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The Rules of Golf

1. Golf may be played by two or four persons playing alternately, or by an odd number of players each for his own ball. The game is started from a tee (a little mound) near the first hole. If pairs play against each other, they shall be named and continue to play together till the match be finished. The starter shall be elected by lot or otherwise chosen. The hole is won by the person holing at fewest hits; the game is reckoned by the terms "odds," "like," one more, two, &c. &c. The winner of the hole is to lead unless his opponent has won the match in which he (the adversary) leads, and can recall his enemy's stroke if made. One round of the "links"--eighteen holes--is a match, unless other arrangements be made. 2. Place of tee-ing must not be nearer the hole in any direction than four club-lengths and not farther than six lengths, and after the balls are struck off, the most distant from the hole is played first. When two parties meet on the putting-green, the first-comers may claim the privilege of holing out, and any other party must wait till the first-comers have played out the hole, and must on no account play lest they should annoy the other party. No player must play his "teed" ball till the party in front have played their second stroke. 3. Changing balls.--No ball struck off from the "tee" shall be changed, touched, or moved before the hole is played out except in certain cases (see Rules seq. 9, 19, 20). If any doubt as to balls exist, they may be lifted if both "sides" agree. 4. All loose impediments within a foot of the ball may be removed on or off the course when the ball lies on grass (Rules 6 and 13). When a ball lies in a sand-hole or in sand, no impression shall be made, nor sand nor any obstacle removed with the club before or in playing. If a ball lie on clothing or within a club-length of a washing-tub, the clothes may be withdrawn from beneath the ball and the tub removed. 5. When a ball is concealed by natural objects (gorse, furze, reeds, &c.), so much of it shall be set aside so that the player may have a view of the ball before he plays, whether in a line with the hole or otherwise. A ball stuck in wet sand or wet ground may be lifted and lightly replaced. 6. All (loose) impediments may be lifted from the green or table-land on which the hole is placed, which is considered not to exceed twenty yards from the hole. Nothing can be lifted if it is to move the ball out of its position. 7. If a ball lie in a "rabbit scrape," it must be played, but if it lie in a rabbit burrow or in any holes made for golfing, the player may lift it and place it behind the "hazard" (or bad bit), and play with an iron, without losing his stroke. In all cases where a ball is to be dropped, the person doing so shall front the hole to which he is playing, standing close on the "hazard" and drop the ball behind him from his head. 8. When on any part of the course, or off it, or in a sand-hole, the balls lie within six inches of each other, the ball nearest the hole must be lifted till the other ball is played, the six inches to be measured from the surface of the balls; the ball so moved must be replaced as before. In a three-ball match the ball interposing in any degre ebetween the player and the hole on the putting-green must be played out. 9. If a ball be in water, it may be taken out, changed, "teed," and played from behind the water (or "hazard"), player losing a stroke. If the ball lie in any position in the burn across the first hole, the player may take it out, change, "tee it" on the same side as it was struck, and lose a stroke, or may play it from its position without a penalty. If taken out and re-"teed," the ball must be placed immediately behind the spot where it entered the burn or "hazard." (Should a ball be driven into the river at the high hole or into the sea at the first hole, the ball must be placed a club's length in front of river or sea, and the player loses a stroke. 10. Any accident happening to a ball, such as hitting a person or being touched by anyone, is considered a "rub of the green," and submitted to. If the ball strike a player's adversary or his "caddie" or clubs, the adversary loses the hole. If it strikes himself or his partner or their caddies or clubs, the player loses the hole. If the player touch the ball except with his club, or if even with the club he moves the ball while preparing for his stroke, he loses it. If one person strike his opponent's ball in any way, that person loses the hole. If, however, he makes a mistake and plays the ball thinking it his own, and his adversary do likewise, the hole must be played out with the changed balls. If the mistake occurs by reason of wrong information given by one side to the other, the penalty cannot be claimed, and if the error be discovered before the other party has played, it must be rectified by replacing the ball in its original position. If the player's ball be played away by mistake or lifted by a third party, then the player must drop a ball as near the spot as possible, without a penalty. Whatever happens to a ball on a "medal" day, in any of the above instances or otherwise, the player in such case shall lose one stroke only as the penalty. 11. If a ball is lost, the player (or his partner) must return to the place where the ball was struck, tee another ball, and will lose both the distance and a stroke. When a ball is lost in reeds, grass, &c., or anywhere except on the course (Rule 10), the player or his partner must return to the place where the ball was struck, tee another, and will lose both the distance and a stroke. But if the original ball be found before the person has struck the second ball, the first shall continue to be played. 12. If a club be broken in the act of striking, the stroke shall nevertheless be counted if the part of the club remaining in the hands strike the ground or pass the ball. 13. In holing the ball, no mark or line shall be made or line drawn to direct the ball to the hole. The ball must be honestly played, not on the opponent's ball, if not in the way to the hole; nor even in that event is the player to strike in any way so as to injure opponent's position, nor with greater strength than sufficient to send the ball as far as the hole. Either side may smooth the sand around a hole, but it must not be stamped or "patted" down with the feet or the club, or otherwise. 14. Playing in a match, every ball must be played wherever it lies, or the hole must be given up. In medal playing a ball may (under penalty of two strokes) be lifted out of a difficulty and teed behind such "hazard" or difficulty. These do not apply to a ball more than half immersed in water. (See Rule 9 on this point.) 15. New holes shall always be made for medal days, and no competitor shall play at those holes before he starts for the prize under pain of disqualification for the medal. On these days a party starting from the tee must allow the party in front to cross the burn before they strike off. All balls must be holed out on medal days. No stimies are permitted. 16. A player must not ask advice in any way by word or look, except from his partner, his caddie, or his own caddie, or his own caddie. 17. A dispute shall be settled by the captain or senior member present, or by a committee appointed by the interested parties if no member is present, or by the captain and his council, for the time being, at their first meeting. 18. Any party having lost a ball, and incurring delay in searching for it, may be passed by any party coming up. A two-ball match may pass a three-ball match on all occasions. 19. If a ball split, a fresh ball shall be put down in playing for a medal. 20. If a ball lie between the metals on a railway, the player has the option to play it, or lift it and dropping it behind him (Rule 7), and loses a stroke. 21. If no penalty for infringement of a rule be mentioned, it is understood that the loss of a hole is penalty to be enforced. 22. The person appointed to take charge of the links shall make new holes every Monday morning, and in such places as shall preserve the putting-green in good and proper order.