The rules of golf; being the St. Andrews rules for the game

Preface

^HE recent and rapid spread of Golf ^ all over the world has rendered it desirable that an attempt should be made to frame a short handbook as a guide for beginners and others to the Rules and Customs of the Game. With this view we have compiled this little book. Much time and trouble have been expended by capable men on the framing of. the laws of the game, and the Code issued by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, and commonly known and referred to as the St. Andrews Rules, is nearly universally received as authoritative, and as the embodiment of the best experience.

Accepting the St. Andrews Rules as the best expression of the laws of the game, it occurred to us that, without touching their meaning or principle in the slightest degree, they were capable of being rearranged and classified in a manner that would make them simpler to the beginner. This we accordingly attempted, and in so doing we have been careful to make no alterations in the Rules, except clerical alterations which

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4 PREFACE.

the rearrangement seemed to us to render necessary. It has been our endeavour to respect not only the meaning but the wording of each rule. It is true we have thought it desirable for the sake of clears ness to add some definitions, but these, when not copied from the St. Andrews Rules, are marked (New), and in no way change the meaning of any rule. From the same motive a few explanatory notes have been inserted. No authority is claimed for these notes,but great care has been taken to render them accurate. The Rules for Medal Play caused considerable difficulty, owing to the absence in many cases of express legislation. We have tried to remedy this by taking the Match Play Rules one by one and noting its application to Medal Play. Much of this is necessarily founded on inference, and when this is the fact it is so stated. Care has also here been taken to correct these inferences according to good opinions. It does not seem expedient that so much Medal Play law should be unwritten.

Specimens of early Codes will be found in the Appendix, and a comparison of these with the St. Andrews Rules will show that the process of law-making has been here too a "broadening down from precedent to precedent," and may,

PREFACE. 5

we hope, also suggest that an attempt at codification is in the interest of the Rules themselves. Specimens of local bye-laws which were accessible to us have been included, as these may be useful as precedents for new clubs.

From this we regretted to have to omit the bye-laws of the Royal Wimbledon, and of the Royal Isle of Wight Clubs, but they each play under a Code of their own, instead of the St. Andrews Rules.

With the object of furthering Match Play, we have included Rules and Forms for Match Play Tournaments.

We have to thank Mr. A. J. Robertson, the Editor of "Golf," for valuable suggestions and the loan of records, and also many friends whom we have consulted on certain points.

In this Codification, requiring so many cross-references and inferences, errors have probably crept in, in spite of all care. We shall be glad to receive any corrections or suggestions.

J. NORMAN LOCKYER.

W. RUTHERFORD.

December y 1895.

Table Of Contents

I. DEFINITIONS.

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1. The Game «. 15

Chapter I. Rules for the Order of Play

PAGE

28. Beginning of game 21

29. Order of play in a foursome

.. 22

30. Hole, how won

.. 22

31. Hole, how halved

.. 22

32.- Match, how won and halved

■• 23

33. Honour

.. 23

34. Honour in new match...

.. 23

Chapter II. Rules for the Play of THE Tee Shot from the Teeing Ground

35. Play to be within limits of ... 23

36. Irregularities of surface remov-

able 24

37. Tee shot cancelled 24

Chapter III. General Rules for the Play through the Fair Green, INCLUDING Hazards, and on the Putting Green. ^^^^

38. After Tee shot, ball furthest

from hole played first ... 24

39. Moving any implements left

CONTENTS.

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40. Moving any fog (moss), bent,

whins, &c., to get view of ball 25

41. Accident to a ball in motion ... 25

42. Striking opponent, penalty, loss of

hole 25

43. Striking player, penalty, loss of hole 25

44. Deflecting or stopping, to be played

where it lies 25

45. Lodging in moving object, to be

dropped near place of lodgement... 26

46. A ball must be played wherever it lies or the hole given up, except as under 26

47. Ball may be changed , 26

(i) Ball split.

(2) Ball damaged.

48. Ball may be lifted without penalty and replaced _ 20

(i) Within six inches of another.

(2) In three ball match, interfering with stroke.

(3) Stuck fast in wet ground or sand.

49. Ball" may be lifted without penalty and dropped _ 27

(i) Touching or lying on implements, &c.

(2) Lying in Golf holes or flag holes.

(3) Displaced by outside agency while at rest.

50. A penalty of one stroke is incurred ... 2o

(1) Changing, touching, moving a ball.

(2) Moving a ball when not in act of making a stroke.

(3) Playing opponent's ball,

(4) Ball in water.

CONTENTS. 6

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51. The penalty of the loss of the bole is incurred as under 30

52. The player's side shall lose the hole... 3*^ (r) Pressing down irregularities of

surface.

(2) Moving,bending or breaking anything fixed or growing near ball.

(3) Pushing, scraping, spooning the ball, and striking twice.

(4) Foursome player playing out of turn.

(5) Lost ball.

53. The side opposing the player shall lose the hole 3^

(i; Ball moved by opponent.

54. A side shall lose the hole

(i) Playing out a hole with wrong 3^ ball.

Chapter IV. Special Rule for thb Fair Green or Driving Course. PAGE

55. Moving loose impediments ... 32

Chapter V. Special Rules for Hazards. PAGE

56. Penalty of the loss of the hole 32-3

57. Dropping ball lifted in Hazard 34

58. Dropping behind Hazards ... 34

Chapter VI. Special Rules for the Putting Green. page

59. Flag - stick removed when approaching ... ... 34 lO CONTENTS.

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60. Flag-Stick removed ball resting against it 34

61. All loose impediments may be moved ... ... ... 35

62. In three-ball match, ball interfering with stroke, to be holed out ... 35

63. Knocking opponent's ball into hole 35

64. Player's ball displacing opponent's ball 35

65. Lifted ball to be replaced by hand 35

66. Caddie may stand at hole ... 35

67. Removing sand, &c 35

68. The penalty of the loss of the hole is incurred ... ... ... 36

(i) Marking putting-line to guide.

(2) Shielding ball from or exposing it to wind.

(3) Pressing down anything, or touching putting-line.

69. The penalty of one stroke is incurred 36

(i) Playing before opponent's ball has ceased to roll.