# Rule 23: Four-Ball (The R&A and USGA Rules of Golf)

Golf · Rule 23: Four-Ball · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/golf/laws/rule-23-four-ball/)

Two partners each playing their own ball: the side's score, scorecard, round, representation, partners' actions and penalties.

## 23.231 Four-Ball

Scoring, the side's scorecard, representing the side, partners' actions and when a penalty reaches both.

### Test 1: Four-Ball scoring

- Each partner plays their own ball and the better score counts for the side. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 23.2a)
- When only one partner completes the hole, that partner's score is the side's. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 23.2a)
- With no score for the hole, the side loses it in match play. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 23.2a)
- A stroke-play side with no score for a hole is disqualified unless it corrects in time. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 23.2a; Rule 3.3c)
- Best-Ball is a variation of Four-Ball in which an individual plays a side. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 23.1)
- Rule 11.2 does not apply here, and the player's ball does not count for the side. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 23.2c)
- The ordinary Rules for match and stroke play apply, with Rule 23's changes. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 23.1)
- A side needs at least one completed score. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 23.2a)
- The other partner does not need to hole out. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 23.2a)
- On D only partner 2 finished, with 6. A counts 4, B counts 5 and C counts 3. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 23.2a)

### Test 2: The side's scorecard in stroke play

- The side's gross scores go on a single scorecard. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 23.2b(1))
- At least one gross score per hole, and entering both is allowed. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 23.2b(1))
- There is no penalty for entering more than one partner's score. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 23.2b(1))
- Each score must be identified as the score of the partner who made it. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 23.2b)
- The Committee decides which score counts, including any handicaps. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 23.2b(2))
- With equal scores the Committee may use either, and switches if one proves wrong. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 23.2b(2))
- Only one partner needs to certify under Rule 3.3b(2). (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 23.2b(1))
- The side enters and certifies, the Committee decides what counts. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 23.2b)
- The lowest gross or net score counts. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 23.2b(2))
- D carries no partner's mark. A and B name one partner each, and C names both. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 23.2b)

### Test 3: The round, the hole and representing the side

- One partner's stroke to start the first hole starts the side's round. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 23.3a)
- The other partner must hole out, choose not to, or be disqualified for the hole. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 23.3c(2))
- It is not necessary for both partners to be present or to play every hole. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 23.4)
- An arriving partner starts only between holes, before the other partner starts one. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 23.4)
- They may still advise and help, and take actions for the other partner. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 23.4)
- A breach of Rule 23.4 carries the general penalty. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 23.4)
- A hole is completed once its result is decided. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 23.3c(1))
- The arriving partner joins between holes. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 23.4)
- The round ends when the side completes the final hole. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 23.3b)
- A is before anyone has started the 6th. At B an opponent has already teed off, and C and D are later still. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 23.4)

### Test 4: Partners helping each other

- A player may take any action concerning the partner's ball the partner could take. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 23.5a)
- An action concerning the partner's ball is treated as the partner's own. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 23.5b)
- Partners must not agree to leave a ball in place to help anyone. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 23.5a; Rule 15.3a)
- When it is the side's turn, either partner may play next. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 23.6)
- Continuing after a concession to help the partner wipes out the partner's score for the hole. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 23.6)
- A player and their caddie may help the partner in any way the partner's own caddie may. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 23.5a)
- Rule 23.8 is about the player's own next stroke. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 23.8)
- Yellow handles Blue's ball just as Blue could. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 23.5a)
- Rules 23.5, 23.6, 23.7 and 23.8. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 23.5-23.8)
- When it is the side's turn, the partners choose who plays. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 23.6)

### Test 5: When a penalty hits one partner or both

- Penalties other than disqualification normally apply only to the player. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 23.9a(1))
- The player has no score for the side, but the partner continues. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 23.9a(1))
- A breach that helps the partner's play applies to the partner too. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 23.9a(2))
- A wrong ball is never treated as helping the partner or hurting an opponent. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 23.9a(2))
- Rule 1.2 is on the list where one partner's disqualification takes the side with it. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 23.9b(1))
- This group of breaches disqualifies the side only if both partners breach at the same hole. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 23.9b(2))
- In all other cases the player stays in, but that hole's score is lost for the side. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 23.9b(3))
- Most penalties stay with the player; some reach the side. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 23.9)
- In stroke play a 14-club breach also penalises the partner. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 23.9a(2); Rule 4.1b)
- A is the 14-club breach, which reaches the partner. B is a wrong ball, and C and D touch only the player's own ball. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 23.9a(2))

Sources: Rules of Golf, effective January 2023 (The R&A and USGA), Rule 23 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the Rules, not reproduced)

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