Oh the Rules, they are ALWAYS changing! – 2025 Version. This version clarifies if you hit a WRONG BALL and how to really follow the rules in BUNKER play.
In 2019 USGA made major changes to the Rules of Golf and completely rewrote the rule book. Since then a few more changes have been made.
Metro Seniors uses USGA as our foundation for our tournament rules and for our handicap system. With everyone following the rules (the same rules) we will have fair competitions and good handicaps. For the most part, Metro St. Louis Seniors Golf (MSLSGA) follows the rules as set by USGA.
2025 Rules of Play (Addendum 4, Policies and Procedures)
MSLSGA rules are “local” modifications that are intended to:
- Maintain Fair Play
- Maintain a good Pace of Play
- Adapt for some course issues
- Allow for some seniors issues.
For 2025 major changes for MSLSGA are:
- Revised the WRONG BALL rule
- I stroke penalty (instead if USGA 2 stroke)
- Any player hitting a WRONG BALL must take a penalty stroke
- May affect other players – Lost Ball penalty may be reversed if another player hit your ball incorrectly
- Avoid penalty with proper marking of balls and identify before hitting
- Clarified the language on BUNKER RULES
- Listed all options for bunker relief – free or penalty relief
- Unplayable Ball (USGA) – Free Drop in Bunker or 1 Stroke Back On The Line outside of Bunker
- Abnormal conditions in a bunker (some portions playable) (USGA) – Free Drop in Bunker or 1 Stroke Back On The Line outside of Bunker
- Bunkers Completely unplayable (declared by Course or DVP) – Free Drop – Back On The Line outside the Bunker
- Don’t want to play from a playable bunker – 2 stroke penalty – Back On The Line
- CLICK HERE and CLICK HERE – for explained options – skip ads
- Listed all options for bunker relief – free or penalty relief
- Clarified the description of the Back-On-The Line penalty relief
- Used as an option for balls hit out of bounds or into hazards
- Primary option is dropping the ball within 2 club lengths of where the ball crossed the OB or penalty boundary.
- NOTE – BACK ON LINE OF FLIGHT (from where the ball was hit) is never an option for relief.
- USGA illustrations of Back On The Line relief
- CLICK HERE Note this is not file of flight from the last stroke.
As a reminder and for our new members these are rules continuing from the 2023 revisions.
- Maximum hole score – Quad Bogey (4 over par) for any hole (NEW FOR 2023)
- Out of Bounds and Lost Balls – take penalty stroke and drop where ball crossed boundary – (may also use the Back-On-The-Line relief – NOT LINE OF FLIGHT)
- Improving Lie – Small improvement is allowed
Complete details of these rules are found in our Policies and Procedures, Rules of Play, Addendum 4. (CLICK HERE)
USGA has many resources to help everyone understand golf. A variety of information including videos (2023) are available to better explain the rules. CLICK HERE.
In 2019 we started a Rules Roundtable to post more information on MSLSGA Rules and interpretations. We will have some special graphics to help the understanding. We will continue with more information throughout the year.