3-1. Winner
The competitor who plays the stipulated round or rounds in
the fewest strokes is the winner.
In a handicap competition, the competitor with the lowest net
score for the stipulated round or rounds is the winner.
3-2. Failure to Hole Out
If a competitor fails to hole out at any hole and does not
correct his mistake before he makes a stroke on the next teeing
ground or, in the case of the last hole of the round, before he
leaves the putting green, he is disqualified.
3-3. Doubt as to Procedure
a. Procedure
In stroke play, if a competitor is doubtful of his rights or the
correct procedure during play of a hole he may, without
penalty, complete the hole with two balls.
After the doubtful situation has arisen and before taking
further action, the competitor must announce to his marker or
a fellow-competitor that he intends to play two balls and
which ball he wishes to count if the Rules permit. If he fails to
do so, the provisions of Rule 3-3b(ii) apply.
The competitor must report the facts of the situation to the
Committee before returning his score card. If he fails to do so,
he is disqualified.
b. Determination of Score for Hole
(i) If the ball that the competitor selected in advance to count
has been played in accordance with the Rules, the score
with that ball is the competitor’s score for the hole.
Otherwise, the score with the other ball counts if the Rules
allow the procedure adopted for that ball.
(ii) If the competitor fails to announce in advance his decision
to complete the hole with two balls, or which ball he
wishes to count, the score with the original ball counts,
provided it has been played in accordance with the Rules.
If the original ball is not one of the balls being played, the
first ball put into play counts, provided it has been played
in accordance with the Rules. Otherwise, the score with
the other ball counts if the Rules allow the procedure
adopted for that ball.
Note 1: If a competitor plays a second ball under Rule 3-3, the
strokes made after this Rule has been invoked with the ball
ruled not to count and penalty strokes incurred solely by
playing that ball are disregarded.
Note 2: A second ball played under Rule 3-3 is not a
provisional ball under Rule 27-2.
3-4. Refusal to Comply with a Rule
If a competitor refuses to comply with a Rule affecting the
rights of another competitor, he is disqualified.
3-5. General Penalty
The penalty for a breach of a Rule in stroke play is two strokes
except when otherwise provided.