What happens if a blind player has more than one aide?

A blind player is allowed only one aide at a time — no exceptions for different tasks or parts of the course. If they have more than one, they get the general penalty — two strokes in stroke play or loss of hole in match play — for each hole where the breach occurs.

How many aides can a blind player have?

Just one. Rule 25.2b says a player who is blind may have only a single aide at any given time. That aide can help with stance, aiming, and advice — same things a caddie does — but you can't swap in a second person to help with something else while the first aide is still there. The limit applies the whole round, not just per shot.

What's the penalty for having two aides?

It's the general penalty for each hole where the breach happens. In stroke play that's two strokes per hole; in match play it's loss of hole per hole. The wording mirrors Rule 10.3a(1) for caddies — if you'd get penalized for two caddies, you get penalized for two aides. The penalty stops as soon as you're back down to one aide.

Does the aide count as a caddie too?

They can be the same person, but they don't have to be. Rule 25.2e lets the aide also serve as caddie, or you can have a separate caddie alongside the aide. Either way, you still only get one aide. If the aide starts carrying or handling clubs beyond what's allowed — guiding, stance, aiming, or courtesy — they become a second caddie and you're back to the same general penalty per hole.

Exceptions that change the answer

• The aide also acts as the player's caddie → That's allowed under Rule 25.2e — one person fills both roles. But they still count as the single aide, and they must not handle clubs except for guiding, stance, aiming, or courtesy.
• The aide handles clubs outside the allowed tasks → The aide becomes a second caddie. The player then has two caddies and gets the general penalty for each hole where that happens (Rule 10.3a(1)).

Frequently asked questions

Can a blind player have an aide and a caddie at the same time?

Yes. Rule 25.2e explicitly allows both an aide and a caddie simultaneously. The aide helps with stance, aiming, and advice; the caddie handles clubs and other caddie duties. You just can't have two aides.

What if the aide helps carry the bag for a few holes?

That's a breach. The aide may only handle clubs when guiding the player, helping with stance or aiming, or as a courtesy (like handing a club). Carrying the bag makes them a second caddie, triggering the general penalty per hole.

Does the penalty apply in both match play and stroke play?

Yes. The general penalty means two strokes per hole in stroke play and loss of hole per hole in match play, exactly like having two caddies under Rule 10.3a(1).

What counts as "having more than one aide"?

Any time two people are acting as your aide at once — even if one is just helping line up a putt while the other helps with stance. The rule looks at function, not title. If two people are doing aide tasks simultaneously, you're in breach.

Can I switch aides during the round?

Yes, you can change aides between holes or even mid-hole, as long as you never have more than one at the same time. The old aide stops being your aide before the new one starts helping.