6-1. Rules
The player and his caddie are responsible for knowing the
Rules. During a stipulated round, for any breach of a Rule by
his caddie, the player incurs the applicable penalty.

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 a match having declared a handicap higher
than that to which he is entitled and this affects the number of
strokes given or received, he is disqualified; otherwise, the
player must play off the declared handicap.
b. Stroke Play
In any round of a handicap competition, the competitor must
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 (Rule 6-6b), or if the recorded
handicap is higher than that to which he is entitled and this
affects the number of strokes received, he is disqualified from
the handicap competition; otherwise, the score stands.
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 must start at the time established by
the Committee.
b. Groups
In stroke play, the competitor must remain throughout the
round in the group arranged by the Committee unless the
Committee authorises or ratifies a change.

(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 that 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 be assisted by a caddie, but he is limited to
only one caddie at any one time.

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 must sign the score card and hand it to the competitor.
If more than one marker records the scores, each must sign for
the part for which he is responsible.
b. Signing and Returning Score Card
After completion of the round, the competitor should check
his score for each hole and settle any doubtful points with the
Committee. He must ensure that the marker or markers have
signed the score card, sign the score card himself and return it
to the Committee as soon as possible.

c. Alteration of Score Card
No alteration may be made on a score 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 score card. If he returns a score
for any hole lower than actually taken, he is disqualified. If he
returns a score for any hole higher than actually taken, the
score as returned stands.
Note 1: The Committee is responsible for the addition of
scores and application of the handicap recorded on the score
card – see Rule 33-5.

6-7. Undue Delay; Slow Play
The player must play without undue delay and in accordance
with any pace of play guidelines that the Committee may
establish. Between completion of a hole and playing from the
next teeing ground, the player must not unduly delay play.

Note 1: If the player unduly delays play between holes, he is
delaying the play of the next hole and, except for bogey, 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), establish 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:

6-8. Discontinuance of Play; Resumption of Play
a. When Permitted
The player must 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 must report to the Committee as soon
as practicable. If he does so and the Committee considers his
reason satisfactory, there is no penalty. Otherwise, the player
is 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 must
not resume play until the Committee has ordered a resumption
of play. If they have started play of a hole, they may
discontinue play immediately or continue play of the hole,
provided they do so without delay. If the players choose to
continue play of the hole, they are permitted to discontinue
play before completing it. In any case, play must be
discontinued after the hole is completed.
The players must resume play when the Committee has
ordered a resumption of play.

Note: The Committee may provide in the conditions of a
competition (Rule 33-1) that, in potentially dangerous
situations, play must be discontinued immediately following a
suspension of play by the Committee. If a player fails to
discontinue play immediately, he is disqualified unless
circumstances warrant waiving the 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, he must, when reporting to the
Committee (Rule 6-8a), 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 incurs a penalty of one stroke.
d. Procedure When Play Resumed
Play must be resumed from where it was discontinued, even if
resumption occurs on a subsequent day. The player must,
either before or when play is resumed, proceed as follows:
(i) if the player has lifted the ball, he must, 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 placed on the spot from which it
was lifted;
(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 ballmarker
must be placed on the spot from which the original
ball or ball-marker was moved.
Note: If the spot where the ball is to be placed is impossible to
determine, it must be estimated and the ball placed on the
estimated spot. The provisions of Rule 20-3c do not apply.