Rules on the course
Adaptive Golf: Aides, Caddies and Player Modifications
Rule 25 modifies specific golf rules for eligible categories. An aide and a caddie are distinct roles, and one category’s modification does not automatically apply to every player.
Competitive Play · Updated October 22, 2026
A role card to discuss before the round
Original worked comparison
A role card to discuss before the round- Player
- Identify the applicable category and requested modification.
Ask the Committee about eligibility; this page does not certify it.
Case 1 - Aide
- The blind-player provisions allow specified assistance.
Read the one-aide limit and the exact permitted actions.
Case 2 - Caddie
- A separate caddie may serve the same player under the modification.
The roles cannot be treated as unlimited extra advisers.
Case 3 - Committee
- Confirms the applicable eligibility and event administration.
Record the specific provision rather than a blanket exemption.
Case 4
Fictional cases and stated event assumptions. The exact official rule, eligible player category and actual Committee notice determine the real procedure.
The short version
- Match the player’s eligibility to the specific Rule 25 provision.
- A blind player may have both an aide and a caddie under the stated conditions.
- Equipment and event classification are separate checks.
Start with the provision the player needs
Rule 25 covers specified categories including players who are blind, amputees, users of assistive mobility devices and players with intellectual disabilities. It applies across competitions, with eligibility determining which modifications can be used.
A medical-equipment request under Rule 4.3 b is a separate route. This guide does not diagnose a disability, determine sport classification or infer eligibility from a photograph or equipment choice. Discuss the requested accommodation with the Committee.
Separate the blind player’s two support roles
Rule 25.2 permits an aide and a caddie at the same time, with limits on each role and specific changes for aiming, sand and ball-handling assistance. Read the actual subsection for the proposed action; permission in one task is not permission for every kind of help.
A role card should name the person, role, action and relevant provision. Change the card when roles change so the player and officials know who is acting in which capacity.
Confirm the practical details with the player
Discuss communication, movement, course access and the player’s preferred assistance. An organizer should not infer a player’s needs from the category alone. Ask the player which assistance is useful and confirm the role arrangement with the Committee.
For ordinary device rules, see equipment use. For a separate safety condition, see dangerous-animal relief.
Official sources
Official provisions checked October 22, 2026. Read their full wording and current event conditions.
Your next move
Read the governing source
Check the complete official procedure and your event conditions before acting.
Read the governing source(Official source), opens in a new tab