Golf is a sport with deep roots. It was first played in Scotland in the Middle Ages and spread across the world with the British Empire. The international rules of golf were first formalised in 1899 and then unified globally in 1952 by The R&A and USGA. But even after the modern rules were defined, golf has continued to evolve as a sport, with rules changing and updates made continually to ensure golf stays relevant, fair, and competitive.
The R&A and USGA updated the official international rules of golf in 2019, and then again in 2023. Whilst the joint bodies aren’t issuing another full golf rules update in 2025, several other bodies, like the PGA Tour, are introducing changes to the game. Here, we run through the major golf rules changes to hit the sport in 2025.
Who makes the Rules of Golf?
The Rules of Golf have a long and rather complicated history, but today, the international rules are standardised and jointly managed by The R&A (based on The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews) and the United States Golf Association (USGA). The R&A governs golf globally, except in the US and Mexico, which the USGA governs.
The R&A and the USGA regularly update these official rules, but whilst they aren’t making an official set of changes in 2025, a number of other golfing bodies will be making changes.
Here’s what to look out for in 2025:
Updated policy on transgender golfers
As of 2025, The R&A has updated its rules on male-to-female transgender golfers.
Following similar decisions taken by the LPGA Tour and some other sports governing bodies, transgender women who were assigned as male at birth and who have gone through male puberty will no longer be eligible to feature in the R&A's female professional and elite amateur championships.
Extended winter rules in England
Golf courses tend not to be in their best state during winter months, especially throughout the UK, where weather can be unremittingly wet and windy (but that’s not to say winter golf can’t still be enjoyable, of course!)
In light of these worsening winter conditions, though, the R&A and the USGA have included rules for Preferred Lies (called Model Local Rule E-3), allowing players to avoid areas of weather-affected courses by placing their ball, or another one, in a relief area.
To go even further, England Golf has even provided its own Model Local Rules guide for helping golfers play in Adverse and Extreme Weather Conditions.
Before 2025, these winter rules could be used by players between 1st October and 30th April. But as of this year, golfers will now be able to apply Model Local Rules year round, based on the weather and the condition of the course they’re playing on.
PGA Tour Signature Events limited to a field of 72
The PGA TOUR Signature Events are a series of eight limited-field tournaments that feature top players competing for increased prize money and FedExCup points (up to 700 points for the winner and a $20 million purse).
In 2025, the PGA will make a change to its Signature Events, limiting the field to just 72 players. If a player doesn’t attend or drops out, the next player will be drawn from the next available options in the Aon Next 10 list.
Tiger Wood's PGA special exemption
Dubbed the ‘Tiger Rule’, and for good reason. In 2025, the PGA Tour Policy Board approved a special exemption for one of the game’s most iconic players. Tiger Woods will be granted entrance into PGA TOUR Signature Events even if he doesn’t meet their qualifying criteria.
This Lifetime Achievement Exemption has been awarded due to Tiger’s contributions to the sport and his continued importance to the game globally.
In the words of the Player Advisory Council:
“These exemptions are intended to capture players who are important to the tournament sponsor but who are not otherwise qualified. To maximise these spots for the membership and to provide optimal flexibility for the tournament sponsor, the PAC supported adding an additional sponsor exemption recognising Tiger Woods in his own category as a player who has reached an exceptional lifetime achievement threshold of 80+ career wins.”
We suspect more exemptions may come under this new rule.
The TGL
The TGL, short for TMRW Golf League, is a new golfing league competition created by Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, and sports executive Mike McCarley, beginning in 2025.
Each match will be played as two teams of four players pitted against each other, using both traditional and simulated golf play. Matches will be divided into two halves, with Triples (holes 1 to 9) played by teams of three, and Singles (holes 10 to 15) played head-to-head by single players, switching every two holes.
TGL matches will be held on weeknights and will introduce various rule changes to offer viewers a new kind of golf competition to watch, including:
- A Shot Clock: From the moment a player places their ball, they’ll have 40 seconds to take their shot or face a one-stroke penalty.
- Timeouts: Each team will have four timeouts they can use during the match to halt the Shot Clock, two during the Triples stage and two during the Singles holes.
- The Hammer: At any time, a team can opt to throw a hammer, by waiving a Mjolnir-shaped gold towel, to add a single point to a hole's value. If the opposing team declines the Hammer, they forfeit the hole. The other team has to accept the Hammer if it’s used before play on a hole begins. Only one Hammer is ever in play. Which team takes it initially is determined by a coin toss, with the Hammer then alternating between teams.
- Overtime: If the match is tied after all 15 holes, a penalty shoot-out style competition begins, with the winning team the one to record the two closest consecutive shots to the pin.
- Referees: TGL will feature on-course referees to manage play and ensure all TGL rules are adhered to, whilst another referee will monitor all the play from a booth.
What golf rule changes were made in 2023?
The latest full update to the international golf rules was made by The R&A and USGA in 2023. To remind ourselves, this update included changes:
- To better accommodate players with disabilities.
- For replacing balls moved by natural forces.
- To simplify the rules for back-on-the-line relief.
- For replacing damaged clubs.
- For relaxing the requirements for writing handicaps on scorecards.
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In an ever-evolving sport, one thing that’ll never change is the likelihood of accidents and injury. That’s why—regardless of any rule updates—you might want to consider protecting yourself with specialist golf insurance.
With Golf Care, policies include Equipment Cover up to £7,500, Public Liability of up to £10m, and more. Get a quote online today.
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