Definitions 21

Section II DEFINITIONS
The Definitions are listed alphabetically and, in the Rules
themselves, defined terms are in italics.
Abnormal Ground Conditions
An “abnormal ground condition” is any casual water, ground
under repair or hole, cast or runway on the course made by a
burrowing animal, a reptile or a bird.
Addressing the Ball
A player has “addressed the ball” when he has taken his
stance and has also grounded his club, except that in a hazard
a player has addressed the ball when he has taken his stance.
Advice
“Advice” is any counsel or suggestion that could influence
a player in determining his play, the choice of a club or the
method of making a stroke.
Information on the Rules, distance or matters of public
information, such as the position of hazards or the flagstick on
the putting green, is not advice.
Ball Deemed to Move
See “Move or Moved”.
Ball Holed
See “Holed”.
Ball Lost
See “Lost Ball”.
Ball in Play
A ball is “in play” as soon as the player has made a stroke on
the teeing ground. It remains in play until it is holed, except
when it is lost, out of bounds or lifted, or another ball has
been substituted, whether or not the substitution is permitted;
a ball so substituted becomes the ball in play.
If a ball is played from outside the teeing ground when the
player is starting play of a hole, or when attempting to
correct this mistake, the ball is not in play and Rule 11-4 or
11-5 applies. Otherwise, ball in play includes a ball played
22 Definitions

from outside the teeing ground when the player elects or is

required to play his next stroke from the teeing ground.
Exception in match play: Ball in play includes a ball played
by the player from outside the teeing ground when starting
play of a hole if the opponent does not require the stroke to
be cancelled in accordance with Rule 11-4a.
Best-Ball
See “Forms of Match Play”.
Bunker
A “bunker” is a hazard consisting of a prepared area of ground,
often a hollow, from which turf or soil has been removed and
replaced with sand or the like.
Grass-covered ground bordering or within a bunker, including a
stacked turf face (whether grass-covered or earthen), is not part
of the bunker. A wall or lip of the bunker not covered with grass
is part of the bunker. The margin of a bunker extends vertically
downwards, but not upwards.
A ball is in a bunker when it lies in or any part of it touches the
bunker.
Burrowing Animal
A “burrowing animal” is an animal (other than a worm, insect or
the like) that makes a hole for habitation or shelter, such as a
rabbit, mole, groundhog, gopher or salamander.
Note: A hole made by a non-burrowing animal, such as a
dog, is not an abnormal ground condition unless marked or
declared as ground under repair.
Caddie
A “caddie” is one who assists the player in accordance with
the Rules, which may include carrying or handling the player’s
clubs during play.
When one caddie is employed by more than one player,
he is always deemed to be the caddie of the player sharing
the caddie whose ball (or whose partner’s ball) is involved,
and equipment carried by him is deemed to be that player’s
equipment, except when the caddie acts upon specific
 Definitions 23

directions of another player (or the partner of another player)

sharing the caddie, in which case he is considered to be that
other player’s caddie.
Casual Water
“Casual water” is any temporary accumulation of water on the
course that is not in a water hazard and is visible before or
after the player takes his stance. Snow and natural ice, other
than frost, are either casual water or loose impediments, at the
option of the player. Manufactured ice is an obstruction. Dew
and frost are not casual water.
A ball is in casual water when it lies in or any part of it touches
the casual water.
Committee
The “Committee” is the committee in charge of the competition
or, if the matter does not arise in a competition, the committee
in charge of the course.
Competitor
A “competitor” is a player in a stroke-play competition. A
“fellow-competitor” is any person with whom the competitor
plays. Neither is partner of the other.
In stroke-play foursome and four-ball competitions, where the
context so admits, the word “competitor” or “fellow-competitor”
includes his partner.
Course
The “course” is the whole area within any boundaries
established by the Committee (see Rule 33-2).
Equipment
“Equipment” is anything used, worn or carried by the player
or anything carried for the player by his partner or either of
their caddies, except any ball he has played at the hole being
played and any small object, such as a coin or a tee, when
used to mark the position of a ball or the extent of an area in
which a ball is to be dropped. Equipment includes a golf cart,
whether or not motorized.
Note 1: A ball played at the hole being played is equipment
24 Definitions
when it has been lifted and not put back into play.
Note 2: When a golf cart is shared by two or more players, the
cart and everything in it are deemed to be the equipment of
one of the players sharing the cart.
If the cart is being moved by one of the players (or the partner
of one of the players) sharing it, the cart and everything in it are
deemed to be that player’s equipment. Otherwise, the cart and
everything in it are deemed to be the equipment of the player
sharing the cart whose ball (or whose partner’s ball) is involved.
Fellow-Competitor
See “Competitor”.
Flagstick
The “flagstick” is a movable straight indicator, with or without
bunting or other material attached, centered in the hole to
show its position. It must be circular in cross-section. Padding
or shock absorbent material that might unduly influence the
movement of the ball is prohibited.
Forecaddie
A “forecaddie” is one who is employed by the Committee to
indicate to players the position of balls during play. He is an
outside agency.
Forms of Match Play
Single: A match in which one player plays against another
player.
Threesome: A match in which one player plays against two
other players, and each side plays one ball.
Foursome: A match in which two players play against two other
players, and each side plays one ball.
Three-Ball: Three players play a match against one another,
each playing his own ball. Each player is playing two distinct
matches.
Best-Ball: A match in which one player plays against the better
ball of two other players or the best ball of three other players.
Four-Ball: A match in which two players play their better ball
against the better ball of two other players.
 Definitions 25

