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	PLAYER ’S RESPONSIBILITIES Rule 6. The Player Definition : A marker is one who is appointed by the Committee to record a competitor ’s score in stroke play. He may be a fellow-competitor.He is not a referee. 6-1. Conditions of Competition The player is responsible for knowing the Rules and the conditions under which the competition is to be played (Rule 33-1). 6-2. Handicap a.Match play Before starting a match in a handicap competition,the players should determine from one another their respective handicaps.If a player begins the match having declared a higher handicap which would affect the number of strokes given or received,he shall be disqualified; otherwise,the player shall play off the declared handicap. b.Stroke play In an round of a handicap competition,the competitor shall ensure that his handicap is recorded on his score card before it is returned to the Committee .If no handicap is recorded on his score card before it is returned,or if the recorded handicap is higher than that to which he is entitled and this affects the number of strokes received, he shall be disqualified from the handicap competition; otherwise,the score shall stand. Note:It is the player ’s responsibility to know the holes at which handicap strokes are to be given or received. 6-3. Time of Starting and Groups a.Time of Starting The player shall start at the time laid down by the Committee . b.Groups In stroke play ,the competitor shall remain throughout the round in the group arranged by the Committee unless the Committee authorises or ratifies a change. PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE 6-3: Disqualification. (Best-ball and four-ball play— see Rules 30-3a and 31-2.) Note: The Committee may provide in the conditions of a competition (Rule 33-1)that,if the player arrives at his starting point,ready to play,within five minutes after his starting time,in the absence of circumstances which warrant waiving the penalty of disqualification as provided in Rule 33-7,the penalty for failure to start on time is loss of the first hole in match play or two strokes at the first hole in stroke play instead of disqualification. 6-4. Caddie The player may have only one caddie at any one time,under penalty of disqualification. For any breach of a Rule by his caddie,the player incurs the applicable penalty. 6-5. Ball The responsibility for playing the proper ball rests with the player.Each player should put an identification mark on his ball. 6-6. Scoring in Stroke Play a.Recording Scores After each hole the marker should check the score with the competitor and record it.On completion of the round the marker shall sign the card and hand it to the competitor.If more than one marker records the scores,each shall sign for the part for which he is responsible. b.Signing and Returning Card After completion of the round,the competitor should check his score for each hole and settle an doubtful points with the Committee .He shall ensure that the marker has signed the card,countersign the card himself and return it to the Committee as soon as possible. PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE 6-6b: Disqualification c.Alteration of Card No alteration may be made on a card after the competitor has returned it to the Committee . d.Wrong Score for Hole The competitor is responsible for the correctness of the score recorded for each hole on his card.If he returns a score for any hole lower than actually taken,he shall be disqualified.If he returns a score for any hole higher than actually taken,the score as returned shall stand. Note 1:The Committee is responsible for the addition of scores and application of the handicap recorded on the card —see Rule 33-5. Note 2: In four-ball stroke play,see also Rule 31-4 and -7a. 6-7. Undue Delay;Slow Play The player shall play without undue delay and in accordance with any pace of play guidelines which may be laid down by the Committee .Between completion of a hole and playing from the next teeing ground ,the player shall not unduly delay play. PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE 6-7: Match play - Loss of hole Stroke play - Two strokes Bogey and par competitions — See Note 2 to Rule 32-1a. Stableford competitions — See Note 2 to Rule 32-1b. For subsequent offence —Disqualification. Note 1: If the player unduly delays play between holes,he is delaying the play of the next hole and,except for boge , par and Stableford competitions (see Rule 32),the penalty applies to that hole. Note 2: For the purpose of preventing slow play ,the Committee may ,in the conditions of a competition (Rule 33-1),lay down pace of play guidelines including maximum periods of time allowed to complete a stipulated round,a hole or a stroke. In stroke play only ,the Committee may ,in such a condition, modify the penalty for a breach of this Rule as follows: First offence – One stroke Second offence –Two strokes For subsequent offence –Disqualification. 6-8. Discontinuance of play; Resumption of play a.When permitted The player shall not discontinue play unless: I) the Committee has suspended play; II) he believes there is danger from lightning; III) he is seeking a decision from the Committee on a doubtful or disputed point (see Rules 2-5 and 34-3); or IV) there is some other good reason such as sudden illness. Bad weather is not of itself a good reason for discontinuing play. If the player discontinues play without specific permission from the Committee ,he shall report to the Committee as soon as practicable.If he does so and the Committee considers his reason satisfactory,the player incurs no penalty. Otherwise,the player shall be disqualified. Exception in match play: Players discontinuing match play by agreement are not subject to disqualification unless by so doing the competition is delayed. Note: Leaving the course does not of itself constitute discontinuance of play. b.Procedure When Play Suspended by Committee When play is suspended by the Committee ,if the players in a match or group are between the play of two holes,they shall not resume play until the Committee has ordered a resumption of play. If the are in the process of playing a hole,they may continue provided they do so without delay. If the choose to continue,they shall discontinue either before or immediately after completing the hole. The players shall resume play when the Committee has ordered a resumption of play. PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE 6-8b: Disqualification. Note : The Committee may provide in the conditions of a competition (Rule 33-1)that,in potentially dangerous situations,play shall be discontinued immediately following a suspension of play by the Committee.If a player fails to discontinue play immediately ,he shall be disqualified unless circumstances warrant waiving such penalty as provided in Rule 33-7. c. Lifting Ball When Play Discontinued When a player discontinues play of a hole under Rule 6-8a, he may lift his ball without penalty only if the Committee has suspended play or there is a good reason to lift it. Before lifting the ball the player must mark its position. If the player discontinues play and lifts his ball without specific permission from the Committee,when reporting to the Committee (Rule 6-8a), he shall, at that time, report the lifting of the ball. If the player lifts the ball without a good reason to do