Purpose of Rule: Rule 21 covers four other forms of individual play, including three forms of stroke play where scoring is different than in regular stroke play: Stableford (scoring by points awarded on each hole); Maximum Score (your score for each hole is capped at a maximum); and Par/Bogey (match play scoring used on a hole by hole basis).
A form of stroke playStroke Play: A form of play where you or your side competes against all other players or sides in the competition. where:
Your score or your side’sSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play. score for a hole is based on points awarded by comparing your number of strokes or your side’sSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play. number of strokes on the hole to a fixed score for the hole set by the CommitteeCommittee: The person or group in charge of the competition or the course., and
The competition is won by the player or sideSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play. who completes all roundsRound: 18 or fewer holes played in the order set by the Committee. with the most points.
You are awarded points for each hole by comparing the number of strokes you have taken (including strokes made and penalty strokes) to the fixed target score for the hole. See the following chart for how you are awarded points in relation to the fixed target score:
Hole Played In |
Points |
---|---|
More than one over fixed target score or no score returned |
0 |
One over fixed target score |
1 |
Fixed target score |
2 |
One under fixed target score |
3 |
Two under fixed target score |
4 |
Three under fixed target score |
5 |
Four under fixed target score |
6 |
If you do not 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) under the Rules for any reason, you get zero points for the hole.
To help pace of play, you are encouraged to stop playing a hole when your score will be zero points.
To meet the requirements for entering hole scores on your scorecardScorecard: The document where your score for each hole is entered in stroke play.:
If you 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) and the number of strokes would result in points being awarded, your scorecardScorecard: The document where your score for each hole is entered in stroke play. must show the actual number of strokes.
If you 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) and the number of strokes would result in zero points, your scorecardScorecard: The document where your score for each hole is entered in stroke play. must either show no score or any number of strokes that results in zero points being awarded.
If you do not 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) under the Rules, your scorecardScorecard: The document where your score for each hole is entered in stroke play. must show either no score or any number of strokes that results in zero points being awarded.
All penalty strokes are added to your score for the hole where the breach happened.
Exception 1 – Excess, Shared, Added or Replaced Clubs.
Exception 2 – Time of Starting.
Exception 3 – Unreasonable Delay.
For each exception, you must report the facts about the breach to the CommitteeCommittee: The person or group in charge of the competition or the course. before returning your scorecardScorecard: The document where your score for each hole is entered in stroke play. so that the CommitteeCommittee: The person or group in charge of the competition or the course. may apply the penalty. If you fail to do so, you are disqualified.
Disqualification Penalties. If you breach any of these four Rules, you are not disqualified but you get zero points for the hole where the breach happened:
Failure to correct mistake of playing from outside the teeing areaTeeing Area: The area you must play from in starting the hole you are playing. The teeing area is a rectangle that is two club-lengths deep where: in starting a hole,
Failure to correct mistake of playing a wrong ballWrong Ball: Any ball other than your:(...Continued), or
Failure to correct mistake of playing from a wrong placeWrong Place: Any place on the course other than where you are required or allowed to play your ball under the Rules. when there is a serious breachSerious Breach: In stroke play, when playing from a wrong place could give you a significant advantage compared to your stroke to be made from the right place..
If you breach any other Rule with a penalty of disqualification, you are disqualified.
A form of stroke playStroke Play: A form of play where you or your side competes against all other players or sides in the competition. where your score or your side’sSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play. score for a hole is capped at a maximum number of strokes set by the CommitteeCommittee: The person or group in charge of the competition or the course., such as two times par, a fixed number or net double bogey.
A form of stroke playStroke Play: A form of play where you or your side competes against all other players or sides in the competition. that uses scoring as 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. where:
You or your sideSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play. win or lose a hole by completing the hole in fewer strokes or more strokes (including both strokes made and any penalty strokes) than a fixed target score for that hole set by the CommitteeCommittee: The person or group in charge of the competition or the course., and
The competition is won by the player or sideSide: Two or more partners competing as a single unit in a round in match play or stroke play. with the highest total of holes won versus holes lost (that is, adding up the holes won and subtracting the holes lost).
A form of 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. 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.