What Rules of Golf changes apply to golfers of all ages with a disability in South Africa? Who can use Rule 25, aides and caddies, blind golfers, amputees, mobility devices and wheelchairs, intellectual disability, dropping and pace of play.
Rule 25 of the Rules of Golf (2023) modifies certain Rules for players in four categories of disability:
Key points:
Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 25.1.
Under Rule 25, players who are blind, who use assistive mobility devices, or who have an intellectual disability may have an aide as well as a caddie.
| Caddie | Aide | |
|---|---|---|
| Who can have one | Any player | Players in the three categories above |
| How many at once | One | One |
| Status under the Rules | Caddie | Same as a caddie, with some limits |
| Advice | Yes | Yes, and the player may get advice from both at the same time |
| Carry or handle clubs | Yes | Only when helping with stance or lining up, or as a courtesy, if the player also has a caddie |
| Lift ball on the green without being asked | Yes | Yes |
An aide may also act as the player's caddie, but doesn't have to. If an aide carries or handles clubs beyond what's allowed while the player also has a caddie, the player is treated as having two caddies: two strokes for each hole (loss of hole in match play). The same penalty applies for more than one aide at a time.
Amputees aren't given an aide under Rule 25.
Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rules 10.3, 25.2, 25.4 and 25.5.
Rule 25.2 covers players who are blind, including certain levels of vision impairment:
If your aide also handles your clubs while you have a separate caddie (other than guiding you, helping with stance or aim, or as a courtesy), you're treated as having two caddies: two strokes per hole.
Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 25.2.
Rule 25.3 covers players with limb deficiencies as well as those who have lost a limb:
Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 25.3.
Rule 25.4 applies to all assistive mobility devices, including canes, crutches, wheelchairs and other wheeled devices:
Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rules 25.4a to 25.4l.
Yes, in two situations (wheeled devices only, not canes or crutches):
| Situation | Standard Rule | With a wheeled mobility device |
|---|---|---|
| Lateral relief from a red penalty area or for an unplayable ball | Drop within 2 club-lengths | Drop within 4 club-lengths |
| Unplayable ball in a bunker, dropping back-on-the-line outside the bunker | 2 penalty strokes | 1 penalty stroke |
The other relief options (stroke and distance, back-on-the-line, and the in-bunker options) are unchanged, each for one penalty stroke.
Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rules 25.4m and 25.4n.
The Committee may provide or allow an aide or a supervisor:
Aide (helps one player with their play and with applying the Rules)
Supervisor (appointed by the Committee for the event)
For players with both intellectual and physical disabilities, the Committee is recommended to combine the relevant parts of Rule 25.
Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 25.5.
Normally only the player may drop a ball, and a player must authorise someone each time before they lift it. Rule 25 changes this:
Dropping from knee height: because some players can't tell whether they've dropped from knee height, the Committee should accept the player's reasonable judgement and all reasonable efforts to drop from knee height, given their physical limitations.
Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rules 25.2g, 25.2h, 25.3c, 25.3d, 25.4a, 25.4e, 25.5d and 25.6b.
The Rules expect Committees to make allowances. In applying the ban on unreasonable delay to players with disabilities, each Committee should use its discretion and set its own reasonable standards, taking into account:
With these factors in mind, it may be appropriate for the Committee to use a more relaxed interpretation of what counts as unreasonable delay. The pace of play standards for a particular event are set by its Committee.
Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 25.6a.
Yes, with conditions. Any player (not only those covered by Rule 25) may use equipment to help with a medical condition if:
Prosthetic limbs and assistive mobility devices are treated the same way: allowed if there's a medical reason and the Committee decides there's no unfair advantage, but they mustn't be used in an abnormal way. If in doubt, raise it with the Committee as early as possible.
Tape or similar coverings may be used for any medical reason, such as preventing or supporting an injury, but must not be applied excessively or help more than the medical reason needs (for example, it mustn't immobilise a joint to help the swing). Ask the Committee if you're unsure.
Penalty for breach: two strokes for the first breach (loss of hole in match play); disqualification for a second.
Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rules 4.3b, 25.3a and 25.4f.