Rule 4.3 allows you to carry things such as an extra driver head or shaft in your bag. Grips are OK, too. What you can’t do is use any of that stuff during the round.
While most people see the rules as limiting what golfers can do on the course, a broader understanding of golf’s dos and don’ts allows players to take advantage of opportunities the rules also present – and keep your scorecard from blowing up in the process.
The intent here is not to introduce a new generation of golfers to a classic way to (cough) cheat. Rather, it’s a friendly reminder to be on the lookout for a small handful of players prone to take some liberties when it comes to marking their golf ball on the putting green.
Chippers like the one you see here comply with equipment rules and can be used in competition. Where you might get confused is that it’s against the rules to use a “two-way” chipper.
The beauty of a tournament with gross and net divisions, like many club championships around the country, is that golfers of all handicaps have something to play for.
It’s within the rules to use any object to prop a ball up in the teeing area – provided it complies with the definition of a tee in the Rules of Golf and can be used in a way that complies with Rule 6.2(b) and the Equipment Rule outlined in Part 6 (1.).
Under Rule 4.3a, you can’t use equipment (other than a club or ball) that artificially eliminates or reduces the need for a skill or judgment that is essential to the challenge of the game.
Rule 16 outlines relief from abnormal course conditions. It covers what you can and can’t do when encountering immovable obstructions on the golf course.
Australian Golf Digest
