The Rules On Giving And Asking Advice

Josh Kelley

Josh Kelley

SwingU Instructor

We have all witnessed or have been a part of giving or asking advice during weekend rounds with our buddies. While it may not matter in those rounds with your friends, it has big ramifications when playing in tournaments.

In this video SwingU instructor Josh Kelley takes us through Rule 10

During a stipulated round, a player must not:

  • Give advice to anyone in the competition playing on the course other than his partner, or
  • Ask for advice from anyone other than his partner or either of their caddies.

The USGA and R&A are the governing bodies of golf, and in the Rules of Golf they define “advice” thusly: “Advice is any counsel or suggestion that could influence a player in determining his play, the choice of a club or the method of making a stroke.

Note: Remember you are allowed to discuss things that are commonly known such as distances from one object to another, if the water hazard runs along the entire fairway, if it’s a bunker or grassy hollow by the green or helping a player drop a ball within two club-lengths where a ball last crossed the margin of a water hazard. You may not tell someone how to play his/her shot, the best approach to take or what club to hit unless they are your partner in a team or match play event.


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