Forms of Stroke Play

Individual: A competition in which each competitor plays as an
individual.
Foursome: A competition in which two competitors play as
partners and play one ball.
Four-Ball: A competition in which two competitors play as
partners, each playing his own ball. The lower score of
the partners is the score for the hole. If one partner fails to
complete the play of the hole, there is no penalty.
Note: For bogey, par and Stableford competitions, see Rule 32-1.
Four-Ball
See “Forms of Match Play” and “Forms of Stroke Play”.
Foursome
See “Forms of Match Play” and “Forms of Stroke Play”.
Ground Under Repair
“Ground under repair” is any part of the course so marked
by order of the Committee or so declared by its authorized
representative.
All ground and any grass, bush, tree or other growing thing
within the ground under repair are part of the ground under
repair. Ground under repair includes material piled for removal
and a hole made by a greenkeeper, even if not so marked.
Grass cuttings and other material left on the course that have
been abandoned and are not intended to be removed are not
ground under repair unless so marked.
When the margin of ground under repair is defined by stakes,
the stakes are inside the ground under repair, and the margin
of the ground under repair is defined by the nearest outside
points of the stakes at ground level. When both stakes and
lines are used to indicate ground under repair, the stakes
identify the ground under repair and the lines define the margin
of the ground under repair. When the margin of ground under
repair is defined by a line on the ground, the line itself is in the
ground under repair. The margin of ground under repair extends
vertically downwards but not upwards.
26 Definitions
A ball is in ground under repair when it lies in or any part of it
touches the ground under repair.
Stakes used to define the margin of or identify ground under
repair are obstructions.
Note: The Committee may make a Local Rule prohibiting play
from ground under repair or an environmentally-sensitive area
defined as ground under repair.
Hazards
A “hazard” is any bunker or water hazard.
Hole
The “hole” must be 4 1⁄4 inches (108 mm) in diameter and at
least 4 inches (101.6 mm) deep. If a lining is used, it must be
sunk at least 1 inch (25.4 mm) below the putting green surface,
unless the nature of the soil makes it impracticable to do so; its
outer diameter must not exceed 4 1⁄4 inches (108 mm).
Holed
A ball is “holed” when it is at rest within the circumference of
the hole and all of it is below the level of the lip of the hole.
Honour
The player who is to play first from the teeing ground is said to
have the “honour.”
Lateral Water Hazard
A “lateral water hazard” is a water hazard or that part of a
water hazard so situated that it is not possible, or is deemed
by the Committee to be impracticable, to drop a ball behind the
water hazard in accordance with Rule 26-1b. All ground and
water within the margin of a lateral water hazard are part of the
lateral water hazard.
When the margin of a lateral water hazard is defined by
stakes, the stakes are inside the lateral water hazard, and the
margin of the hazard is defined by the nearest outside points
of the stakes at ground level. When both stakes and lines are
used to indicate a lateral water hazard, the stakes identify
the hazard and the lines define the hazard margin. When the
margin of a lateral water hazard is defined by a line on the
 Definitions 27

ground, the line itself is in the lateral water hazard. The margin
of a lateral water hazard extends vertically upwards and
downwards.
A ball is in a lateral water hazard when it lies in or any part of it
touches the lateral water hazard.
Stakes used to define the margin of or identify a lateral water
hazard are obstructions.
Note 1: That part of a water hazard to be played as a lateral
water hazard must be distinctively marked. Stakes or lines
used to define the margin of or identify a lateral water hazard
must be red.
Note 2: The Committee may make a Local Rule prohibiting
play from an environmentally-sensitive area defined as a lateral
water hazard.
Note 3: The Committee may define a lateral water hazard as a
water hazard.
Line of Play
The “line of play” is the direction that the player wishes his ball
to take after a stroke, plus a reasonable distance on either side
of the intended direction. The line of play extends vertically
upwards from the ground, but does not extend beyond the hole.
Line of Putt
The “line of putt” is the line that the player wishes his ball to
take after a stroke on the putting green. Except with respect to
Rule 16-1e, the line of putt includes a reasonable distance on
either side of the intended line. The line of putt does not extend
beyond the hole.
Loose Impediments
“Loose impediments” are natural objects including:
• stones, leaves, twigs, branches and the like,
• dung, and
• worms, insects and the like, and the casts and heaps made by
them,
provided they are not:
28 Definitions

