CLUBS AND THE BALL

The Royal and Ancient Golf club of St.Andrews reserves the right to change the Rules and make and change the interpretations relating to clubs,balls and other implements at any time.

Rule 4. Clubs

A player in doubt as to the conformit of a club should consult the Royal and Ancient Golf club of St.Andrews.

A manufacturer should submit to the Royal and Ancient Golf club of St.Andrews a sample of a club which is to be manufactured for a ruling as to whether the club conforms with the Rules.

If a manufacturer fails to submit a sample before manufacturing and/or marketing the club,the manufacturer assumes the risk of a ruling that the club does not conform to the Rules.An sample submitted to the Royal and Ancient Golf club of St.Andrews will become its property for reference purposes.



4-1. Form and make of Clubs

a. General

The player ’s clubs shall conform with this Rule and the provisions,specifications and interpretations set forth in Appendix II.

b. Wear and Alteration

A club which conforms with the Rules when new is deemed to conform after wear through normal use. An part of a club which has been purposely altered is regarded as new and must,in its altered state,conform with the Rules.
 


4-2. Playing Characteristics Changed and Foreign material

a. playing Characteristics Changed

During a stipulated round ,the playingcharacteristics of a club shall not be purposely changed by adjustment or b any other means.

b. Foreign material

Foreign material must not be applied to the club face for the purpose of influencing the movement of the ball.

PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE 4-1 or -2: Disqualification.

 

4-3.Damaged Clubs: Repair and Replaycement

a. Damage in Normal Course of play

If,during a stipulated round ,a player’s club is damaged in the normal course of play ,he may:

(i) Use the club in its damaged state for the remainder of the stipulated round ;or

(ii) Without unduly delaying play ,repair it or have it repaired;or

(iii) As an additional option available only if the club is unfit for play ,replayce the damaged club with an club.
The replaycement of a club must not unduly delay play and must not be made by borrowing any club selected for play by any other person playingon the course.

PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE 4-3a: See Penalty Statement for Rule 4-4a or b.

Note: A club is unfit for play if it is substantially damaged, e.g.the shaft breaks into pieces or the clubhead becomes loose,detached or significantl deformed. A club is not unfit for play solel because the shaft is bent,the club ’s lie or loft has been altered or the clubhead is scratched.

b. Damage Other Than in Normal Course of play

If,during a stipulated round ,a player ’s club is damaged other than in the normal course of play rendering it non-conforming or changing its playingcharacteristics, the club shall not subsequently be used or replayced during the round.

c. Damage Prior to Round

A player may use a club damaged prior to a round provided the club,in its damaged state,conforms with the Rules . Damage to a club which occurred prior to a round may be repaired during the round,provided the play ing characteristics are not changed and play is not undul delayed.

PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE 4-3by or c: Disqualification. (Undue dela – see Rule 6-7.)

4-4.maximum of Fourteen Clubs

a. Selection and Addition of Clubs

The play er shall start a stipulated round with not more than fourteen clubs.He is limited to the clubs thus selected for that round except that,if he started with fewer than fourteen clubs,he may add any number provided his total number does not exceed fourteen.

The addition of a club or clubs must not unduly delay play (Rule 6-7)and must not be made by borrowing any club selected for play by any other person playingon the course.

b. Partners may Share Clubs

Partners may share clubs,provided that the total number of clubs carried by the partners so sharing does not exceed fourteen.

PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE 4-4a or b, REGARDLESS OF NUMBER OF EXCESS CLUBS CARRIED:

match play — At the conclusion of the hole at which the breach is discovered,the state of the match shall be adjusted by deducting one hole for each hole at which a breach occurred. maximum deduction per round:two holes. Stroke play —Two strokes for each hole at which an breach occurred;maximum penalty per round:four strokes. Bogey and par competitions — Penalties as in match play . Stableford competitions — see Note 1 to Rule 32-1b.

c. Excess club Declared Out of play

Any club carried or used in breach of this Rule shall be declared out of play by the play er immediately upon discovery that a breach has occurred and thereafter shall not be used by the play er during the round.

PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE 4-4c:
Disqualification.


5. The ball

5-1. General

The ball the player uses shall conform to requirements specified in Appendix III.

Note:
The Committee may require,in the conditions of a competition (Rule 33-1),that the ball the play er uses must be named on the current List of Conforming Golf Balls issued by the Royal and Ancient Golf club of St.Andrews.

5-2. Foreign material

Foreign material must not be applied to a ball for the purpose of changing its playingcharacteristics.

  PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE 5-1 or 5-2: Disqualification.

5-3. Ball Unfit for play

A ball is unfit for play if it is visibl cut,cracked or out of shape. A ball is not unfit for play solely because mud or other materials adhere to it,its surface is scratched or scraped or its paint is damaged or discoloured.
If a play er has reason to believe his ball has become unfit for play during the play of the hole being play ed,he ma during the play of such hole lift his ball without penalt to determine whether it is unfit.

Before lifting the ball,the player must announce his intention to his opponent in match play or his marker or a fellow-competitor in stroke play and mark the position of the ball.He maythen lift and examine the ball without cleaning it and must give his opponent,marker or fellow- competitor an opportunit to examine the ball.
If he fails to comply with this procedure,he shall incur a penalt of one stroke.

If it is determined that the ball has become unfit for play during play of the hole being played,the player ma substitute another ball,playcing it on the spot where the original ball la .Otherwise,the original ball shall be replayced.

If a ball breaks into pieces as a result of a stroke ,the stroke shall be cancelled and the play er shall play a ball without penalt as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was played (see Rule 20-5).

*PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE 5-3:
match play — Loss of hole;Stroke play — Two strokes.
*If a player incurs the general penalt for breach of Rule5-3, no additional penalty under the Rule shall be applied.

Note:If the opponent,marker or fellow-competitor wishes to dispute a claim of unfitness,he must do so before the play er play s another ball.
(Cleaning ball lifted from putting green or under any other Rule — see Rule 21.)