so, fails to mark the position of the ball before lifting it or fails to report the lifting of the ball, he shall incur a penalty of one stroke. d.Procedure When Play Resumed Play shall be resumed from where it was discontinued,even if resumption occurs on a subsequent day.The player shall, either before or when play is resumed, proceed as follows: I) if the player has lifted the ball, he shall, provided he was entitled to lift it under Rule 6-8c, place a ball on the spot from which the original ball was lifted. Otherwise, the original ball must be replaced; II)if the player entitled to lift his ball under Rule 6-8c has not done so, he may lift, clean and replace the ball, or substitute a ball on the spot from which the original ball was lifted. Before lifting the ball he must mark its position;or III) if the player ’s ball or ball-marker is moved (including by wind or water) while play is discontinued, a ball or ball-marker shall be placed on the spot from which the original ball or ball-marker was moved. (Spot not determinable -see Rule 20-3c.) PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE 6-8d: Match play — Loss of hole; Stroke play - Two strokes. If a player incurs the general penalty for a breach of Rule 6-8d, no additional penalty under Rule 6-8c shall be applied. Rule 7. Practice Definition : The course is the whole area within which play is permitted (see Rule 33-2). 7-1.Before or Between Rounds a.Match play On any day of a match play competition, a player may practise on the competition course before a round. b.Stroke play On any day of a stroke competition or play-off, a competitor shall not practise on the competition course or test the surface of an putting green on the course before a round or play-off. When two or more rounds of a stroke competition are to be played over consecutive days, a competitor shall not practise between those rounds on any competition course remaining to be played, or test the surface of any putting green on such course. Exception: Practice putting or chipping on or near the first teeing ground before starting a round or play-off is permitted. PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE 7-1b: Disqualification. Note: The Committee may in the conditions of a competition (Rule 33-1) prohibit practice on the competition course on any day of a match play competition or permit practice on the competition course or part of the course (Rule 33-2c) on any day of or between rounds of a stroke competition. 7-2. During Round A player shall not play a practice stroke either during the play of a hole or between the play of two holes except that, between the play of two holes, the player may practise putting or chipping on or near the putting green of the hole last played, any practice putting green or the teeing ground of the next hole to be played in the round, provided such practice stroke is not played from a hazard and does not unduly delay play (Rule 6-7). Strokes played in continuing the play of a hole, the result of which has been decided, are not practice strokes. Exception: When play has been suspended by the Committee, a player may, prior to resumption of play, practise: a) as provided in this Rule, b) anywhere other than on the competition course and c) as otherwise permitted by the Committee. PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE 7-2: Match play — Loss of hole; Stroke play - Two strokes. In the event of a breach between the play of two holes, the penalty applies to the next hole. Note 1: A practice swing is not a practice stroke and may be taken at any place, provided the player does not breach the Rules. Note 2: The Committee may prohibit practice on or near the putting green of the hole last played. Rule 8. Advice; Indicating Line of play Definitions: "Advice"is any counsel or suggestion which could influence a player in determining his play, the choice of a cluby or the method of making a stroke. Information on the Rules or on matters of public information, such as the position of hazards or the flagstick on the putting green, is not advice. Line of play : The line of play is the direction which the player wishes his ball to take after a stroke, plus a reasonable distance on either side of the intended direction. The line of play extends vertically upwards from the ground, but does not extend beyond the hole. 8-1.Advice During a stipulated round, a player shall not give advice to anyone in the competition except his partner and may ask for advice only from his partner or either of their caddies. 8-2.Indicating Line of Play a.Other Than on Putting Green Except on the putting green ,a player may have the line of play indicated to him by anyone, but no one shall be positioned by the player on or close to the line or an extension of the line be ond the hole while the stroke is being played. Any mark placed during the play of a hole by the player or with his knowledge to indicate the line shall be removed before the stroke is played. Exception: Flagstick attended or held up —see Rule 17-1. b.On the Putting Green When the player ’s ball is on the putting green ,the player, his partner or either of their caddies may, before but not during the stroke, point out a line for putting, but in so doing the putting green shall not be touched. No mark shall be placed anywhere to indicate a line for putting. PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE: Match play - Loss of hole; Stroke play - Two strokes. Note: The Committee may,in the conditions of a team competition (Rule 33-1), permit each team to appoint one person who may give advice (including pointing out a line for putting) to members of that team. The Committee may play down conditions relating to the appointment and permitted conduct of such person, who must be identified to the Committee before giving advice. Rule 9. Information as to Strokes Taken 9-1. General The number of strokes a player has taken shall include any penalty strokes incurred. 9-2. Match Play Aplayer who has incurred a penalty shall inform his opponent as soon as practicable, unless he is obviously proceeding under a Rule involving a penalty and this has been observed by his opponent. If he fails so to inform his opponent, he shall be deemed to have given wrong information, even if he was not aware that he had incurred a penalty. An opponent is entitled to ascertain from the player, during the play of a hole, the number of strokes he has taken and, after play of a hole, the number of strokes taken on the hole just completed. If during the play of a hole the player gives or is deemed to give wrong information as to the number of strokes taken, he shall incur no penalty if he corrects the mistake before his opponent has played his next stroke. If the player fails so to correct the wrong information, he shall lose the hole. If after play of a hole the player gives or is deemed to give wrong information as to the number of strokes taken on the hole just completed and this affects the opponent ’s understanding of the result of the hole, he shall incur no penalty if he corrects his mistake before any player plays from the next teeing ground or, in the case of the last hole of the match, before all players leave the putting green. If the player fails so to correct the wrong information, he shall lose the hole. 9-3. Stroke Play A competitor who has incurred a penalty should inform his marker as soon as practicable.