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Our Experts Explain:

The Rules of Golf

Our Experts Explain the Rules of Golf USGA rules experts provide insight and explanations on rules decisions and interpretations. The experts will also address commonly asked rules questions.

Handicapping

The USGA Handicap System™ enables golfers of all skill levels to compete on an equitable basis. USGA experts will help explain "The USGA Handicap System" manual – the USGA's handicapping equivalent of "The Rules of Golf" and address commonly asked questions. This section of the site will also features a Course Handicap™ calculator that allows players to convert their Handicap Index to the Course Handicap for any course that has been properly rated.

Equipment

The USGA tests balls, clubs, and other equipment for conformity to the Rules of Golf. Here, the Research and Test Center staff explains how golf equipment is tested, discusses its research about why and how golf equipment works the way it does and describes the USGA’s role in establishing equipment standards for the game of golf.



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Rule of the Day

34-1b/1 Omission of Penalty Stroke When Score Returned
Q:

In stroke play, a competitor returned an incorrect score for a hole due to failure to include a penalty stroke. After the competition closed the error was discovered. Does Rule 34-1b allow imposition of a disqualification penalty for a breach of Rule 6-6d?



A:

As stated in Rule 34-1b, the Committee should impose a penalty of disqualification if the competitor knew, before the competition closed, that he had incurred the penalty but intentionally or unintentionally failed to add the penalty to his score, but not if the competitor did not know he had incurred the penalty.

See the Previous Rule of the Day

Today in Golf History

Jul 04, 2009
2004 Meg Mallon shoots final-round 65 to claim second Women's Open title
Meg Mallon shot a sizzling 6-under 65 on the fourth of July to win the 2004 U.S. Women's Open at the Orchards Golf Club in South Hadley, Mass., by two strokes over Annika Sorenstam. The 65 was the lowest-final round score by a Women's Open champion. It was the second Women's Open title for Mallon, who won her first in 1991 at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas. The 13 years between first and last Women's Open titles is the longest span in the championship's history.

Visit the USGA Museum to learn more about the history of golf.

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