Threesomes: One player plays against two players, one ball for each side.

Foursomes: A match between two players against two players, with each player playing one ball.

Three-Ball: A tournament in which three players play against each other, each player plays their ball, and each player plays two matches simultaneously.

Best-Ball: A tournament in which one player plays against the best of two or three players.

Four-Ball: A tournament in which the better two players play against, the better of two other players.

 

Forms of Stroke Play 

Individual: A tournament in which each player plays as an individual.

Foursomes: A tournament where two players play as partners, playing only one ball.

Four-Ball: A tournament in which two players play as partners, each playing their ball. The lower partner's score is their score for that hole. There is no penalty for one of the partners not finishing a hole.

 

Ground Under Repair

A "Ground Under Repair" is any part of a course that has been marked as such by order of the Committee or declared to be so by its authorized representative. All ground and any grass, shrubs, trees, or other growth located within a Ground Under Repair is part of that. Even if not labeled, the renovated area includes the pile to be removed and the hole made by the turf crew. Grass clippings and other objects abandoned on the field and not intended for removal are not part of the trim if they are not marked as trim.

When stakes are used to mark the boundaries of a tilled area, the stakes themselves are located within that tilled area. In this case, the boundaries of the reforested area are determined by the point on the ground closest to the outside of these stakes. When both stakes and lines are used to mark the refurbishment site, the stakes serve as the identification of the refurbishment site. The lines determine the boundaries of the refurbishment site. When a line on the ground is used to mark the boundaries of the refurbishment, the line itself is located within the refurbishment. The line extends vertically downward but not upward.

When the ball is in or touches any part of the refurbished ground, the ball is located within that refurbished ground.

Stakes used to mark a rectified area's boundaries or identify a rectified area are obstructions.

Note: The Committee may establish local rules prohibiting playing a ball in a refurbished area or an environmentally sensitive area marked as a refurbished area.

 

Hazards

A "hazards area" is any bunker or water hazard area. A "hole" must be 41/4 inches (108 mm) in diameter and at least 4 inches (101.6 mm) deep. Unless soil conditions do not permit, the liner must be sunk at least 1 inch (25.4 mm) below the surface of the green; the outside diameter of the liner must not exceed 41/4 inches (108 mm).

 

Hole-in-hole (Holed)

A ball is "holed" when it is stationary within the circumference of the hole, and its entirety is below the level of the hole's edge.

 

First Right of Shot (Honour)

The player who hits the ball first from the tee is said to have "first right of way."

 

Lateral Water Hazard 

A "Lateral Water Hazard" is a water hazard or part of a water hazard that, for reasons of shape (or so the Committee believes), cannot be thrown behind a ball by Rule 26-lb. All ground and water within the lateral water hazard area boundary is part of that lateral water hazard area.

When stakes are used to mark the boundary of a lateral water obstruction area, these stakes are located within that lateral water obstruction area. The point on the ground closest determines the boundary of that obstruction area to the outside of these stakes. When both stakes and lines are used to mark the lateral water obstacle zone, the stakes serve as the identification mark of the lateral water obstacle zone. The lines determine the boundary of the lateral water obstacle zone. When a line on the ground marks the boundary of the lateral water obstacle zone, the line itself is located in the lateral water obstacle zone. The boundary of the lateral water obstacle zone extends vertically up and down.

When the ball is in the lateral water obstacle zone, or any part of it touches the lateral water obstacle zone, the ball is located.

It is used to mark the boundary of the lateral water obstacle zone or identify the lateral water obstacle zone stakes for obstruction.

Note 1: The portion of the water obstruction area that is the lateral water obstruction area must be specifically marked. The stakes or lines used to mark the boundary of the lateral water obstruction area or identify the area must be red.

Note 2: The Commission may establish local rules to prohibit play in environmentally sensitive areas marked as lateral water hazard areas. Note 3: The Commission may designate a lateral water hazard area as a water hazard area.

 

Line of Play 

The "Line of Play" is the direction in which the player wishes the ball to move after the ball is struck, plus an appropriate distance to either side of that desired direction.

The line of play is the direction the player wants the ball to move after the ball is hit, plus an appropriate distance to either side of that desired direction. The line of play extends vertically upward from the ground but does not cross the hole.

 

Line of Putt

The "Line of Putt" is the path a player wishes the ball to take after hitting a shot on the green. Except as mentioned in Rule 16 - le, the line of putt includes an appropriate extension to either side of the intended line. The line of putt does not cross the hole.