RULE 30. THREE-BALL, BEST-BALL, AND FOUR-BALL MATCH PLAY
30-1. General
The Rules of Golf apply as long as they do not vary from the following specific Rules.
30-2. Three-Ball Match Play
a. Ball at Rest Moved or Purposely Touched by an Opponent
A penalty under Rule 18-3b (Ball Moved by Opponent, Caddie or Equipment in Match Play,
Other Than During Search) applies to the match with the opponent whose ball is touched or
moved, but not to the match with the other opponent
b. Ball Deflected or Stopped by an Opponent Accidentally
If a ball is accidentally deflected or stopped by an opponent, his caddie or equipment, there is
no penalty. In his match with that opponent, the player may cancel the stroke and replay (Rule
20-5) or play the ball as it lies.
In the other match, the ball is played as it lies.
Exception: Ball striking person attending or holding up flagstick, see Rule 17-3b.
30-3. Best-Ball and Four-Ball Match Play
a. Representation of Side
A side may be represented by one player. An absent player may join between holes, not during
play of a hole – if any player has started hole.
b. Order of Play
Balls belonging to side may be played in any order (as long as play is not unduly delayed).
c. Wrong Ball
DQ for breach of Rule 15-3a (Wrong Ball) is for that hole only for the player playing a wrong
ball. No penalty to partner. Owner of ball must replace a ball where wrong ball played.
d. Penalty to Side
A side is penalized for breach of Rule 4 or Rule 6-4. (Clubs or Caddies)
Side is also penalized if any partner breaches a Local Rule or Condition for which the penalty is
an adjustment to the state of the match.
e. Disqualification of Side
(i) Ten penalties where a side is disqualified for a breach by any partner.
Rules: 1-3, 4, 5-1, 5-2, 6-2a, 6-4, 6-7, 11-1, 14-3 and 33-7.
(ii) Side is disqualified if all partners are disqualified for a breach of Rules 6-3 (Time of
Starting) and 6-8 (Discontinuance of Play; Resumption of Play).
(iii) All other disqualification breaches result in disqualification for the hole only.
e. Effect of Other Penalties
If a player’s breach of a Rule assists partner’s play or adversely affects opponent’s play, both
partners incur the applicable penalty.
However, when a partner takes an action involving a player’s ball that would be a penalty to the
player if that player took the same action, the penalty is incurred by the player.
See Decisions 1-2/7, 9-2/2 and 30/2.5.
Otherwise, a breach of a Rule by a player does not apply to the partner. When the penalty is
loss of hole, it is for that hole only.
Robin Farran and Dennis Walsh
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