Rules: What can you discuss during a competition round?
Published:
Rule 8-1 states that “a player must not give advice to anyone in the competition playing on the course other than his partner or ask for advice from anyone other than his partner or either of their caddies”. This sounds pretty comprehensive, but if you’re playing a monthly medal with your mates, does that mean you’re limited to talking about the football results and Game of Thrones? Not quite. Our breakdown of what you can and can’t discuss will enable you all to score your best, without breaking any rules…
Can I ask for a yardage?
The distance between two objects is considered to be a matter of public information, not advice, and can therefore be exchanged without restriction. You can ask your mate how far it is from the tee to that ominous looking fairway bunker, for instance, or even how far it is from your ball to the green. This also enables you to share a distance measuring device, if desired.
Can we tell each other what club we hit or intend to hit?
No. Sharing a yardage is fine, but once you get a discussion about what club to hit, you’re in the realm of advice. The penalty for breaching is two strokes, or loss of hole in match play.
My mate has a blind shot over a hill… Can I show him the line?
You may have the line of play indicated to you by anyone (by holding up the flag stick, for instance), as long as this aiming guide is removed before you play your shot.
Can my caddie show me where to hit my putt?
Your caddie or partner (in a pair’s match) can point out a line for putting, provided it is done before but not during your stroke. They must not touch the green in doing so, and cannot place a mark to indicate the line.
Can I watch someone putt if they have a similar line to me?
You can if it’s a fellow competitor, although crouching down behind their line as they make their putt to see how it breaks is considered poor etiquette, and if it annoys them, they are within their rights to ask you to stop. If it’s your partner/teammate making the putt, you must not position yourself in this way during their stroke.
Can I ask about the course, if they have played it before and I haven’t?
The layout of holes, position of hazards, position of the flagstick on the green, etc, is is all considered public information, so you are free to ask and they are free to tell you.
