1. Can I have a friend hold an umbrella over me while I play?
Rule 10.2 Advice and Other Help
(5) Physical Help, Eliminating Distractions, and Protection from Elements. A player must not make a stroke:
· While getting physical help from their caddie or any other person, or
· With their caddie or any other person or object deliberately positioned to:
· Eliminate distractions, or
· Give protection from sunlight, rain, wind or other elements.
This Rule does not prohibit the player from:
· Taking their own actions to protect against the elements while making a stroke, such as by wearing protective clothing or holding an umbrella over their own head, or
· Asking any other person who was not deliberately positioned by the player to remain in position or move out of the way (such as when a spectator is casting a shadow over the player’s ball).
Penalty for Breach of Rule 10.2b: General Penalty.
2. What are the rules regarding a conceded putt?
Rule 3.2 Match Play
b. Concessions
(1) Player May Concede Stroke, Hole or Match. A player may concede the opponent’s next stroke, a hole or the match:
· Conceding Next Stroke. This is allowed any time before the opponent’s next stroke is made.
· The opponent has then completed the hole with a score that includes that conceded stroke, and the ball may be removed by anyone.
· A concession made while the opponent’s ball is still in motion after the previous stroke applies to the opponent’snext stroke, unless the ball is holed (in which case the concession does not matter).
· The player may concede the opponent’s next stroke by deflecting or stopping the opponent’s ball in motion only if that is done specifically to concede the next stroke and only when there is no reasonable chance the ball can be holed.
· Conceding a Hole. This is allowed any time before the hole is completed (see Rule 6.5), including before the players start the hole.
A player and opponent are not allowed to agree to concede holes to each other for the purpose of shortening the match. If they do so knowing this is not allowed, they are disqualified.
· Conceding the Match. This is allowed any time before the result of the match is decided (see Rules 3.2a(3) and (4)), including before the players start the match.
(2) How Concessions Are Made. A concession is made only when clearly communicated:
This can be done either verbally or by an action that clearly shows the player’s intent to concede the stroke, the hole or the match (such as making a gesture).
If the opponent lifts their ball in breach of a Rule because of a reasonable misunderstanding that the player’s statement or action was a concession of the next stroke, a hole or the match, there is no penalty and the ball must be replaced on its original spot (which if not known must be estimated) (see Rule 14.2).
A concession is final and cannot be declined or withdrawn. If the player who has been given the hole plays it to the end anyway, the result is not affected, because the hole is over as soon as the putt is conceded.
In stroke play, strokes cannot be conceded. If a player picks up their ball too soon, they have to put it back with 1 penalty stroke and then hole it, otherwise they may be disqualified.