Rule 4 - The Player's Equipment
The player MUST use conforming clubs and balls during a round. This rule outlines what equipment the player is allowed to use and the specific rules regarding equipment.
Rule 4.1 - Clubs
- The player is limited to no more than 14 clubs and normally must not replace damaged or lost clubs.
- The club must conform not only when the club is new, but also when it has been deliberately or accidentally changed in any way.
- Changing playing characteristics during the round (including the grip, shaft, clubhead, and lie and loft of the player's club).
- The club is still considered conforming if the clubs change is due to normal use
- If a player deliberately changes a club's playing characteristics during a round and makes a stroke with that the club the player is disqualified
- The player may chose to use or repair a damaged club during a round.
- The player CANNOT replace any club damaged by the player, partner, or their caddies
Limit of 14 Clubs
- If the player starts the round with less than 14 clubs, they may add clubs during the round up to 14 total.
- If the player starts the round with more than 14 clubs, the player must immediately take the excess clubs out of play.
- For a breach of this rule, the player gets the general penalty for each hole where the breach occurred with a maximum on the penalty.
- Stroke Play - 2 penalty strokes for a maximum of 4 strokes. If the player discovers the breach on the third hole, they would add 2 penalty strokes to their score for both the first and second hole.
- Match Play - Match adjustment for a maximum of two holes. If you were 3 UP after the third hole, you would now be 1 UP.
Distance Measuring Devices
Range finders and other distance measuring devices are permitted through the Rules of Golf, but such devices must not measure elevation changes or wind speed at the course. The committee may prohibit the use of distance measuring devices through the adoption of a local rule.
