Match Play Penalties

A summary of penalties incurred in breaching the rules of match play.
To be applied in conjunction with the Rules of Golf.
Includes rules specific to match play and relevant rules which apply equally to both forms of play.

One Stroke Penalty

  • Lifting a ball (other than on the putting green) to check whether it is damaged, without reasonable belief that it is damaged or not marking before lifting or cleaning when lifted. (R4.2c)
  • Playing an incorrectly substituted ball. (R6.3b)
  • Failing to comply with the procedure for identifying the ball. (R7.3)
  • Player lifting, causing to move or otherwise deliberately touching the ball when not permitted. (R9.4b)
  • Opponent lifting, moving or otherwise deliberately touching the player’s ball when not permitted. (R9.5b)
  • Player or opponent lifting or moving the ball-marker when ball is lifted and not yet replaced. (R9.7b)
  • Exceeding the allowed waiting time for the ball to fall into the hole. (R13.3a)
  • Lifting the ball to be replaced without marking its position or marking its position in a wrong way or making a stroke with a ball-marker in place. (R14.1a)
  • Caddie lifting the ball (other than on the putting green) without authority. (R14.1b)
  • Cleaning a lifted ball when not permitted. (R14.1c)
  • Playing ball replaced by a person other than the player or the person who lifted it or replaced in the wrong way. (14.2b)
  • Playing ball from within a relief area when it should have been re-dropped. (R14.3b(3))
  • Removing a loose impediment when the ball is lifted where the impediment may have interfered with the ball when at rest (other than on the putting green). (R15.1a)
  • Moving the ball as a result of moving a loose impediment (other than on the teeing ground or putting green). (R15.1b)
  • Failing to mark a ball interfering with opponent’s play before lifting the ball or cleaning the lifted ball. (R15.3b)
  • Lifting the ball believed to be interfering with opponent’s play when not asked to do so by the opponent (other than on the putting green). (R15.3b)
  • Lifting the ball (other than on the putting green) without reasonable belief that it lies in a condition from which free relief is allowed. (R16.4)

Loss of Hole

  • Failing to respond to the opponent’s request for information on strokes taken (including penalties incurred) or to provide correct information prior to the opponent’s next stroke. (R3.2d)
  • Practising between holes contrary to the rules or competition conditions. (R5.5)
  • Upon suspension of play, continuing play when the player and opponent cannot agree on how to proceed and the opponent discontinues play. (R5.7b)
  • Playing a wrong ball or being the first player to do so. (R6.3c)
  • Taking an action which improves conditions affecting a stroke which exceed what are reasonable for a fair search. (R7.1)
  • Failing to reasonably re-create a lie altered during search or identification. (R7.1b)
  • Deliberately altering physical conditions pertaining to a stroke or a future stroke. (R8.1 & 8.2)
  • Making a stroke before restoring an altered condition or if restoration is not possible. (R8.1c)
  • Deliberately deflecting or stopping a ball in motion, except when there is no reasonable chance of influencing the outcome of a hole, or in making a concession. (R11.2)
  • Touching sand in a bunker prior to making a stroke, except in particular circumstances. (R12.2)
  • Taking action which is beyond reasonable to restore a damaged green. (R13.1c)
  • Testing the surface of a putting green. (R13.1e)
  • Moving the flagstick in the hole while the ball is in motion to affect the motion of the ball. (R13.2a(3))
  • Opponent, without authority, moving the flagstick during the player’s stroke or while ball is in motion. (R13.2a(4))
  • Playing a ball from outside of a relief area or playing a ball which was placed when it should have been dropped. (R14.3b(3))
  • Deliberately deflecting or stopping a ball dropped in a relief area except when there is no reasonable chance of the ball coming to rest inside the area. (R14.3d)
  • Playing ball from a wrong place. (R14.7a)
  • Playing a ball not dropped on the line when taking back-on-line relief. (R16.1c(2),17.1d(2),19.2b,19.3b)

Disqualification from the Match

  • Failing to apply a rule which involves incurring a penalty. (R1.3b)
  • Declaring a higher handicap than entitled when it affects the number of strokes received or given. (R3.2c)
  • Colluding with an opponent in breaching a rule or ignoring a penalty. (R3.2d(4))
  • Making a stroke with a club whose performance characteristics have been changed during a match or while play is stopped. (R4.1a(3))
  • Using a club declared out-of-play (R4.1c)
  • Second breach of conditions for practising on the course before or between rounds. (R5.2)

Other Penalties

  • Exceeding 14 clubs – at the completion of the hole on which the breach is discovered the match score is revised by deducting one hole for each hole on which the breach occurred, with a maximum deduction of two holes in the match. (R4.1b)

Peter Norman | April 2024