Rules of Golf - Rule 34: Disputes and Decisions
34-1. Claims
and Penalties
a. Match Play
If a claim is lodged with the Committee under Rule 2-5, a decision
should be given as soon as possible so that the state of the match may,
if necessary, be adjusted. If a claim is not made in accordance with
Rule 2-5, it must not be considered by the Committee.
There is no time limit on applying the disqualification penalty for a
breach of Rule 1-3.
b. Stroke Play
In stroke play, a penalty must not be rescinded, modified or imposed
after the competition has closed. A competition is closed when the
result has been officially announced or, in stroke-play qualifying
followed by match play, when the player has teed off in his first match.
Exceptions: A penalty of disqualification must be imposed after the
competition has closed if a competitor:
(i) was in breach of Rule 1-3 (Agreement to Waive Rules); or
(ii) returned a score card on which he had recorded a handicap that,
before the competition closed, he knew was higher than that to which he
was entitled, and this affected the number of strokes received (Rule
6-2b); or
(iii) returned a score for any hole lower than actually taken (Rule
6-6d) for any reason other than failure to include a penalty that,
before the competition closed, he did not know he had incurred; or
(iv) knew, before the competition closed, that he had been in breach of
any other Rule for which the penalty is disqualification.
34-2.
Referee’s Decision
If a referee has been appointed by the Committee, his decision is final.
34-3.
Committee’s Decision
In the absence of a referee, any dispute or doubtful point on the Rules
must be referred to the Committee, whose decision is final.
If the Committee cannot come to a decision, it may refer the dispute or
doubtful point to the Rules of Golf Committee of the United States Golf
Association, whose decision is final.
If the dispute or doubtful point has not been referred to the Rules of
Golf Committee, the player or players may request that an agreed
statement be referred through a duly authorized representative of the
Committee to the Rules of Golf Committee for an opinion as to the
correctness of the decision given. The reply will be sent to this
authorized representative.
If play is conducted other than in accordance with the Rules of Golf,
the Rules of Golf Committee will not give a decision on any question.
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