AMENDMENTS TO THE 2008–2009 EDITION OF DECISIONS ON THE
RULES OF GOLF
NEW DECISIONS
1–3/0.5 When Breach of Rule 1–3 Occurs
1–4/11.5 Player Wraps Towel Around Self or Places Towel on Cactus Before
Taking Stance
2/3 Refusal to Comply with Rule in Match Play
2–4/3.5 Stroke Conceded by Caddie
4–1/1 Condition Requiring Clubs Conforming with Groove and Punch Mark
Specifications Effective 1 January 2010
4–4a/15 Assembly of Club Components During Stipulated Round
4–4a/16 Status of Additional Clubs Being Carried for Player and of Person
Carrying Them
5–1/1.5 Status of Ball Not on List of Conforming Golf Balls
6–2/1 Meaning of “Handicap”
13–4/0.7 Player Rakes Bunker When Ball Lies in Another Bunker
14–2/0.5 Meaning of “Elements”
14–2/2.5 Player Positions Bag for Purpose of Providing Shade for Ball
14–3/10.3 Use of Rod During Round for Alignment or as Swing Aid
19–2/10 Ball Stopped or Deflected by Rake Held by Player’s Caddie
19–5/1.5 Ball Lifted and Replaced; Ball Then Rolls and Strikes Ball on Putting
Green
20–2a/8 Player Drops Ball to Determine Where Original Ball May Roll if
Dropped
20–3b/7 Whether Original Lie May Be “Nearest Lie Most Similar”
20–3b/8 Loose Impediment Affecting Lie of Ball Moved
25–1b/25.5 Application of Exception to Rule 25–1b When Ball Lies Underground
in Burrowing Animal Hole
27/17 Competitor Plays Out of Turn Other Than From Teeing Ground and
Puts Another Ball into Play at Spot of Previous Stroke
27–2a/1.3 Player Intends to Play Provisional Ball But No One Present to Hear `
Announcement
29/5.5 Raking Sand in Bunker After Partner Fails to Extricate Ball but Before
Stroke; Foursome Match
30–3/3 Application of Rule 2–2 in Four-Ball Match Play
30–3e/1 Partners Fail to Discontinue Play Immediately Contrary to Condition
of Competition
30–3f/2.5 Touching Sand with Practice Swing After Partner Has Extricated Ball
from Bunker; Four-Ball Match
30–3f/13 Partner Stands on Extension of Player’s Line of Play Behind Ball
33–2b/1.5 Committee Wishes to Move Hole During Stroke Play Round Due to
Severity of Location
33–8/34 Relief from Divot Holes
33–8/44.5 Status of Growing Things Rooted Within Environmentally-Sensitive
Area
34–1b/9 Breach of Anti-Doping Condition Discovered After Competition
Closed
REVISED DECISIONS
1–2/3.5 Player Repairs Hole After Holing Out But Before Opponent, Fellow-
Competitor or Partner Holes Out
Amended to clarify that the player’s act of courtesy should be for
players in following groups.
1–4/9 Bird’s Nest Interfering with Stroke
Expanded to address the situation where the ball lies on the putting
green, to clarify the relief procedure for a ball in a hazard and to make
the relief procedure more similar to that for relief from an abnormal
ground condition.
1–4/10 Dangerous Situation; Rattlesnake or Bees Interfere with Play
Expanded to address the situation where the ball lies on the putting
green, to clarify the relief procedure for a ball in a hazard and to make
the relief procedure more similar to that for relief from an abnormal
ground condition.
2/2 Stipulated Round in Match Play
Amended to refer to the final hole of the match, rather than the final
hole of the round, and expanded to address a 36–hole match.
2–1/5 Three Holes Played Out of Sequence in Match
Amended so as not to require the players to replay the holes played out
of sequence.
3–4/1 Competitor Not Given Opportunity to Lift Ball Assisting Fellow-
Competitor
Amended to clarify that a competitor is in breach of Rule 3–4 even if
he does not know that he is refusing to comply with the Rules.
4–1/5 Adhesive Bandage or Tape Applied to Clubhead to Reduce Glare or
for Protection
Expanded to include reference to exceptions for material attached to
the clubhead.
4–3/1 Meaning of Damage Sustained in “Normal Course of Play”
Amended to clarify that the throwing of a club for the purpose of
retrieving a ball is not considered to be part of the normal course of
play.
4–4a/1 When Club Is Considered Added
Amended for clarity.
5–3/7 Ball Thought to Be Unfit for Play; Committee Involvement
Amended to allow a referee or member of the Committee to fulfill the
responsibilities of the opponent, marker or fellow-competitor even if
the opponent, marker or fellow-competitor is readily available.
6–2b/2 Wrong Handicap Knowingly Used in Stroke Play; Error Discovered
After Competition Closed
Amended to clarify that A is deemed to have knowingly played off a
higher handicap even if he had been uncertain as to which handicap to
use.
6–4/5.3 Status of Additional Persons and Items Carried by Such Persons for
Player
Amended to clarify that the additional person is not carrying the
player’s clubs.
8–2b/1 Caddie Casts Shadow to Indicate Line for Putting
Amended for clarity.
10–1a/2 Determination of Honour at Hole Following Claim
Amended for clarity.
