Minigolf*

Putting

Pitch and Putt

Golf

Surface

Artificial

Grass or artificial

Grass and / or artificial

Grass and artificial (winter tees and greens).

For competition, just grass.

Boundaries

Each hole delimited by continuous raised border (apart from around the teeing-off area).

Green

Fairway, Semi rough, rough, Out of Bounds

Fairway, Semi rough, rough, Out of Bounds

Distance from tee to hole

Usually < 20 metres

< 20 metres

20 - 150 metres

150 - 500 metres

Sex

Equal footing

Equal footing

Equal footing

Separate mens and womens tees and unions

Balls

Specialist minigolf ball but golf balls allowed

Golf ball

Golf ball

Golf ball

As defined in Appendix III.  Specifically weight and diameter.

Clubs

Putter (usually rubber headed) except at one hole of Betong course, where any golf club allowed

Putter

Iron and putter

Any golf club, max 14

Rule 4-4

Equipment sharing

Not allowed

Other equipment

None specified, but cloths for wiping green and umbrellas for wind-shielding are allowed

None

None

Tees or other device to raise ball off ground for teeing off purposes.  Rule 11-1

Attire

Trainers and sports clothing stipulated for international competitions

Any

Any

Specialist shoes and driving glove.

Dress code.

Obstacles, impediments

Artificial: Fixed structures, rocks, pipes and other obstacles

None

Bunkers, Water hazards

Artificial: Bunkers, Ditches, walls, paths, buildings, pitch marks.

Natural: Trees, Water hazards, animal scrapes

Rule 23/24

Rules: Relief from obstacles, impediments

All. Repositioning markings provided on WMF-approved courses.

None

Rule 23/24

Rules: Out of bounds

No Penalty – reposition on course (WMF) or retake shot (BMGA)

N/A

Penalty shot

Penalty shot

Rules: Score

Limited to 6 shots per hole + penalties.  If not holed in 6 the ball is picked up and a 7 is recorded.

No limit

No limit

No limit

Rules: Scoring

Each players score is kept by a different player.

Rules: Advice

Anyone present may advise

 Rule 8-2b Advice +Note.  Restricted.

Rules: Playing order

Only one ball can be in play at any one time. Playing order remains constant. Except in play-offs (BMGA) where order is rotated.

As golf.

As golf.

All players hit first shot; then furthest from hole plays second. Playing order changes at each hole, depending on scores.

Rule 10.

Rules: Handicap System

None

None

None

Rules Body

WMF and BMGA

R&A

International Tournaments

World championships and continental championships held on standardised courses

No standard course

World Body

WMF

PGA

UK Body

BMGA

None???

Does exist, but not sure how official.

EGU, SGU, WGU, GUI and womens equivalent LGU. All for amateurs.