Can I anchor the club if I'm an amputee and can't swing without anchoring?

Yes, you can anchor the club without penalty if you're an amputee and unable to hold and swing the majority of your clubs without anchoring due to limb deficiencies or limb loss. Rule 25.3b modifies Rule 10.1b specifically for this situation. The Committee doesn't need to approve this — it's an automatic right under the Rules.

Why this exception exists

Rule 10.1b bans anchoring for all players, but Rule 25.3b recognizes that some amputees physically cannot hold and swing most clubs conventionally. This isn't a Local Rule or a Committee decision — it's a built-in modification that applies automatically when the criteria are met. The distinction matters: for everyone else, anchoring is a choice; for qualifying amputees, it's a necessity.

When anchoring is allowed for amputees

Rule 25.3b says if you're an amputee — meaning you have a limb deficiency or have lost a limb — and you genuinely can't hold and swing most of your clubs without anchoring, you're allowed to anchor. No penalty under Rule 10.1b. This isn't a local rule or a Committee decision; it's written into the Rules of Golf. The key phrase is "majority of their clubs" — if you can swing your driver and irons fine but only struggle with, say, a putter, that doesn't meet the threshold.

What "unable to swing without anchoring" actually means

It's not about preference or comfort. The Rule requires that your limb deficiency or loss makes it so you physically cannot hold and swing the majority of your clubs in a conventional way. If you've adapted and can swing without anchoring — even if it's awkward or different from how you used to — the modification doesn't apply. This is a factual question about your physical capability, not a judgment call by the Committee.

Prosthetic devices and other help

Rule 25.3a covers prosthetic arms or legs: you can use them if you have a medical reason and the Committee decides they don't give you an unfair advantage. That Committee approval is separate from the anchoring modification. Rule 25.3c also lets you authorize anyone to drop, place, or replace your ball — no limit on who or when. And under 25.3d, you can replace a ball by hand or with equipment like rolling it with a club.

Exceptions that change the answer

• You can hold and swing the majority of your clubs without anchoring → Rule 25.3b does not apply — anchoring remains prohibited under Rule 10.1b with the usual two-stroke penalty (stroke play) or loss of hole (match play).
• You use a prosthetic device → The device must be approved by the Committee under Rule 25.3a / Rule 4.3b; using an unapproved prosthetic could breach Rule 4.3 even if anchoring itself is allowed under 25.3b.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a medical certificate or Committee approval to anchor as an amputee?

No. Rule 25.3b is an automatic modification — if you meet the criteria (amputee, unable to swing majority of clubs without anchoring due to limb deficiency or loss), you may anchor. No certificate or Committee sign-off required for the anchoring itself.

What if I only struggle with one or two clubs, like my putter and wedges?

The Rule says "majority of their clubs." If you can swing most of your set — driver, irons, hybrids — without anchoring, the modification doesn't apply, even if a few clubs are problematic.

Can I anchor with a long putter or belly putter under this Rule?

Yes. The Rule doesn't restrict the type of club or anchoring method. If you qualify, you may anchor any club — putter, wedge, driver — in any way (against chest, belly, chin, etc.).

Does this apply to temporary injuries like a broken arm?

No. Rule 25.3 specifically covers amputees — players with limb deficiencies or limb loss. Temporary injuries don't qualify, though Committees may adopt Local Rules for other disabilities under Model Local Rule G-10.

If I qualify for anchoring, do I also get free relief from abnormal course conditions?

Anchoring relief under 25.3b is separate from abnormal course condition relief under Rule 16.1. Being an amputee doesn't automatically change your relief options for ground under repair, temporary water, etc. — those follow the standard Rules unless a Local Rule says otherwise.