Basic Format:

Golfball is governed by the rules of the United States Golf Association for match play, except as specifically modified by the American Golf League.

Object of the Game:

The object of Golfball is to win more holes than the opposing team. The team which wins the most holes wins the game. Individual matches continue until the end of the game, irrespective of the score of the individual match.

Number of Players:

There are nine active players on a Golfball team, each of whom plays a separate match against a member of the opposing team.

Start of Play; The First Half:

Play begins with a shotgun start on the front nine of the golf course, with nine simultaneous individual matches, one on each of the first nine holes of the golf course. During the first half of the game, players rotate on the front nine of the course.

The Second Half; End of Play:

The second half of the game begins with a shotgun start on the back nine of the golf course, with nine individual matches, one on each of the back nine holes of the golf course. Play continues until eighteen holes have been played by all players, even if the outcome of the game is already determined.

Tied Game; Extra Holes:

In the event that all individual matches shall complete eighteen holes and the score of the game is tied, an extra hole shall be played by all players, which shall be the next sequential hole on the back nine. In the event that the score remains tied after the nineteenth hole, another hole shall be played in like manner, and the process shall be repeated until a winner is determined.

Substitutions:

A player may be removed from the game and a substitute inserted into the game prior to teeing off on any hole. A player removed from the game may not return during the same period. For purposes of this rule, extra holes played because of a tied game shall be considered a separate period.

Presentation of Line Up:

Prior to the start of the game, the manager or captain of the home team shall present his line-up for the front nine to the visiting manager or captain, and the visiting manager or captain shall present his line-up for the second nine to the home team manager or captain. Then the opposing managers or captains shall announce their respective pairings, after which no change may be made in the line-up of either team, except by substitution as provided above.

Referee:

Each match shall be accompanied by a referee. The referee shall be the official scorekeeper for the match and shall declare the winner of each hole as it is played. The referee shall be authorized to maintain proper pace of play, and shall make all rules decisions which may be necessary. The decision of the referee on disputed issues shall be final and conclusive.

The 40 second rule:

Whenever the referee shall signal a player and announce "Mr. (The Player's Name), you are away", the player shall have 40 seconds to complete his stroke. The penalty for failure to do so is one stroke.

Lost ball:

Whenever, upon reaching the place where a ball is expected to be found, a player's ball is not promptly located, the referee shall declare the ball to be lost, and direct the players and caddies to search for the ball. If the ball is not located within 2 minutes, the player whose ball is lost shall drop another ball at the place where the first ball was expected to be found. The penalty is one stroke.