RULE Purpose of Rule: 172 20.1 Resolving Rules Issues During Round 20.1a Players Must Avoid Unreasonable Delay Players must not unreasonably delay play when seeking help with the Rules during a round: • If a referee or the Committee is not available in a reasonable time to help with a Rules issue, the player must decide what to do and play on. • The player may protect their rights by asking for a ruling in match play (see Rule 20.1b(2)) or by playing two balls in stroke play (see Rule 20.1c(3)). 20.1b Rules Issues in Match Play (1) Deciding Issues by Agreement. During a round, the players in a match may agree how to decide a Rules issue: • The agreed outcome is conclusive even if it turns out to have been wrong under the Rules, so long as the players did not agree to ignore any Rule or penalty they knew applied (see Rule 1.3b(1)). • But if a referee is assigned to the match, the referee must rule on any issue that comes to their attention in time (see Rule 20.1b(2)) and the players must follow that ruling. In the absence of a referee, if the players do not agree or have doubt about how the Rules apply, either player may request a ruling under Rule 20.1b(2). Rule 20 covers what players should do when they have questions about the Rules during a round, including the procedures (which differ in match play and stroke play) allowing a player to protect the right to get a ruling at a later time. The Rule also covers the role of referees who are authorized to decide questions of fact and apply the Rules. Rulings from a referee or the Committee are binding on all players. Resolving Rules Issues During Round; Rulings by Referee and Committee 20 Rule 20
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy Mjk0MTY=