GUIDES · BETSLIP DOCTOR
Can you ask another golfer which club they used during a round?
Under the joint R&A/USGA 2023 Rules of Golf, a player may ask only their own caddie for advice. A player must not give advice to a competitor playing on the course or touch that player’s equipment to learn information that would be advice. Partners and an authorized team advice giver have limited exceptions.
For Golfers in a competition who want to know whether they may ask another player, a caddie, or a spectator for club or strategy advice. · Updated
During a round, ask your own caddie
Rule 10.2a prohibits a player from giving advice to another competitor who is playing on the course, asking anyone for advice except the player’s own caddie, or touching another player’s equipment to learn information that would count as advice. Asking an opponent which club they used, or touching their bag or clubs to learn that information, is covered. Merely looking at visible equipment is not that equipment-touching breach.
The general penalty applies: loss of hole in match play or two penalty strokes in stroke play. The penalty is applied to the hole being played or just completed; if both players are between holes, it applies to the next hole.
Advice is a comment or action intended to influence club choice, a stroke, or how to play a hole or round. Public facts about locations on the course, distances, wind direction or the Rules are not advice. A recommendation about which club to choose or how to play is different from giving those public facts.
A team advice giver needs Committee authorization
In a team competition, the Committee may adopt a Local Rule allowing each team to name an advice giver. That person must be identified to the Committee before giving advice. The exception exists only when the Committee adopted the Local Rule and the person has been named as required.
If the named advice giver is also playing in the competition, they cannot act in that role while playing their own round. Check the competition’s actual terms; do not assume every team event has adopted this option.
Respond to advice you did not ask for
If a spectator or another person volunteers advice without being asked, the player does not get a penalty for the first unsolicited advice. If the same person continues, the player must try to stop them. If the player does not, the situation is treated as asking for the advice and the general penalty applies.
Three fictional conversations on the course
During a fictional stroke-play round, Casey asks an opponent which club they used on a similar shot. That is asking another competitor for advice and carries the general penalty. Casey may ask Casey’s own caddie. In a team event, Casey may ask a named team advice giver only if the Committee adopted the Local Rule and the person is not acting while playing their own round. If a spectator volunteers advice, Casey should try to stop that person if it continues.
Related questions
May I ask a caddie shared with another player what club that player used?
Yes. The R&A clarification says a player may seek information from a caddie shared by multiple players.
What if a spectator gives advice without being asked?
There is no penalty initially, but if the same person continues, you must try to stop the advice. Otherwise you are treated as asking for it.