What are the penalties for unreasonable delay in golf?

Rule 5.6a builds a three-rung penalty ladder for unreasonable delay: one stroke for the first breach, the general penalty (two strokes or loss of hole) for the second, and disqualification for the third. Legitimate reasons — getting a ruling, sudden illness, or injury — excuse the delay, usually with up to 15 minutes to recover.

How the penalty ladder works

The rule is straightforward: three strikes and you're out. Your first unreasonable delay adds one stroke to your score. Do it again and you take the general penalty — two strokes in stroke play, loss of hole in match play. A third breach gets you disqualified. If the delay happens between holes, the penalty applies to the next hole you play.

What counts as unreasonable vs. reasonable

Unreasonable delays are things you control that hold up other players or the competition — like excessive practice swings, wandering off to chat, or taking forever to read a putt when it's your turn. Reasonable delays are normal stuff: waiting for the group ahead, a brief equipment issue, or the time it takes to get a ruling from a referee. The committee looks at the whole picture, including whether you're actually holding anyone up.

The injury and illness safety valve

If you get suddenly sick or hurt — heat exhaustion, bee sting, getting hit by a ball — the committee should normally give you up to 15 minutes to recover before calling it unreasonable delay. Same goes for repeated treatments during the round. This isn't a free pass to stall; it's for genuine medical issues that come out of nowhere.

Exceptions that change the answer

• You stop to get help from a referee or the committee → The delay is allowed and no penalty applies
• You become injured or ill during the round → You get reasonable time — normally up to 15 minutes — to recover
• There's another good reason outside your control → The committee decides if the delay is excused

Arriving late to your starting time is a separate issue governed by Rule 5.3a, not Rule 5.6a — see what happens if you arrive late to your tee time for the specific penalties and exceptions that apply before you even hit your first shot.

Frequently asked questions

Does a slow group ahead count as my unreasonable delay?

No. Waiting for the group in front of you is a normal part of golf and never counts as your unreasonable delay.

What's the general penalty in match play vs stroke play?

In stroke play it's two strokes. In match play you lose the hole where the second breach happened.

Can I get disqualified on my first delay?

Only if the committee decides the single delay was so serious it warrants DQ — but the standard ladder is one stroke, then general penalty, then DQ.

Does the 15-minute injury rule apply to pre-existing conditions?

No. It's for sudden illness or injury that happens during the round, like heat exhaustion or a bee sting. Ongoing conditions don't get the automatic 15 minutes.

If I delay between holes, which hole gets the penalty?

The penalty applies to the next hole you play, not the one you just finished.