Rules

RULES OF GOLF

We recommend that all golfers have the Rules of Golf App installed on their mobile, which can be downloaded from The R&A website, as this is maintained and up to date.

The R&A’s online version of the Rules of Golf can be seen HERE.

RULES OF AMATEUR STATUS

December 2024 saw the publication of a revised Rules of Amateur Status with Guidance. This can be viewed HERE on the R&A website with other relevant resources.

LOCAL RULES

Kent Golf uses a standard set of local rules for the principal competitions that it runs; these local rules reflect the England Golf Hard Card. This ensures that competitors playing at different venues see consistent local rules applied. The Kent Golf Hard Card can be seen here.

Clubs are responsible for drafting and enforcing their own local rules within the framework prescribed by the Rules of Golf.  The principles and model local rules are set out in the Committee Procedures section of the Rules of Golf. The R&A also has a tool on its website which enables a Club to generate a set of local rules (see HERE).

Kent Golf will usually look at course set up and local rules when conduction a Course Measurement visit and will pass on any observations made by the measurement team.

WORLD HANDICAP SYSTEM

WHS is imposed by the USGA and R&A to create a uniform handicapping system across the world.  The Home Nations have few discretionary powers within the Rules of Handicapping and these, together with explanations on how the system is interpreted, is set out in a Guidance paper that is regularly updated. See Rules of Handicapping and the January 2025 guidance document.

COMMITTEE OBLIGATIONS

The Committee is responsible for marking the course for general play and competitions, for establishing local rules applicable to their course and for setting the Terms of Competition, for appointing a Handicap Committee in accordance with WHS. There are resources available to assist in each of these areas both through Kent Golf and The R&A.