What happens if a referee gives me wrong advice and I follow it?
No penalty. If a referee tells you to do something that breaks a rule — like lifting your ball when you shouldn't — and you follow their instruction, you don't get penalized. The ruling gets fixed if possible, otherwise it stands.
Related but different: This page covers the specific protection when you follow a referee's wrong instruction. For the broader rules on referee rulings during a round — including when you must follow them and whether you can appeal — see what happens when a referee makes a ruling during your round.
When the referee gets it wrong
Referees are human and sometimes misapply the Rules. Rule 20.2d(1) covers exactly this: if a referee or the Committee gives you an instruction that turns out to be wrong — applying the wrong penalty, using a Rule that doesn't exist, or just misinterpreting one — and you act on it during the round, there's no penalty for you. Your action is treated as if it were the wrong ruling itself.
What happens next
The wrong ruling gets corrected if it's still possible under the Rules. Say the referee told you to drop in the wrong spot — you re-drop correctly. But if it's too late to fix (you've already holed out, the competition closed, etc.), the wrong ruling stands. You keep the result you got, even if it came from a mistake.
The key condition: reasonable misunderstanding
This only works if you genuinely misunderstood the referee's instruction. If the referee says "you can lift that ball" and you lift it, you're covered. But if you just decide on your own to lift it without asking, or you ignore the referee and do something else, the protection disappears. You have to be following their specific guidance.
Exceptions that change the answer
- It's too late to correct the ruling under the Rules → The wrong ruling stands and you keep the result as played
- You act on your own without a referee or Committee instruction → Normal penalties apply — this protection only covers following official guidance
Frequently asked questions
What if I lift my ball because the referee said I could, but I wasn't allowed to?
No penalty. You followed the referee's instruction, so Rule 20.2d(1) protects you. Replace the ball if the ruling gets corrected, otherwise play on.
Does this also apply if the Committee (not a referee) gives me wrong info?
Yes. The Rule explicitly covers both referees and the Committee. If either gives you an instruction during the round that turns out to be wrong, you're protected.
What if the wrong ruling can't be fixed because I've already finished the hole?
The wrong ruling stands. You keep the score you made, even if it came from following incorrect advice. There's no going back once the round or competition is over.
What if I realize the referee was wrong but I've already played my next shot?
You still get no penalty for following the instruction. The Committee will correct the ruling if possible — for example, having you replay from the right spot — but if play has moved on too far, the result stands.
Does this cover any mistake a referee makes?
Only when they give you a specific instruction you follow. If a referee just misses a breach you committed on your own, or makes an administrative error like recording the wrong score, different rules apply.