The advice rule — what you can and can't ask
Asking another player what club they used is a penalty under Rule 10.2a — two strokes in stroke play, loss of hole in match play. But asking about distance, the rules, or the flagstick position is always allowed.
Is it a penalty to ask what club someone hit?
Yes — asking another player what club they used is a penalty under Rule 10.2a, because it counts as seeking "advice." The penalty is the general penalty: two strokes in stroke play, loss of hole in match play.
This catches people every weekend. "Nice shot — what'd you hit there?" feels like harmless small talk, but in a competition it's a two-stroke penalty. And if they answer, they get penalized too.
What counts as advice?
Advice is any comment or action intended to influence a player's:
- Club choice ("I'd hit a 7-iron here")
- Method of making a stroke ("take a lighter grip on that downhill lie")
- Strategy or play during a hole or round ("aim left of the bunker, the right side is dead")
| Action | Advice? | Penalty? |
|---|---|---|
| Asking what club someone hit | Yes | General penalty (10.2a) |
| Telling someone what club to hit | Yes | General penalty (10.2a) |
| Suggesting a line or target | Yes | General penalty (10.2a) |
| Asking the distance to the green | No | Allowed |
| Asking where the flagstick is positioned | No | Allowed |
| Asking about the rules | No | Allowed |
What you can always ask about
Public information is never advice
Information that anyone could look up is fair game, no penalty:
- Distances — yardages, sprinkler head numbers, scorecard distances
- The rules — "do I get relief here?" is always allowed (and smart)
- Course features — where hazards, OB stakes, and bunkers are
- The flagstick — its position, whether it's attended
- Who is away — and where everyone's ball lies
Who you CAN ask
Two people are exempt from the advice rule:
- Your caddie — you may ask for and receive advice from your caddie freely (Rule 10.3).
- Your partner — in team formats (foursomes, four-ball, team competitions) you may ask or give advice to your partner.
Everyone else — opponents, fellow competitors, even a friend watching — is off-limits for advice.
The penalty at a glance
| Format | Penalty for asking or giving advice | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Stroke play | Two penalty strokes | Rule 10.2a (general penalty) |
| Match play | Loss of hole | Rule 10.2a (general penalty) |
Note: in stroke play, if you ask AND receive an answer, both players are penalized — you for seeking advice, them for giving it.
The common mistake
Most golfers think asking about distance is advice — it's not. And most think casual chat about clubs is fine — in a competition, it's not. The clean mental model: anything about HOW to play the shot is advice; anything FACTUAL about the course is fair game.
In casual weekend rounds, of course, everyone asks what club you hit. The rule only bites in competitions — but knowing it stops you from being that player who gets a two-stroke penalty for small talk.
Keep this in your bag
The advice rule is one of the least-known penalties in golf. Our Save Strokes reference covers it along with every other penalty situation — grab the free Drop Rules Cheat Sheet too.
Related: golf rules for beginners and the gimme putt rule.
Get Save Strokes → Free cheat sheet