• fixed or growing,
• solidly embedded, or
• adhering to the ball.
Sand and loose soil are loose impediments on the putting
green, but not elsewhere.
Snow and natural ice, other than frost, are either casual water
or loose impediments, at the option of the player.
Dew and frost are not loose impediments.
Lost Ball
A ball is deemed “lost” if:
a. It is not found or identified as his by the player within five
minutes after the player’s side or his or their caddies have
begun to search for it; or
b. The player has made a stroke at a provisional ball from the
place where the original ball is likely to be or from a point
nearer the hole than that place (see Rule 27-2b); or
c. The player has put another ball into play under penalty of
stroke and distance (see Rule 27-1a); or
d. The player has put another ball into play because it is known
or virtually certain that the ball, which has not been found,
has been moved by an outside agency (see Rule 18-1), is
in an obstruction (see Rule 24-3), is in an abnormal ground
condition (see Rule 25-1c) or is in a water hazard (see Rule
26-1); or
e. The player has made a stroke at a substituted ball.
Time spent in playing a wrong ball is not counted in the
five-minute period allowed for search.
Marker
A “marker” is one who is appointed by the Committee to
record a competitor’s score in stroke play. He may be a fellow-
competitor. He is not a referee.
Move or Moved
A ball is deemed to have “moved” if it leaves its position and
 Definitions 29

comes to rest in any other place.

Nearest Point of Relief
The “nearest point of relief” is the reference point for taking
relief without penalty from interference by an immovable
obstruction (Rule 24-2), an abnormal ground condition (Rule
25-1) or a wrong putting green (Rule 25-3).
It is the point on the course nearest to where the ball lies:
(i) that is not nearer the hole, and
(ii) where, if the ball were so positioned, no interference by
the condition from which relief is sought would exist for
the stroke the player would have made from the original
position if the condition were not there.
Note: In order to determine the nearest point of relief
accurately, the player should use the club with which he would
have made his next stroke if the condition were not there to
simulate the address position, direction of play and swing for
such a stroke.
Observer
An “observer” is one who is appointed by the Committee to
assist a referee to decide questions of fact and to report to
him any breach of a Rule. An observer should not attend the
flagstick, stand at or mark the position of the hole, or lift the
ball or mark its position.
Obstructions
An “obstruction” is anything artificial, including the artificial
surfaces and sides of roads and paths and manufactured
ice, except:
a. Objects defining out of bounds, such as walls, fences,
stakes and railings;
b. Any part of an immovable artificial object that is out of
bounds; and
c. Any construction declared by the Committee to be an
integral part of the course.
An obstruction is a movable obstruction if it may be moved
30 Definitions
without unreasonable effort, without unduly delaying play
and without causing damage. Otherwise, it is an immovable
obstruction.
Note: The Committee may make a Local Rule declaring a
movable obstruction to be an immovable obstruction.
Out of Bounds
“Out of bounds” is beyond the boundaries of the course or any
part of the course so marked by the Committee.
When out of bounds is defined by reference to stakes or a
fence or as being beyond stakes or a fence, the out of bounds
line is determined by the nearest inside points at ground level
of the stakes or fence posts (excluding angled supports). When
both stakes and lines are used to indicate out of bounds,
the stakes identify out of bounds and the lines define out
of bounds. When out of bounds is defined by a line on the
ground, the line itself is out of bounds. The out of bounds line
extends vertically upwards and downwards.
A ball is out of bounds when all of it lies out of bounds. A
player may stand out of bounds to play a ball lying within
bounds.
Objects defining out of bounds such as walls, fences, stakes
and railings, are not obstructions and are deemed to be fixed.
Stakes identifying out of bounds are not obstructions and are
deemed to be fixed.
Note 1: Stakes or lines used to define out of bounds should be
white.
Note 2: A Committee may make a Local Rule declaring
stakes identifying but not defining out of bounds to be
movable obstructions.
Outside Agency
In match play, an “outside agency” is any agency other than
either the player’s or opponent’s side, any caddie of either
side, any ball played by either side at the hole being played or
any equipment of either side.
In stroke play, an outside agency is any agency other than the
 Definitions 31

