Rule 5: Your Round: Starting on Time, Playing On and Finishing
What this is about
Rule 5 covers your round: when it starts and ends, how promptly you play, and when you're allowed to practice.
What you need to do
- Start exactly at your start time. Up to five minutes early or late costs two penalty strokes on your first hole. More than that means disqualification.
- Keep play moving. As a guideline, make your stroke within 40 seconds once it's your turn.
- Before a stroke play round, you may not practice on the course. You may putt or chip on or near the first teeing area, and on the club's practice areas. Do it anyway: two penalty strokes on your first hole, and disqualification for a second time.
- Before a match play round, you're allowed to practice on the course.
- During your round, you may putt or chip on the green of the hole you just finished and on the next teeing area, as long as you don't hold up play.
- Your round isn't finished until you've holed out on the last hole.
Common mistake
Thinking that before a stroke play competition you can take practice shots anywhere on the course. That costs you two penalty strokes on hole 1 right away.
Example
You start at 9:00 am in a stroke play competition. At 8:57 am you hit a quick ball on the fairway. That's practicing on the course: two penalty strokes on your first hole.
Practise this rule with real exam questions in the free app.
5.1 The concept of a round
A round is 18 holes, or fewer if the Committee decides so, played in the order the Committee sets. If a match is tied after the last hole, you extend it hole by hole; that's a continuation of the same round. A play-off in stroke play, however, is a new round.
5.2 Practicing on the course before or between rounds
5.2a Match play
Before or between rounds of a match play competition, you may practice on the competition course.
5.2b Stroke play
On the day of a stroke play round, you may not practice on the competition course before your round, unless the Committee allows it. You may still putt or chip on or near your first teeing area, and you can practice on the practice facilities (driving range or practice green) as normal. After your last round of the day, you may practice on the course, but the Committee may restrict this. Penalty: first time, the general penalty on the first hole; after that, disqualification.
5.3 Starting and ending a round
5.3a When a round must begin
Your round begins with the stroke that starts your first hole. You must start at the time and place the Committee sets. If you're ready to play within five minutes after your starting time, or you start up to five minutes early, you get the general penalty on the first hole. If you're more than five minutes off, you're disqualified. In exceptional circumstances, the Committee may waive a late arrival.
5.3b When a round ends
In match play, your round ends as soon as the result of the match is decided. In stroke play, it ends as soon as you hole out on the last hole.
5.4 Playing in groups
5.4a Match play
In match play, you and your opponent play every hole in the same group.
5.4b Stroke play
In stroke play, you play in the group the Committee has set, unless the Committee approves a change in advance or afterward. Penalty: disqualification.
5.5 Practicing during the round or when play has been suspended
5.5a No practice strokes while playing a hole
While playing a hole, you must not make a practice stroke. A practice swing is allowed and doesn't count as a stroke. If you accidentally hit your own ball while doing so, you replace it, usually with one penalty stroke if it's off the putting green (Rule 9.4b).
5.5b Restrictions on practice strokes after finishing a hole
Between two holes, you may chip or putt on or near the green you just finished, on a practice green, or at the teeing area of the next hole. Not from a bunker, and it must not unreasonably delay play.
5.5c Practicing while play is suspended or otherwise stopped
If play is stopped, you may practice as you would between two holes (Rule 5.5b), anywhere off the course, and elsewhere on the course only if the committee allows it.
5.6 Unnecessary Delay; Prompt Pace of Play
5.6a Undue delay of play
Don't delay play unnecessarily, whether during a hole or between two holes. A short delay for good reason is allowed, for example waiting for a referee or medical help. Penalty: first time, one penalty stroke; second time, general penalty; third time, disqualification.
5.6b Playing at a good pace
Play your round at a good pace. The Committee may set pace of play guidelines. Prepare for your stroke within a reasonable time and then play it; the recommendation is no more than 40 seconds after it's your turn.
5.7 Suspending Play; Resuming Play
5.7a When players may or must stop play
You may stop on your own if you believe there's danger from lightning, or for another good reason such as illness or injury. Report this to the committee as soon as possible. If the committee stops play with a siren or other signal, you stop immediately; not stopping in the case of immediate danger means disqualification (Rule 5.7b).
5.7b What players must do when the committee suspends play
In a suspension for immediate danger, you stop right away, even mid-hole. In a normal suspension, you may finish the hole you're playing; if you're between two holes, you stop there.
5.7c What players must do when play resumes
Resume play at the time the committee specifies, from the spot where you stopped.
5.7d Picking up your ball when play is suspended; replacing your ball when play resumes
If play is suspended, you may mark and pick up your ball. When play resumes, you replace it on its original spot; if that's no longer known, for example after flooding, you estimate it (Rule 14.2). If you left your ball in place, you either play it as it lies, or pick it up, clean it and replace it.
Practice questions about Rule 5
Are you allowed to make a practice stroke while playing a hole?
Answer: No, but a practice swing (without hitting the ball) is allowed
Practice strokes (hitting the ball) are forbidden while playing a hole. Practice swings are allowed.
According to the recommended guideline, what is the maximum time you should take for a single stroke once it's your turn and you're able to reach your ball?
Answer: 40 seconds
Rule 5.6b recommends making your stroke within 40 seconds once it's your turn and you're able to play. Repeatedly taking too long can lead to a penalty.
Your group is more than one hole behind the group in front, and the group behind you is waiting. What is the correct action?
Answer: Let the waiting group play through (wave them through)
If you fall a full hole behind and the group behind you is waiting, let them play through (wave them through). This keeps the pace of play good for everyone on the course (Rule 5.6b).
A player arrives 10 minutes late to the first tee. What's the consequence?
Answer: The player is disqualified
Being more than five minutes late means disqualification (Rule 5.3a). Within five minutes it would be two penalty strokes on the first hole. So ten minutes late means disqualification.
What's the most important thing you can do to keep the pace of play up?
Answer: Play 'ready golf': whoever is ready first plays first (as long as it's safe)
Ready golf means whoever is ready plays first, even if they're not farthest from the hole, as long as it's safe. Rule 5.6b encourages a good pace of play: walk on to your ball and get ready for your stroke.