Can I request a ruling after the match is over?

Yes, you can request a ruling after the last hole is played, but only before the match result is officially final. Once the result is posted or both players agree the match is over, it's too late — unless you only just discovered the facts.

When the clock stops

In match play, you're entitled to know the status of your match at all times. If something happens on the final hole — or even after you've shaken hands — you can still ask for a ruling, provided you do it before the result is final. The Committee decides when that moment arrives, usually when the scorecard is returned or the result is posted. The key is when you became aware of the facts, not when you realized it was a penalty. If you saw your opponent improve their lie on the 18th but only figured out it was a breach back at the clubhouse, you can still speak up — as long as the result isn't final yet.

If the result flips, you go back out

Say your opponent wins 5 and 4. You're walking to the clubhouse when you realize they played from the wrong place on the 14th. You request a ruling. If the Committee agrees there was a breach, the match score gets adjusted — and if that changes the outcome, you both go back to the course and resume from where the match should have stood. This isn't a do-over. It's the Rules correcting the record. The match was never truly over if a breach existed that would change the result.

No second chances once it's final

Once the Committee says the result is final — scorecard returned, result posted, competition closed — the door shuts. You can't come back the next day with video evidence or a sudden memory. The Rules protect the finality of the competition. The only exception is if new facts emerge that you genuinely couldn't have known earlier, and even then, the Committee has discretion. But don't count on it. Speak up before you leave the scoring area.

Exceptions that change the answer

• You discover a possible breach after the final hole but before the result is final → You may request a ruling; if a breach is confirmed, the match score is adjusted and players may resume the match
• The match result has been officially posted or the scorecard returned → No ruling can be requested — the result stands even if a breach is later discovered

Frequently asked questions

My opponent won 3 and 2. We shook hands. Can I still ask for a ruling?

Only if the match result hasn't been officially finalized yet — usually that means before the scorecard is returned or the result is posted. Shaking hands doesn't make it final.

I saw a breach on the 15th but didn't know it was a penalty until the next day. Can I request a ruling then?

No. The clock starts when you become aware of the facts, not when you learn it's a penalty. If you saw it happen, you needed to speak up before the result was final.

What if the Committee already posted the result but I have video proof?

Too late. Once the result is final, video evidence doesn't reopen it. The Rules prioritize finality over perfect justice after the fact.

Does this apply in stroke play too?

No. This is match play only. In stroke play, you can raise rules issues until the competition closes, which is usually when the trophy is awarded.

Who decides when the result is 'final'?

The Committee. Typically it's when the scorecard is returned to them or the official result is posted. Ask the Committee if you're unsure — don't assume.