Think a sudden-death play-off is new? See medal rule 6.
A penalty stroke for playing out of turn on the putting green.
Five minutes to search for a lost ball, but after three minutes, the following group must be allowed to pass. Very sensible
Unusually, a hole could not be won without holing out.

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RULES OF THE GAME OF GOLF
ADOPTED BY THE
EDINBURGH BURGESS GOLFING SOCIETY,
4 August 1838


1.  In starting from a hole, the ball shall be teed on the ground at a distance of not more than six nor nearer than three club-lengths from the hole.

2.  The ball farthest from the hole to which the party is advancing shall be played first.

3.  While a stroke is playing, no person shall walk about, or attempt to take off the player’s attention by speaking, or otherwise.

4.  The balls shall not be changed or touched after being struck from the tee, under the penalty of the party doing so losing the hole; but in case of doubt as to whom a ball belongs, it may be lifted of consent of parties, to decide the point.

5.  When a ball is within ten club-lengths of the hole, a party playing out of turn shall, if previously objected to, lose a stroke.

6.  If a player strike his opponent’s ball in place of his own, he shall lose the hole.

7.  A ball may be lifted anywhere on losing a stroke, the party so lifting to face the hole played to, and drop the ball over his right shoulder immediately behind the hazard, if in one, or where the ball lay, if not in a hazard.

8.  If a ball strike a party or his cadie, such party to lose the hole.

9.  A party whose ball is amissing shall be allowed five minutes to search for it; if not then found, the hole shall be held to be lost.

10.  If a ball be stopped or struck otherwise than by a party or his cadie, it must be played as it may chance to lie.

11.  If a stroke be made so that the club pass the ball or strike the ground, it shall be reckoned against the player, though the ball be missed or the club broken.

12.  In starting, or when two or more parties meet at a hole, the party who plays first shall be allowed to play their second strokes before the succeeding party strike off; but should the first party’s ball be lost, and not found within three minutes, then the succeeding party shall be entitled to strike off, and pass them.

13.  No hole shall be held gained unless the ball be holed; and in holing, no mark of any kind shall be made on the green to direct the player, nor shall the ground be smoothed for that purpose.

14.  In all matches, a party shall be entitled to ask advice from his partner or cadie, but from no other person.

15.  The party first holing his ball where the hole is halved to play first to the next hole; and when the hole is gained, the party winning shall lead off; and afterwards continue to do so, so long as holes are halved.

16.  Mistakes relative to the reckoning of any particular hole cannot be rectified after the parties have struck off for the next hole.

17.  In a double match, if a ball be struck twice, or oftener successively by the same player, he and his partner shall lose the hole.

18.  All loose impediments may be taken away, provided the ball be not thereby moved; but should a ball lie upon clothes, they may be drawn from under it.

19.  In putting, when within three club-lengths of the hole, if a ball lie directly between the adversary’s ball and the hole, such ball either to be played first, or lifted until the other ball is played.

20.  That a match shall consist of three rounds of the green, unless otherwise arranged by the parties; and in the event of the parties being equal at the end of the third round, the party gaining the first hole thereafter shall win the match.

21.  That all differences regarding the play, reckoning, or otherwise, shall be referred to the captain, if on the green; whom failing, to the office-bearers, in the rotation mentioned in Article 1 of the Society’s rules, and their decision shall be final and binding.


Rules in Playing for the Medals.

In playing for Medals the following alterations on the foregoing rules are to be observed:

1.  All Medals shall be played for in parties of two, to be decided by lot previous to starting, each party being attended by a third person, for the purpose of marking the strokes as they are struck on a card prepared for that purpose. On comparing these cards, he who shall be found to have completed the two rounds in fewest strokes, to be declared the gainer of the Medal.

2.  A party playing out of turn shall not be subject to any penalty.

3.  The party playing first to be allowed to strike their third strokes before the succeeding party strike off, if the number of competitors admit of it.

4.  If a ball be lost, another to be dropt as near as possible to the place from whence the last ball was struck, the player losing a stroke.

5.  If a ball be stopt by the adversary or his cadie, the player to have the option of playing his ball over again.

6.  Should two or more Members hole the two rounds at the same number of strokes, such Members must play an additional hole or holes, and the party gaining the first advantage shall be declared the winner.


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