7-1. Before or Between Rounds
a. Match Play
On any day of a match play competition, a player may practise
on the competition course before a round.
b. Stroke Play
Before a round or play-off on any day of a stroke play
competition, a competitor must not practise on the
competition course or test the surface of any putting green on
the course by rolling a ball or roughening or scraping
the surface.
When two or more rounds of a stroke play competition are to
be played over consecutive days, a competitor must not
practise between those rounds on any competition course
remaining to be played, or test the surface of any putting green
on such course by rolling a ball or roughening or scraping
the surface.
Exception: Practice putting or chipping on or near the first
teeing ground before starting a round or play-off is permitted.
Disqualification.
Note: The Committee may, in the conditions of a competition
(Rule 33-1), prohibit practice on the competition course on
any day of a match play competition or permit practice on the
competition course or part of the course (Rule 33-2c) on any
day of or between rounds of a stroke play competition.
7-2. During Round
A player must not make a practice stroke during play of a hole.
Between the play of two holes a player must not make a
practice stroke, except that he may practise putting or
chipping on or near:
(a) the putting green of the hole last played
(b) any practice putting green, or
(c) the teeing ground of the next hole to be played in
the round,
provided a practice stroke is not made from a hazard and does
not unduly delay play (Rule 6-7).
Strokes made in continuing the play of a hole, the result of
which has been decided, are not practice strokes.
Exception: When play has been suspended by the Committee,
a player may, prior to resumption of play, practise (a) as
provided in this Rule, (b) anywhere other than on the
competition course and (c) as otherwise permitted by
the Committee.
Match play – Loss of hole; Stroke play – Two strokes.
In the event of a breach between the play of two holes, the
penalty applies to the next hole.
Note 1: A practice swing is not a practice stroke and may be
taken at any place, provided the player does not breach
the Rules.
Note 2: The Committee may, in the conditions of a
competition (Rule 33-1), prohibit:
(a) practice on or near the putting green of the hole last
played, and
(b) rolling a ball on the putting green of the hole last played.