October 2nd, 2008 by Phil Reich PGA Golf Art

Rule 5. The Ball

Definitions

All defined terms are in italics and are listed alphabetically in

the Definitions section — see pages 5-18.

5-1. General

The ball the player plays must conform to the requirements

specified in Appendix III.

Note: The Committee may require, in the conditions of a competition

(Rule 33-1), that the ball the player plays must be named

on the current List of Conforming Golf Balls issued by the

United States Golf Association.

5-2. Foreign Material

Foreign material must not be applied to a ball for the purpose

of changing its playing characteristics.

PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE 5-1 or 5-2: Disqualification.

5-3. Ball Unfit for Play

A ball is unfit for play if it is visibly cut, cracked or out of

shape. A ball is not unfit for play solely because mud or other

materials adhere to it, its surface is scratched or scraped or its

paint is damaged or discolored.

If a player has reason to believe his ball has become unfit for

play during play of the hole being played, he may lift the ball,

without penalty, to determine whether it is unfit.

Before lifting the ball, the player must announce his intention

to his opponent in match play or his marker or a fellow-competitor

in stroke play and mark the position of the ball. He may

then lift and examine it, provided that he gives his opponent,

marker or fellow-competitor an opportunity to examine the ball

and observe the lifting and replacement. The ball must not be

cleaned when lifted under Rule 5-3.

If the player fails to comply with all or any part of this procedure

or if he lifts the ball without having reason to believe

that it has become unfit for play during play of the hole being

played, he incurs a penalty of one stroke.

If it is determined that the ball has become unfit for play during

play of the hole being played, the player may substitute

another ball, placing it on the spot where the original ball

lay. Otherwise, the original ball must be replaced. If a player

substitutes a ball when not permitted and makes a stroke at the

wrongly substituted ball, he incurs the general penalty for a

breach of Rule 5-3, but there is no additional penalty under

this Rule or Rule 15-2.

If a ball breaks into pieces as a result of a stroke, the stroke is

canceled and the player must play a ball, without penalty, as

nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was

played (see Rule 20-5).

28 Rule 5

Rule 6 29

*PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE 5-3:

Match play — Loss of hole; Stroke play — Two strokes.

*If a player incurs the general penalty for breach of Rule 5-3,

there is no additional penalty under this Rule.

Note 1: If the opponent, marker or fellow-competitor wishes to dispute

a claim of unfitness, he must do so before the player plays

another ball.

Note 2: If the original lie of a ball to be placed or replaced has

been altered, see Rule 20-3b.

(Cleaning ball lifted from putting green or under any other

Rule — see Rule 21.)