# Rule 25: Modifications for Players with Disabilities (The R&A and USGA Rules of Golf)

Golf · Rule 25: Modifications for Players with Disabilities · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/golf/laws/rule-25-modifications-for-players-with-disabilities/)

How the Rules are modified for players who are blind, amputees, users of mobility devices and players with intellectual disabilities.

## 25.251 Players with Disabilities

Aides, players who are blind or amputees, mobility devices, intellectual disabilities and general provisions.

### Test 1: Who Rule 25 covers, and aides

- Rule 25 modifies the Rules for these four categories. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 25.1)
- To date no need to modify the Rules for those players has been identified. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 25.1)
- Rule 25.1 ties the modifications to the category and eligibility. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 25.1)
- Only one aide at a time, as with caddies. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 25.2b)
- For Rule 10.2a the player may ask both at the same time. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 25.2a)
- It works like having two caddies under Rule 10.3a(1). (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 25.2b)
- Rule 10.2b(4) is modified for the aide or caddie of a player who is blind. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 25.2d)
- An object set down to help aim must be gone before the stroke. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 25.2a; Rule 25.2c)
- Rules 25.2 to 25.5. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 25.1)
- C has two aides at once. One aide, an aide and a caddie, or a caddie alone are all fine. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 25.2b; Rule 25.4c; Rule 25.5b)

### Test 2: Players who are blind

- Setting it down is allowed; leaving it there for the stroke is a breach. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 25.2c)
- The aide may also be the caddie, but is not required to be. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 25.2e)
- An aide carrying clubs counts as a second caddie for that hole. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 25.2e)
- That area and the backswing are allowed, without improving the lie beyond light grounding. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 25.2f)
- Testing the sand and practice swings touching it stay prohibited. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 25.2f)
- Rule 14.1b is modified so the aide may lift it as a caddie may. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 25.2g)
- The player may give a general authorization to any other person. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 25.2h)
- The aide may handle clubs only to guide, set up stance or aim. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 25.2e)
- Anyone authorised may drop for the player. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 25.2h)
- A rests the club right behind the ball. B tests the sand, C is a practice swing and D presses the sand by hand. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 25.2f)

### Test 3: Players who are amputees

- The Committee must decide its use gives no unfair advantage. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 25.3a; Rule 4.3b)
- Players in doubt should raise it with the Committee early. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 25.3a)
- The ban on abnormal use of equipment still applies. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 25.3a)
- Rule 10.1b is modified for that player. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 25.3b)
- The definition of replace is modified to allow rolling it with a club. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 25.3d)
- Rule 25.3c lets anyone the player chooses handle the ball for those procedures. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 25.3c)
- Amputee includes both limb loss and limb deficiency. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 25.3)
- Equipment such as a club may be used to replace the ball. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 25.3d)
- Rule 4.3b sets the standard. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 25.3a)
- C throws the ball in from a distance. A sets it by hand, B rolls it with a club and D is someone the player authorised. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 25.3c; Rule 25.3d)

### Test 4: Players who use assistive mobility devices

- Canes, crutches, wheelchairs and other wheeled devices. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 25.4)
- Stance becomes feet, body and the device if one is used. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 25.4d)
- A reasonable amount of digging in with the device is allowed. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 25.4g)
- Building a stance breaches Rule 8.1a(3). (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 25.4g; Rule 8.1a(3))
- Rule 11.1b(2) is modified: no replay for this player. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 25.4k)
- Testing the sand stays prohibited, but other touching is fine. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 25.4l)
- Rule 10.2b(5) allows physical help from any person. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 25.4a)
- The device must not straddle or touch the line of play. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 25.4a; Rule 25.4i)
- Moving and modest digging are fine; building a stance is not. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 25.4g; Rule 25.4l)
- In A the device straddles the line behind the ball. In B, C and D it sits to one side. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 25.4i)

### Test 5: Wheeled devices, intellectual disabilities and general provisions

- Rule 25.4m doubles the usual two club-lengths. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 25.4m)
- Rule 25.4n reduces the usual two strokes to one. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 25.4n)
- The supervisor is not assigned to a specific player. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 25.5a)
- A player may not ask for or get advice from a supervisor. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 25.5a)
- The Committee may set its own reasonable standards for pace. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 25.6a)
- Reasonable efforts to drop from knee height are accepted. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 25.6b)
- A combination addresses both types of disability. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 25.5e)
- The reference point and the penalty stay the same; only the size changes. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 25.4m; Rule 17.1d(3))
- Rule 25.4m doubles the lateral relief area for wheeled-device users. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 25.4m; Rule 14.6)
- A is within four club-lengths and not nearer the hole. B is nearer the hole, C is too far and D is in the penalty area. (Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 25.4m)

Sources: Rules of Golf, effective January 2023 (The R&A and USGA), Rule 25 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the Rules, not reproduced)

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