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Resources about Golf Rules

The Rules are comprehensive and provide answers to the many issues that arise in a game that is played worldwide on many different types of courses by players of all abilities.
— R&A

Table of Content:

• Online Resources
  • Official Rules
  • Rules Discussions
  • Youtube Channels
• Mobile Apps
• Booklets and PDFs
• Quizzes
• Abbreviations and Terms
  • Abbreviations
  • Terms

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Online Resources

R&A Player’s Rule Finder (Visual Search)

Official Rules from USGA.org

Follow this link for the R&A version

Explore the Rules

• The Rules of Golf: Explore the Player’s Edition, Full Rules, and Official Guide.
• Rules Clarifications: View a list of clarifications of the 2019 Rules of Golf.
• Major Rules Changes: Explore the major changes introduced in the 2019 Rules.
• Rules Publications: Order the Player’s Edition, Full Rules and/or the Official Guide.
• Modified Rules: Learn more about how the Rules apply to players with disabilities.
• Model Local Rules: Authorized Model Local Rules that may be used by a Committee.
• Definitions: 74 terms to know.

Learn the Rules

• Rules Education: Educational resources to help you learn more about the Rules.
• NEW Rules 101: Take this FREE online course to learn the basics about the Rules that every golfer should know!
• Virtual Rules School: A comprehensive video series that provides nearly 20 hours of content for a monthly subscription fee of $25!
• Rules Workshops: Attend an in-person or a virtual Rules workshop.
• Ask a Rules Question: Contact our experts with any Rules-related questions.
• Rules Short Course: “Play” the latest Short Course topic!

Other Rules Resources

• Amateur Status: Key resources about the Rules of Amateur Status.
• COVID-19 Guidance: Rules and Handicapping guidance during COVID-19 era.
• Las Reglas en Español: Apoyos Para el Estudio de las Reglas en Español.
• History of the Rules: Explore the history of the Rules of Golf from 1744 to today.
• Green-Reading Materials: New limitations on the use of green-reading materials.
• Additional Resources: Infographics, charts and papers related to golf’s new Rules.
• MGA Rules Education: Check out the MGA Rules of Golf presentations (videos).

Rules Discussions

Facebook Groups:

• Golf Rules
• USGA Rules of Golf Discussion
• Rules of Golf Group for Women
• The Golf Rules Samaritan
• Golf Rules Officials

Youtube Channels and videos

• Golf Rules with Jay Roberts
• The World Handicap System (WHS):
  • Key Changes to World Handicap System in 2024
  • 2024 World Handicap System™ Revision: 9-Hole Scores

Apps and Booklets

Mobile Apps

USGA:

• Official Rules of Golf Mobile App for iOS
• Official Rules of Golf Mobile App for Android

R&A:

• Rules of Golf App for iOS
• Rules of Golf App for Android

GolfQuis:

• Quiz App for iOS
• Quiz App for Android

Booklets and PDFs

• USGA Publications (Free downloads)
  • The Player’s Edition of the Rules of Golf, effective January 2019
  • Principal Changes in the 2023 Rules
  • Five Key Changes Infographic
  • The Modified Rules of Golf for Players with Disabilities
  • 2023 Spanish Rules of Golf Resources
  • 2023 USGA Hard Card
  • Rule 25 - Guidance for National Governing Bodies
  • 2019 Vs. 2023 Changes - Comparison Document
• R&A Publications
  • Pace of Play Manual
  • The Game, Player Conduct and the Rules

Quizzes

• 2023 Rules Quizzes (multi levels) (USGA)
• Rules Quiz 2023 (multi levels) (R&A)
• “The world’s largest quiz about the rules of golf” (GolfQuis.com)

Abbreviations and Terms

Abbreviations

Notes:

Context is key to properly understand some of these abbreviations (i.e. IO may stand for “Integral Object” or “Immovable Obstruction”).
Many of these abbreviations are not recognised but are nonetheless used in unformal comments / discussions.

• 4BBB: Four Ball Better Ball
  
• ACC: Abnomal Course Condition
  
• AH: Animal Hole
  
• AS: Alternate Shot (Foursomes)
  
• BIP: Ball In Play
  
• BM: Ball-Marker
  
• BO: Boundary Object
• BOTL: Back On The Line
  
• CAS: Conditions Affecting the Stroke
  
• CB: Countback
  
• CONGU: Council of National Golf Unions
  
• CTTH: Closer To The Hole
  
• DMD: Distance Measuring Device
• DQ: Disqualification
  
• DZ: Dropping Zone or Drop Zone
  
• FR: Free Relief
  
• GA: General Area
  
• GAC: Ground Already Covered
  
• GP: General Penalty
  
• GUR: Ground Under Repair
  
• HC: Handicap
  
• IO: Integral Object
  
• IO: Immovable Obstruction
  
• KVC: Known or Virtually Certain
  
• LB: Lost Ball
  
• LI: Loose Impediment
  
• LoP: Line of Play
  
• MLR: Model Local Rule
  
• MO: Movable Obstruction
  
• NF: Natural Forces
  
• NPR or NPOR: Nearest Point of Relief
  
• NPCR or NPOCR: Nearest Point of Complete Relief
  
• NPZ: No Play Zone
  
• OB: Out of Bounds
  
• OI: Outside Influence
  
• PA: Penalty Area
  
• PB: Provisional Ball
  
• PCC: Playing Conditions Calculation
  
• PG: Putting Green
  
• POE: Point Of Entry
  
• PoMAR: Point of Maximum Available Relief
  
• PoP: Pace of Play
  
• PS: Penalty Stroke
  
• RA: Relief Area
  
• RoG: Rules of Golf
  
• RP: Reference Point
  
• RPA: Red Penalty Area
  
• RPA or RFPA: Relief from Penalty Area
  
• RS: Red Stake
  
• R&A: Royal & Ancient (randa.org)
  
• SB: Serious Breach
• SD or S&D: Stroke & Distance
  
• SP: Stroke Play
  
• STB: Stableford
  
• TA: Teeing Area
  
• TS: Talent Stroke
  
• TW: Temporary Water
  
• UB: Unplayable Ball
  
• USGA: United States Golf Association (usga.org)
  
• YS: Yellow Stake
  
• YPA: Yellow Penalty Area
  
• WB: Wrong Ball
  
• WHS: World Handicap System
• WP: Wrong Place

Terms

• Do not say Hazard, say Penalty Area (PA)
• Do not say Casual Water, say Temporary Water (TW)
• Do not say Team, say Side
• Do not say Competitor or Adversary, say Opponent
• Do not say Teammate, say Partner
• Do not say Partner, say Fellow-player when referring to another player in your group
• Do not say Tee Box, say Teeing Area when referring to the area the player must play from in starting the hole they are playing

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