Section 7: Violations & Penalties
One-Ball Rule Breach
Stroke play: 2 strokes per hole at which a breach occurred; maximum 4 strokes per round.
14-Club Limit Breach
Stroke play: 2 strokes per hole at which the breach occurred; maximum 4 strokes per round.
Pace of Play
- First bad time: warning
- Second bad time: one-stroke penalty
- Third bad time: two-stroke penalty (additional)
- Fourth bad time: disqualification
- Persistent serious slow play independent of the bad-time framework: penalty at the discretion of the Committee under Rule 5.6
Equipment Standards Breach
A breach of the Equipment Standards (e.g., using a non-conforming driver) is disqualification under Rule 4.1a.
Conduct of the Player
The USGA Player Conduct Policy applies to all entrants. Misconduct categories include:
- Disrespectful conduct toward officials, fellow players, caddies, spectators, or volunteers
- Profanity audible to others
- Throwing or damaging clubs in a manner that may be unsafe or that damages course property
- Conduct that brings the championship into disrepute
Sanctions range from warning to disqualification at the Committee's discretion; serious misconduct may also trigger USGA disciplinary review extending to ineligibility for future championships.
Caddie Conduct
Serious caddie misconduct (cheating, intentional interference, dangerous behavior) may result in the player being penalized under Rule 1.2b and the caddie being removed from the championship grounds.
Scorecard Errors
- Returning a scorecard with a hole score lower than actually made: disqualification (Rule 3.3b)
- Returning a scorecard with a hole score higher than actually made: the higher score stands
- Failure to sign the scorecard, or failure of the marker to attest: disqualification