What club did they use? How to get critical information without being penalised
In golf, asking for advice is illegal. Rule 10.2a is clear: you cannot ask for or give advice that could influence another player's decisions. The penalty is 2 strokes (or loss of hole in Match Play).
But there's a legal loophole that most golfers don't know about: public information is completely free.
What is "Advice" vs "Public Information"?
Advice (BANNED):
- "What club would you recommend for this shot?"
- "Do you think I should aim left?"
- "How do you read this putt?"
Public Information (LEGAL):
- "How far is it from here to the flag?"
- "Where's the hole on the green?"
- "Is there an OB to the right?"
The key difference: public information is factual and accessible to everyone. Advice is an opinion or recommendation about how to play.
The Bag Hack: Spying on Your Opponent's Clubs
Here's the master move in legal espionage. You can look inside your opponent's bag to see which club they used on their last shot. This isn't advice — it's public information, because anyone with eyes could see it.
The espionage rules:
- You can look to see which club is missing from their bag (the one they just used)
- You can look at which club they're holding while preparing
- You cannot touch their equipment or open closed compartments
- You cannot directly ask "What club did you use?" — that's asking for advice
5 Legal Questions That Give You an Edge
- "How many metres to the bunker on the right?" — Distance between points = public information.
- "Is the flag at the front or back of the green?" — Hole position = public information.
- "Do you know if there's OB behind the green?" — Course information = public.
- "Where's the wind coming from?" — Wind direction = public information.
- "What are you on this hole?" — A player's stroke count = public information.
In Match Play, these legal questions can also double as tactical moves. See how to use them as part of your Match Play strategy without ever crossing a rule.
The Red Line: What You Must NEVER Ask
- "How far do you hit your 7-iron?" — This reveals their capability = advice.
- "What would you do here?" — Asking for a strategic opinion = advice.
- "Did your putt roll fast?" — This influences how you'll play your putt = advice (grey area, but dangerous).
Confusing advice with public information is one of the most common rule breaches in amateur golf — and one of the few that opponents genuinely do call in competition.
Your Caddie: The Only Legal Adviser
There's only one person who can give you advice without penalty: your caddie. You can freely discuss strategy, club selection, and putt reading with them.
In team Match Play, your team partner can also advise you if the format allows it. The same raw-data-legal / interpreted-data-illegal principle governs your smartwatch and GPS on the course under Rule 4.3a.
FAQ: Advice vs Public Information in Golf
Can you ask your opponent what club they used?
No — directly asking "What club did you use?" is requesting advice under Rule 10.2a (2-stroke penalty in Stroke Play; loss of hole in Match Play). You can, however, look at their bag to see which club is missing after their shot. That observation is legal public information.
Is asking a fellow player for a yardage legal?
Yes. Distances to the flag, to bunkers, or to any point on the course are public information — anyone can look them up on a yardage guide or GPS. Requesting a distance carries no penalty.
What if someone gives you advice without you asking?
Under Rule 10.2a, the penalty falls on the person who gives unsolicited advice, not the person who receives it — provided you didn't encourage or solicit it. You are not penalised for simply listening.
Lazar Hack: Don't have a caddie? Lazar can be your rules adviser on the course. Ask it about any situation where you're unsure what counts as advice vs public information.