Asking for Advice (The Advice Rule)
Also known as: advice rule, asking for advice in golf, can I ask what club they hit, ask what club someone hit, what club did you hit, giving advice in golf, looking in someone's bag, advice penalty
No, in a competition you must not ask a playing partner what club they hit. Under Rule 10.2a you may ask only your caddie, or your partner in a team format. Asking or giving advice brings the general penalty: two strokes in stroke play or loss of the hole in match play.
Advice is any comment or action meant to influence how a player chooses a club, makes a stroke or plays a hole. Showing which club you just used counts. During a round, you must not give advice to anyone in the competition. You must not ask anyone except your caddie. In formats with partners, such as four-ball and foursomes, you may share advice with your partner.
You also must not touch another player's clubs or bag to find out what they used. Information that is public is not advice. You may ask about distances, where things are on the course, wind direction and the Rules.
The Rule does not apply before a round, between rounds or while play is stopped. In a friendly game the penalty is not enforced, but it still describes good practice in a competition.
Tips by skill level
Ask about distance, not clubs. "How far is it to the pin?" is fine in a competition.
In four-ball you may advise your partner. Plan who plays first so the second player can learn from the first.
Example
In a club medal, a player asks what club her playing partner hit to a par 3. Her partner says, "Seven-iron." Both players get two penalty strokes.
Why it matters
This is one of the easiest penalties to get by accident. Knowing what you can ask keeps your score clean.
Common mistakes
- Asking a fellow competitor what club they hit
- Answering a club question instead of politely saying you can't
- Moving a towel off someone's bag to read their club
Frequently asked questions
Can I ask someone how far it is to the green?
Yes. Distances are public information, not advice. You may ask any player.
Is it a penalty to tell someone what club I hit?
Yes, in a competition. Giving advice to another player in the competition is a breach of Rule 10.2a, with the general penalty.
Can I look at what club another player is hitting?
Yes, if you just see it. You must not touch their clubs or bag to find out.
Sources
Related terms
- Keeping Score in Golf (Scorecard)Count every stroke on each hole, including penalty strokes, and write the total in that hole's box. In a stroke-play competition your marker records your scores, and both of you certify the card before you return it. Returning a hole score lower than you took means disqualification, and a higher one stands.
- Match Play vs Stroke PlayStroke play scores every shot across the whole round for a cumulative total. Match play scores hole by hole, awarding each hole to whoever takes fewer strokes on it. So a single bad hole only costs one point, not a pile of extra strokes.
- Rangefinders and GPS Devices (Rules)Rangefinders and GPS devices are allowed under Rule 4.3 unless a Local Rule bans them. You may get distance and direction. You must not use slope or plays-like readings, wind measured at the course or a club recommendation. A first breach costs the general penalty, and a second in the same round is disqualification.
- Plays-Like DistancePlays-like distance is how far a shot effectively plays once elevation, wind and conditions are counted, not just the measured yardage. A target above you plays longer and one below you plays shorter. Learn your own adjustments in practice rounds, since slope readings are not allowed in a round played under the Rules.
Related guides & benchmarks
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