What happens if I forgot a penalty on my scorecard?

You're not disqualified. Under Rule 3.3b(3)'s exception, you add the missed penalty plus two extra strokes for each affected hole, but you stay in the competition.

The normal rule: wrong score means DQ

If you hand in a scorecard with a score lower than what you actually shot, the default penalty is disqualification. The Rules treat it seriously because every player has to be on the same page — your score affects everyone else in the field. So if you write a 4 when you really made a 5, you're usually out.

The exception that saves you

Rule 3.3b(3) has a specific carve-out: if the only reason your score is too low is that you didn't know you'd incurred a penalty, you don't get DQ'd. Instead, you take the penalty you missed, plus two additional penalty strokes for each hole where it happened. You stay in the tournament, just with a higher score.

How it works in the clubhouse

Say you hit into a penalty area on the 7th but didn't realize it was a red-staked area, so you played on and wrote 4. Later you learn it was a one-stroke penalty. You tell the Committee before the competition closes. Your 7th-hole score becomes 4 + 1 (the penalty) + 2 (the extra strokes) = 7. You keep playing; the round counts.

Exceptions that change the answer

• The missing penalty would itself result in disqualification (e.g., playing from a wrong place that's a serious breach). → The exception doesn't apply — you're disqualified.
• You knew about the penalty at the time but just forgot to write it down. → The exception doesn't apply — you're disqualified for returning a wrong score.

Frequently asked questions

What if I realize the mistake after I've handed in the card but before the competition closes?

Tell the Committee immediately. As long as the competition hasn't closed, they'll apply the exception: add the missed penalty plus two strokes per hole, and you stay in.

Does this work for multiple penalties on different holes?

Yes. You add the actual penalty for each hole, plus two extra strokes for each hole where you missed a penalty. Each hole is treated separately.

What if my marker wrote the wrong score and I didn't catch it?

You're responsible for your scorecard. If the error means your returned score is lower than actual, the same rule applies — DQ unless the exception for an unknown penalty saves you.

Can I fix it after the competition closes?

No. Once the competition closes (usually when the trophy is awarded or the Committee says so), it's too late. The scorecard stands as returned.

What counts as "didn't know" about the penalty?

You genuinely weren't aware you'd broken a Rule — for example, you didn't know the area was a penalty area, or you didn't realize your ball moved. If you knew but forgot, the exception doesn't apply.