Rules Official
The rules official is the rules referee who decides rules questions on the course during competitions.
The rules official is the technical authority during a tournament. He knows the rulebook, is appointed by the host club or association and drives or walks the course to help in disputed situations. His decision on site is final; there is no appeal against it. He must be distinguished from the marshal or the ranger: these ensure order and pace of play, while the rules official decides rules questions. At small club tournaments, the committee often takes on both roles.
In practice, you call the rules official when you and your playing partners cannot agree on a rule. Example: your ball lies at the edge of a red-marked penalty area and you argue about the correct drop point. Instead of guessing, you call the committee; the rules official comes, checks the marking and the entry point and decides. Until then you must not play the ball — or you play two balls under the two-ball rule and have it clarified later which one counts.
The typical mistake is expecting a rules official on every round. In a normal private round, the rulebook applies on your own responsibility; you and your playing partners clarify questions yourselves. Also popular: mistaking the rules official for a pace referee. For slow play, the marshal and the committee are responsible, not the rules referee. If in doubt, it helps to look at the current rules or at the glossary definition of relief.
FAQ
When may I call the rules official during a tournament?
Whenever you and your playing partners cannot agree on a rules question and the situation is blocking further play. Typical cases are disputed drop points, unclear markings or the question of whether relief applies. Call the committee and wait for the rules official instead of guessing yourself — a wrong decision can otherwise cost you penalty strokes.
What do I do if no rules official is reachable?
Then the two-ball rule helps: you play the hole with two balls to the end and have the committee clarify after the round which ball counts. It is important that you announce before the first stroke that you intend to play two balls and inform your playing partners. Without this announcement, the result of the ball played first applies.
Is the rules official also responsible for slow play?
No, that is a common misconception. The rules official decides rules questions exclusively. The marshal or ranger is responsible for pace of play and order on the course. So if a group in front of you is dawdling, you turn to the committee or the marshal, not to the rules referee.