competitor’s side, any caddie of the side, any ball played by

the side at the hole being played or any equipment of the side.
An outside agency includes a referee, a marker, an observer
and a forecaddie. Neither wind nor water is an outside agency.
Partner
A “partner” is a player associated with another player on the
same side.
In threesome, foursome, best-ball or four-ball play, where the
context so admits, the word “player” includes his partner or
partners.
Penalty Stroke
A “penalty stroke” is one added to the score of a player or
side under certain Rules. In a threesome or foursome, penalty
strokes do not affect the order of play.
Provisional Ball
A “provisional ball” is a ball played under Rule 27-2 for a ball
that may be lost outside a water hazard or may be out of
bounds.
Putting Green
The “putting green” is all ground of the hole being played that
is specially prepared for putting or otherwise defined as such
by the Committee. A ball is on the putting green when any part
of it touches the putting green.
Referee
A “referee” is one who is appointed by the Committee to
accompany players to decide questions of fact and apply the
Rules. He must act on any breach of a Rule that he observes
or is reported to him.
A referee should not attend the flagstick, stand at or mark the
position of the hole, or lift the ball or mark its position.
Rub of the Green
A “rub of the green” occurs when a ball in motion is
accidentally deflected or stopped by any outside agency (see
Rule 19-1).
32 Definitions
Rule or Rules
The term “Rule” includes:
a. The Rules of Golf and their interpretations as contained in
“Decisions on the Rules of Golf ”;
b. Any Conditions of Competition established by the
Committee under Rule 33-1 and Appendix I;
c. Any Local Rules established by the Committee under Rule
33-8a and Appendix I; and
d. The specifications on clubs and the ball in Appendices II
and III and their interpretations as contained in “A Guide to
the Rules on Clubs and Balls.”
Side
A “side” is a player, or two or more players who are partners.
Single
See “Forms of Match Play” and “Forms of Stroke Play”.
Stance
Taking the “stance” consists in a player placing his feet in
position for and preparatory to making a stroke.
Stipulated Round
The “stipulated round” consists of playing the holes of the
course in their correct sequence, unless otherwise authorized
by the Committee. The number of holes in a stipulated round
is 18 unless a smaller number is authorized by the Committee.
As to extension of stipulated round in match play, see Rule
2-3.
Stroke
A “stroke” is the forward movement of the club made with
the intention of striking at and moving the ball, but if a player
checks his downswing voluntarily before the clubhead reaches
the ball he has not made a stroke.
Substituted Ball
A “substituted ball” is a ball put into play for the original ball
that was either in play, lost, out of bounds or lifted.
Tee
A “tee” is a device designed to raise the ball off the ground.
 Definitions 33

It must not be longer than 4 inches (101.6 mm), and it must

not be designed or manufactured in such a way that it could
indicate the line of play or influence the movement of the ball.
Teeing Ground
The “teeing ground” is the starting place for the hole to be
played. It is a rectangular area two club-lengths in depth, the
front and the sides of which are defined by the outside limits of
two tee-markers. A ball is outside the teeing ground when all of
it lies outside the teeing ground.
Three-Ball
See “Forms of Match Play”.
Threesome
See “Forms of Match Play”.
Through the Green
“Through the green” is the whole area of the course except:
a. The teeing ground and putting green of the hole being
played; and
b. All hazards on the course.
Water Hazard
A “water hazard” is any sea, lake, pond, river, ditch, surface
drainage ditch or other open water course (whether or not
containing water) and anything of a similar nature on the course.
All ground and water within the margin of a water hazard are
part of the water hazard.
When the margin of a water hazard is defined by stakes, the
stakes are inside the water hazard, and the margin of the
hazard is defined by the nearest outside points of the stakes at
ground level. When both stakes and lines are used to indicate
a water hazard, the stakes identify the hazard and the lines
define the hazard margin. When the margin of a water hazard
is defined by a line on the ground, the line itself is in the water
hazard. The margin of a water hazard extends vertically
upwards and downwards.
A ball is in a water hazard when it lies in or any part of it
touches the water hazard.
34 Definitions
Stakes used to define the margin of or identify a water hazard
are obstructions.
Note 1: Stakes or lines used to define the margin of or identify
a water hazard must be yellow.
Note 2: The Committee may make a Local Rule prohibiting play
from an environmentally-sensitive area defined as a water hazard.
Wrong Ball
A “wrong ball” is any ball other than the player’s:
• ball in play;
• provisional ball; or
• second ball played under Rule 3-3 or Rule 20-7c
in stroke play;
and includes:
• another player’s ball;
• an abandoned ball; and
• the player’s original ball when it is no longer in play.
Note: Ball in play includes a ball substituted for the ball in
play, whether or not the substitution is permitted.
Wrong Putting Green
A “wrong putting green” is any putting green other than that
of the hole being played. Unless otherwise prescribed by the
Committee, this term includes a practice putting green or
pitching green on the course.