13–3/2 Making Stroke While Kneeling on Towel
Amended to clarify that the answer would be the same if the player
wrapped the towel around his knees.
13–4/38 Sand Smoothed After Ball Played Out of Bunker; Ball Later Returns to
Smoothed Area
Amended to correspond properly with Exception 2 to Rule 13–4.
14–3/16 Use of Electronic Devices
Amended for clarity.
14–6/1 Ball Moves in Water in Water Hazard After Address
Amended for clarity.
15/14 Ball in Bunker Deemed Unplayable, Dropped in Bunker and Played;
Ball Then Discovered to Be Stray Ball
Amended to reference the player’s ability to lift the found ball for
identification under Rule 12–2.
16–1a/9 Brushing Loose Impediments Off Line of Putt with Palm of Hand
Amended to provide for no penalty if nothing is pressed down and the
player does not roughen the surface with the intention of testing its
condition.
18–1/3 Player Unaware Ball Moved by Outside Agency Does Not Replace
Ball
Amended so that the answer corresponds with the Note to Rule 18–1.
18–1/8 Ball Moved by Stone Dislodged by Partner’s or Opponent’s Stroke
Amended for clarity.
18–2a/20.5 Player’s Practice Swing Moves Loose Impediment Which Moves Ball
Amended for clarity.
18–2a/21 Ball Moved Accidentally by Player in Playing Wrong Ball
Amended for clarity.
18–3b/1 Ball Moved Accidentally by Opponent in Playing His Own Ball
Amended for clarity.
18–3b/2 Opponent’s Stroke Disturbs Bushes Causing Player’s Ball to Move
Amended for clarity.
18–5/3 Competitor and Fellow-Competitor Unaware Ball Moved by Fellow-
Competitor’s Ball Until After Completion of Hole
Amended so that the answer corresponds with the Note to Rule 18–1.
20/2 Borrowing Club for Measuring Purposes
Amended to clarify that, if a player who is to drop a ball borrows a
club to measure with, he must be able to obtain the same result with
one of his own clubs.
20–3a/2 Using Line on Ball for Alignment
Amended to state explicitly that it is permissible for a player to draw a
line on the ball for alignment.
20–3b/3 Lie Changed by Removal of Gallery-Control Stake
Expanded to provide the ruling if the player had sanctioned the
removal of the gallery-control stake.
20–4/2 Ball Lifted from Putting Green and Placed by Caddie Behind Marker
Amended to emphasise the intent element of putting a ball into play.
23/6.5 Status of Snake
Expanded to clarify that an item or person can fall under more than
one Definition.
23–1/6.5 Removal of Loose Impediments from Spot Where Ball to Be Placed
Amended to refer to the spot where the dropped ball first struck a part
of the course when re-dropped.
24–2b/11 Ball Lying on Elevated Part of Immovable Obstruction
Expanded to provide the relief procedure when the ball lies
underground.
25/13 Bunker Totally Under Repair
Amended to provide that a bunker that is entirely ground under repair
automatically becomes through the green unless the Committee states
otherwise.
26–1/9 Caddie Lifts Ball in Water Hazard Without Player’s Authority
Amended to provide for no penalty under Rule 18–2a if there was no
doubt or it was reasonable to assume from the player’s actions or
statements that he would make his next stroke from outside the water
hazard.
26–1/19 Permissible Dropping Area Under Lateral Water Hazard Rule So
Narrow Player Has Difficulty Dropping Within It
Amended to clarify that if the player drops the ball in a wrong place he
may correct the error by using any of the options available under Rule
26–1.
26–2/2 Ball Played from Within Hazard Comes to Rest in Same Hazard After
Exiting Hazard
Amended for clarity.
28/6 Player Plays Second Shot, Deems Ball Unplayable and Returns to Tee
Amended for clarity.
29/6 Signing of Score Card in Foursome Stroke Play
Amended to refer to Rule 31–3.
30–3f/9 Player’s Ball Moved by Partner in Playing His Own Ball
Amended for clarity.
31–3/1 Gross Score of Partner with Better Net Score Omitted from Score Card
Amended for consistency in terminology with Rule 6–6b.
32–1/1 Competing Simultaneously in Bogey, Par or Stableford Competition
and Stroke Play Competition
Expanded to include par competitions.
32–1/2 Omitting Holes in Bogey, Par or Stableford Competition
Expanded to include par competitions.
33/3 Match Play Finalists Both Disqualified
Amended to give the Committee the option of having the beaten semifinalists
play a match to determine the winner of the competition.
33–2b/1 Holes Relocated and/or Tee-Markers Moved During Stroke Play
Round
Expanded to refer to new Decision 33–2b/1.5.
33–8/24 Local Rule Permitting Relief from Edging Grooves Around Putting
Green
Amended to have the Local Rule provide relief from interference with
the player’s area of intended swing.
33–8/32.5 Local Rule Treating Severe Damage by Non-Burrowing Animals as
Ground Under Repair
Amended for consistency with the Note to Rule 25–1a.
34–1b/4 Competitor Changes Weight of Club During Round; Breach
Discovered After Competition Closed
Amended to clarify the time period within which the player may have
known he had incurred a penalty.
WITHDRAWN DECISION
25–3/2 Player Makes Several Strokes on Wrong Putting Green