Can I stop play if there is lightning?

Yes, you may stop play if you reasonably believe there is danger from lightning. Rule 5.7a allows you to leave the course immediately, but you must report to the Committee as soon as possible. Stopping for any other reason without Committee approval leads to disqualification.

When you can stop on your own

If you reasonably believe lightning poses a danger, you can stop play right then — no need to wait for a siren or an official signal. The Rules treat you as the final judge of whether your belief is reasonable. Once you stop, you have to let the Committee know as soon as you can. Simply walking off the course isn't "stopping play" by itself; it's the combination of stopping and not reporting that gets you disqualified.

When the Committee stops everyone

The Committee can suspend play for two reasons. An immediate suspension (for imminent danger like lightning) means nobody makes another stroke until the Committee says go. A normal suspension (darkness, unplayable course) works differently: if your group is between holes, you stop and don't start the next hole; if anyone has already teed off on a hole, the group can either finish that hole or stop, but you only get about two minutes to decide.

What happens if you stop without a valid reason

Stopping because you're frustrated, taking a long lunch, or watching TV in the clubhouse — those aren't allowed. The Committee will likely disqualify you under Rule 5.7a. Temporary delays, whether reasonable or not, fall under Rule 5.6a (unreasonable delay), not this Rule. In match play, you and your opponent can agree to stop for any reason unless it delays the competition, but if one of you wants to resume, the other has to resume too.

Exceptions that change the answer

• The Committee orders play to resume after using all reasonable means to conclude lightning danger no longer exists → You must resume play even if you still believe there is danger.
• Players in a match agree to stop play → They may stop for any reason except if it delays the competition; if one player then wants to resume, the agreement ends and the other must resume.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to wait for the Committee to sound a siren before stopping for lightning?

No. If you reasonably believe there is danger from lightning, you may stop immediately. You are the final judge of whether your belief is reasonable, but you must report to the Committee as soon as possible.

What if I stop for lightning but the Committee says it's safe and orders us back?

Once the Committee has used all reasonable means to conclude the danger no longer exists and orders a resumption, all players must resume play. Refusing to resume leads to disqualification.

Can I just walk off the course if I see lightning?

Leaving the course is not, by itself, stopping play. You must also report to the Committee as soon as possible. If you leave and don't report, you can be disqualified for stopping play without permission.

What if my playing partners want to keep playing but I think there's lightning danger?

In stroke play, any player in the group may choose to stop or continue the hole regardless of what the others decide. In match play, if your opponent stops play, you must also stop; if you don't, you lose the hole.

Does leaving the course to take shelter count as stopping play?

Leaving the course is not, by itself, stopping play. Stopping play is an intentional act or a delay long enough to constitute stopping. You must report to the Committee after seeking shelter to avoid a disqualification penalty.