Rule 3 - The Competition

a. Result of Hole and Match

In match playMatch Play: A form of play where you or your side plays directly against an opponent or opposing side in a head-to-head match of one or more rounds. the result of the hole or match is decided as follows:

• You win a hole when you complete the hole in fewer strokes than your opponentOpponent: The person you compete against in a match. The term opponent applies only in match play., your opponentOpponent: The person you compete against in a match. The term opponent applies only in match play. concedes the hole, or your opponentOpponent: The person you compete against in a match. The term opponent applies only in match play. gets the general penaltyGeneral Penalty: Loss of hole in match play or two penalty strokes in stroke play. (loss of hole).

• You tie a hole (also known as “halved”) when you and your opponentOpponent: The person you compete against in a match. The term opponent applies only in match play. complete the hole in the same number of strokes.

• You win a match when you lead your opponentOpponent: The person you compete against in a match. The term opponent applies only in match play. by more holes than remain to be played, your opponentOpponent: The person you compete against in a match. The term opponent applies only in match play. concedes the match, or your opponentOpponent: The person you compete against in a match. The term opponent applies only in match play. is disqualified.

• If your match is tied after the final hole and you need to establish a winner, the match is extended one hole at a time until there is a winner.

b. Concessions

You may concede your opponent’sOpponent: The person you compete against in a match. The term opponent applies only in match play. next strokeStroke: The forward movement of your club made to strike the ball., a hole or the match, but a concession is only made when it is clearly communicated.

A concession is final – you cannot withdraw it once made and your opponentOpponent: The person you compete against in a match. The term opponent applies only in match play. cannot decline the concession.

 For more information on concessions, including how they are made.

c. Applying Handicaps in Handicap Match

You and your opponentOpponent: The person you compete against in a match. The term opponent applies only in match play. should tell each other your handicaps before the match. If you declare a wrong handicap and don’t correct the mistake before your opponent makes a stroke:

• If the declared handicap is too high and this affects the number of strokes you get or give, you are disqualified.

• If the declared handicap is too low, there is no penalty and you must play off the lower handicap.

Handicap strokes are given by hole, and the lower net score wins the hole. If a tied match is extended, handicap strokes are given by hole in the same way as in the roundRound: 18 or fewer holes played in the order set by the Committee..

 For more information on applying handicaps in a match.

d. Your Responsibilities in Match Play

You have a responsibility to:

• Tell your opponentOpponent: The person you compete against in a match. The term opponent applies only in match play. the right number of strokes you have taken when asked,

• Make your opponentOpponent: The person you compete against in a match. The term opponent applies only in match play. aware as soon as reasonably possible after you get a penalty, and

• Know the match score.

In a match, you should protect your own rights and interests under the Rules:

• If you know or believe that your opponentOpponent: The person you compete against in a match. The term opponent applies only in match play. has breached a Rule that has a penalty, you may act on the breach or choose to ignore it.

• But if you and your opponentOpponent: The person you compete against in a match. The term opponent applies only in match play. deliberately agree to ignore a breach or penalty you both know applies, you are both disqualified.

• If you and your opponentOpponent: The person you compete against in a match. The term opponent applies only in match play. disagree whether one of you has breached a Rule, you may protect your rights by asking for a ruling.

 For more information on responsibilities and when a penalty applies for giving the wrong number of strokes or failing to make your opponent aware of a penalty.

a. Winner in Stroke Play

The player who completes all roundsRound: 18 or fewer holes played in the order set by the Committee. in the fewest total strokes is the winner.

b. Scoring in Stroke Play

Marker’s Responsibility. After each hole during the roundRound: 18 or fewer holes played in the order set by the Committee., your markerMarker: In stroke play, the person responsible for entering your score on your scorecard and for certifying that scorecard. The marker may be another player, but not your partner. should confirm the number of strokes you took on that hole and enter that gross score on your scorecardScorecard: The document where your score for each hole is entered in stroke play..

When the roundRound: 18 or fewer holes played in the order set by the Committee. has ended, your markerMarker: In stroke play, the person responsible for entering your score on your scorecard and for certifying that scorecard. The marker may be another player, but not your partner. must certify the hole scores on your scorecardScorecard: The document where your score for each hole is entered in stroke play.. If you had more than one markerMarker: In stroke play, the person responsible for entering your score on your scorecard and for certifying that scorecard. The marker may be another player, but not your partner., each markerMarker: In stroke play, the person responsible for entering your score on your scorecard and for certifying that scorecard. The marker may be another player, but not your partner. must certify the scores for those holes where he or she was your markerMarker: In stroke play, the person responsible for entering your score on your scorecard and for certifying that scorecard. The marker may be another player, but not your partner..

Your Responsibility. When the roundRound: 18 or fewer holes played in the order set by the Committee. has ended, you:

• Should carefully check the hole scores entered by your markerMarker: In stroke play, the person responsible for entering your score on your scorecard and for certifying that scorecard. The marker may be another player, but not your partner. and raise any issues with the CommitteeCommittee: The person or group in charge of the competition or the course.,

• Must make sure that your markerMarker: In stroke play, the person responsible for entering your score on your scorecard and for certifying that scorecard. The marker may be another player, but not your partner. certifies the hole scores on the scorecardScorecard: The document where your score for each hole is entered in stroke play.,

• Must not change a hole score entered by your markerMarker: In stroke play, the person responsible for entering your score on your scorecard and for certifying that scorecard. The marker may be another player, but not your partner. except with the marker’sMarker: In stroke play, the person responsible for entering your score on your scorecard and for certifying that scorecard. The marker may be another player, but not your partner. agreement or the Committee’sCommittee: The person or group in charge of the competition or the course. approval, and

• Must certify the hole scores on the scorecardScorecard: The document where your score for each hole is entered in stroke play. and promptly return it to the CommitteeCommittee: The person or group in charge of the competition or the course., after which you must not change your scorecardScorecard: The document where your score for each hole is entered in stroke play..

If you breach any of these requirements, you are disqualified.

Wrong Score for a Hole. If you return a scorecardScorecard: The document where your score for each hole is entered in stroke play. with a wrong score for any hole:

• If your returned score for a hole is higher than your actual score, your higher returned score for the hole stands.

• If your returned score for a hole is lower than your actual score or no score is returned for a hole, you are disqualified.

Scoring in Handicap Competition. You are responsible for making sure that your handicap is shown on your scorecardScorecard: The document where your score for each hole is entered in stroke play.. If you return a scorecardScorecard: The document where your score for each hole is entered in stroke play. without the right handicap:

• If the handicap on your scorecardScorecard: The document where your score for each hole is entered in stroke play. is too high and this affects the number of strokes you get, or no handicap is shown, you are disqualified from the handicap competition.

• If the handicap on your scorecardScorecard: The document where your score for each hole is entered in stroke play. is too low, there is no penalty and your net score stands using the lower handicap.

 For information on the Exception for failure to include an unknown penalty on your scorecard.

c. Failure to Hole Out

You must hole outHoled: When your ball is at rest in the hole after your 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 your ball is holed.(...Continued) at each hole in a roundRound: 18 or fewer holes played in the order set by the Committee.. If you fail to do so, you must correct that mistake before making a strokeStroke: The forward movement of your club made to strike the ball. to begin another hole or, for the final hole of the roundRound: 18 or fewer holes played in the order set by the Committee., before returning your scorecardScorecard: The document where your score for each hole is entered in stroke play..

If you do not correct the mistake in that time, you are disqualified.