or electronic form approved by the Committee that allows:
The player’s score to be entered for each hole,
The player’s handicap to be entered, if it is a handicap competition, and
The marker and the player to certify the scores, and the player to certify his or her handicap in a handicap competition, either by physical signature or by a method of electronic certification approved by the Committee.
A scorecard is not required in match play but may be used by the players to help keep the match score.

Question 59

Serious Breach

Answer 59

In stroke play, when playing from a wrong place could give the player a significant advantage compared to the stroke to be made from the right place.
In making this comparison to decide if there was a serious breach, the factors to be taken into account include:
The difficulty of the stroke,
The distance of the ball from the hole,
The effect of obstacles on the line of play, and
The conditions affecting the stroke.
The concept of a serious breach does not apply in match play, because a player loses the hole if he or she plays from a wrong place.

Question 60

Side

Answer 60

Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play.
Each set of partners is a side, whether each partner plays his or her own ball (Four-Ball) or the partners play one ball (Foursomes).
A side is not the same as a team. In a team competition, each team consists of players competing as individuals or as sides.

Question 61

Stableford

Answer 61

A form of stroke play where:
A player’s or side’s score for a hole is based on points awarded by comparing the player’s or side’s number of strokes on the hole (including strokes made and any penalty strokes) to a fixed score for the hole set by the Committee, and
The competition is won by the player or side who completes all rounds with the most points.

Question 62

Stance

Answer 62

The position of a player’s feet and body in preparing for and making a stroke.

Question 63

Stroke

Answer 63

The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.
But a stroke has not been made if the player:
Decides during the downswing not to strike the ball and avoids doing so by deliberately stopping the clubhead before it reaches the ball or, if unable to stop, by deliberately missing the ball.
Accidentally strikes the ball when making a practice swing or while preparing to make a stroke.
When the Rules refer to “playing a ball,” it means the same as making a stroke.
The player’s score for a hole or a round is described as a number of “strokes” or “strokes taken”, which means both all strokes made and any penalty strokes (see Rule 3.1c).

Question 64

Stroke and Distance

Answer 64

The procedure and penalty when a player takes relief under Rules 17, 18 or 19 by playing a ball from where the previous stroke was made (see Rule 14.6).
The term stroke and distance means that the player both:
Gets one penalty stroke, and
Loses the benefit of any gain of distance towards the hole from the spot where the previous stroke was made.

Question 65

Stroke Play

Answer 65

A form of play where a player or side competes against all other players or sides in the competition.
In the regular form of stroke play (see Rule 3.3):
A player’s or side’s score for a round is the total number of strokes (including strokes made and any penalty strokes) to hole out on each hole, and
The winner is the player or side who completes all rounds in the fewest total strokes.
Other forms of stroke play with different scoring methods are Stableford, Maximum Score and Par/Bogey (see Rule 21).
All forms of stroke play can be played either in individual competitions (each player competing on his or her own) or in competitions involving sides of partners (Foursomes or Four-Ball).

Question 66

Substitute

Answer 66

To change the ball the player is using to play a hole by having another ball become the ball in play.
The player has substituted another ball when he or she puts that ball in play in any way (see Rule 14.4) instead of the player’s original ball, whether the original ball was:
In play, or
No longer in play because it had been lifted from the course
or was lost
or out of bounds.
A substituted ball is the player’s ball in play even if:
It was replaced, dropped or placed in a wrong way or wrong place, or
The player was required under the Rules to put the original ball back in play rather than to substitute another ball.

Question 67

Tee

Answer 67

An object used to raise a ball above the ground to play it from the teeing area. It must be no longer than 4 inches (101.6 mm) and conform with the Equipment Rules.

Question 68

Teeing Area

Answer 68

The area the player must play from in starting the hole he or she is playing.
The teeing area is a rectangle that is two club-lengths deep where:
The front edge is defined by the line between the forward-most points of two tee-markers set by the Committee, and
The side edges are defined by the lines back from the outside points of the tee-markers.
The teeing area is one of the five defined areas of the course.
All other teeing locations on the course (whether on the same hole or any other hole) are part of the general area.

Question 69

Temporary Water

Answer 69

Any temporary accumulation of water on the surface of the ground (such as puddles from rain or irrigation or an overflow from a body of water) that:
Is not in a penalty area, and
Can be seen before or after the player takes a stance (without pressing down excessively with his or her feet).
It is not enough for the ground to be merely wet, muddy or soft or for the water to be momentarily visible as the player steps on the ground; an accumulation of water must remain present either before or after the stance is taken.
Special cases:
Dew and Frost are not temporary water.
Snow and Natural Ice (other than frost), are either loose impediments or, when on the ground, temporary water, at the player’s option.
Manufactured Ice is an obstruction.

Question 70

Three-Ball

Answer 70

A form of match play where:
Each of three players plays an individual match against the other two players at the same time, and
Each player plays one ball that is used in both of his or her matches.

Question 71

Wrong Ball

Answer 71

Any ball other than the player’s:
Ball in play (whether the original ball or a substituted ball),
Provisional ball (before it is abandoned under Rule 18.3c), or
Second ball in stroke play played under Rules 14.7b or 20.1c.
Examples of a wrong ball are:
Another player’s ball in play.
A stray ball.
The player’s own ball that is out of bounds, has become lost or has been lifted and not yet put back in play.

Question 72

Wrong Green

Answer 72

Any green on the course other than the putting green for the hole the player is playing. Wrong greens include:
The putting greens for all other holes that the player is not playing at the time,
The normal putting green for a hole where a temporary green is being used, and
All practice greens for putting, chipping or pitching, unless the Committee excludes them by Local Rule.
Wrong greens are part of the general area.

Question 73

Wrong Place

Answer 73

Any place on the course other than where the player is required or allowed to play his or her ball under the Rules.
Examples of playing from a wrong place are:
Playing a ball after replacing it on the wrong spot or without replacing it when required by the Rules.
Playing a dropped ball from outside the required relief area.
Taking relief under a wrong Rule, so that the ball is dropped in and played from a place not allowed under the Rules.
Playing a ball from a no play zone or when a no play zone interferes with the player’s area of intended stance or swing.
Playing a ball from outside the teeing area in starting play of a hole or in trying to correct that mistake is not playing from a wrong place (see Rule 6.1b).