Golf / Rule 01

The game, conduct and rules

The R&A / USGA · 2023

Last checked: 15 October 2026
Source: Rules of Golf — effective January 2023 · Source pages: 22–26

In short

Integrity, playing conditions and the main penalties.

On this page

Play honestly

Play the course as found and the ball as it lies, unless a rule allows otherwise. Act honestly, protect other people and care for the course. Players apply their own penalties; knowingly ignoring an applicable penalty can mean disqualification. The Committee may adopt a conduct code and may disqualify for serious misconduct. Local Rules and competition terms also apply.

Understand penalties

A 1-stroke penalty applies in specified cases. The general penalty means loss of hole in match play or 2 penalty strokes in stroke play; serious breaches can mean disqualification. Neither players nor the Committee may simply change these penalties. Multiple breaches between intervening events may receive a single penalty, but penalty relief is added separately. Ask a referee or the Committee when unsure.

Independent explanations and translations, not official federation publications. Based on the supplied R&A and USGA Rules of Golf, effective January 2023. These are condensed explanations of that edition, including Rule 25 for players with disabilities. Local Rules and later clarifications are not automatically included. References use physical PDF pages, 2 above printed page numbers.
Sources & approach ↗