Can I keep playing after a suspension if my marker leaves?

In stroke play, when the Committee issues a normal suspension while you're playing a hole, you may choose to finish the hole — but only if your marker stays to keep your score. If your marker decides to stop, you must stop too. Playing on without a marker means disqualification.

Normal suspension while playing a hole

When the Committee suspends play for normal reasons like darkness or an unplayable course, and at least one player in your group has already started the hole, each player gets to decide individually whether to stop or play out the hole. You have a brief window — normally no more than two minutes — to make that choice. If you decide to continue, you can complete the hole or stop partway through, but once you stop you cannot make another stroke until the Committee resumes play.

The marker requirement in stroke play

Rule 5.7b adds a critical condition for stroke play: you may continue only if your marker stays to keep your score. The marker is the person responsible for certifying your score on each hole. If your marker chooses to stop play, you lose the right to continue — you must stop as well, even if you wanted to finish the hole. This rule exists because a score without a marker's attestation isn't valid.

Penalty for getting it wrong

If you continue play after a normal suspension without your marker staying, you are in breach of Rule 5.7b. The penalty is disqualification. There's no two-stroke penalty or loss-of-hole option here — it's immediate DQ. The only way to avoid it is if the Committee later decides your failure to stop was justified under the exception to Rule 5.7b.

Exceptions that change the answer

• The Committee decides circumstances justified your failure to stop when required → There is no breach and no penalty. This covers situations where the suspension signal wasn't clear, you genuinely didn't hear it, or other exceptional circumstances the Committee accepts.

Frequently asked questions

What if my marker wants to stop but I want to finish the hole?

You must stop. In stroke play, you can only continue after a normal suspension if your marker stays to record your score. No marker, no continuing — playing on means disqualification.

Does this apply to immediate suspensions too?

No. For an immediate suspension (like lightning danger), everyone must stop instantly — no one gets to finish the hole, marker or not. The marker rule only applies to normal suspensions.

What if we're between holes when play is suspended?

If all players in the group are between holes, everyone must stop and cannot start the next hole until the Committee resumes play. The marker rule doesn't come into play because no one has started the next hole yet.

Can I get a different marker if mine leaves?

Not mid-hole during a suspension. Your marker for the round is already established. If they stop, you stop. You can't swap in a new marker just to keep playing that hole.

What happens if I honestly didn't hear the suspension signal?

The Committee can waive the disqualification if they decide your failure to stop was justified — for example, if the signal wasn't distinct or you were too far away to hear it. But you must report to the Committee as soon as possible.