Written by: Darin Green, Senior Director of Rules & Competitions
I wrote an article on Rule 10.2 (Advice) back in 2023, which you can find here. Below are some additional thoughts on the topic, along with a recent situation that illustrates how the Rule is applied.
Recent Ruling
At a recent junior tournament, an Official was stationed to the left of the landing area on a par 4 with an elevated green. The hole location was cut near the back. A group of three players had reached their drives in the fairway when one player said loudly, “You definitely don’t want to go over this green!”
Is that a breach of the Advice Rule?
In this case, the tone of the comment was more observational and joking, rather than an attempt to guide the other players. The Official called me over to discuss whether that statement met the definition of advice under the Rules of Golf. We agreed that it did not.
For a comment to breach the Advice Rule, it must be made with the intent to influence another player’s choice of club, how to make a stroke, or how to play during a hole. Here, the player’s remark lacked that intent; it was simply an observation about the severe drop-off beyond the putting green.
Ryder Cup & Advice
In the Ryder Cup, the Advice Rule gets a bit more complicated because of the team format. Teammates who are not partners cannot give advice to each other during play. However, in Foursomes and Four-Ball, advice may be asked for and given between partners.
Additionally, each side may appoint one “advice giver” (typically the Team Captain), who is allowed to give advice to any player on that team.
