a) Hole play
If a player hits a shot after a wrong ball, he loses the hole.
If the wrong ball belongs to another player, its owner must place a ball on the spot from which the wrong ball was first played.
If the player and the opponent mix up balls when playing a hole, the first player to hit a shot after a wrong ball loses the hole; if this cannot be cleared up, the hole must be played to the end with the mixed-up balls.
Exception: A player is not penalized if he hits a shot after a wrong ball that moves in the water in a water hazard. All strokes made after a wrong ball moving in the water in a water hazard do not count towards the player's stroke count. The player must rectify his mistake by playing the correct ball or proceeding according to the rules.
b) Counting game
If a applicant makes a stroke or strokes after a wrong ball, he incurs a penalty of two strokes.
The competitor must rectify his mistake by playing the correct ball or proceed according to the rules. If he fails to rectify his error before playing a shot on the next tee or, if it is the last hole of the round, fails to announce his intention to rectify his error before leaving the green, he is disqualified.
A competitor's strokes with an incorrect ball are not added to his stroke count. If the wrong ball belongs to another competitor, its owner must place a ball in the place where the wrong ball was first played.
Exception: It is not punishable if a competitor hits a shot after a wrong ball that moves in the water in a water hazard. All strokes made after a false ball moving in the water in a water hazard do not count towards the competitor's stroke count.
(Position of a ball to be put over or back changed - see Rule 20-3b.)
(Position cannot be determined - see Rule 20-3c.)
Status: 2018