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Precision Sports
1 players
both
golf ball, club, uniform
10 essential rules
This rulebook summarizes the World Minigolf Sport Federation (WMF) WMF rulebook, rule 2.3 Worldwide international sport rules, edition "update 20260101" (effective 1 January 2026). Rule numbers cited below refer to that document.
14.1: Individual categories: Female kids (Kf), Male kids (Km), Kids (K); Female youth (Yf), Male youth (Ym), Youth (Y); General class women (W), General class men (M), General class (G); Female senior 1 (Sf1), Male senior 1 (Sm1), Senior 1 (S1); Female senior 2 (Sf2), Male senior 2 (Sm2), Senior ...
Players and coaches must keep away from the lane and player when the ball is addressed, if possible at least 1 meter (8.5). Aiming help by coaches or other persons is strictly forbidden (8.7).
Coaches may receive an admonition (green card, step 1), banishing from the course for the rest of the day (yellow, step 2) or for the rest of the tournament (red, step 3), each once per tournament (19.2). A banished coach cannot be substituted and may not affect the game in any way (19.6–19.7).
Doping is strictly forbidden (17.1). Playing under the influence of alcoholic beverages/food is forbidden (17.2).
Non-permitted putter (3.4) or ball (4.5): shots count and the lane is replayed.; Shots played too early (11.2, 11.4) or lanes played in the wrong order (11.9): shots count and the lane is replayed.; Shot not played from the teeing-off area, incorrect repositioning, or repositioning twice (8.11): ...
The head referee may order a general interruption (12.1). In thunderstorms in close proximity the tournament must be interrupted immediately regardless of rain (12.3).
11.1: Lanes are always played in the order 1 to 18. With a shotgun start, players play in sequence from their starting lane (e.g. starting at lane 9: lanes 9-18, then 1-8).; 11.2: A lane can only be played once the previous player has played it and left the playing area; each player must be ready...
Referees may impose, each only once per player per tournament, and noted on the front of the score-card: Admonition (A) — green card.; Admonition and 1 penalty point (A+1) — blue card.; Booking and 2 penalty points (B+2) — yellow card.
Aiming devices, spirit levels and similar devices are forbidden for everyone on the course during a tournament (13.1). g.
Protests against refereeing decisions must be in writing to the chairman of the jury within 15 minutes (20.1); in matchplay they are decided on the lane (20.2). Jury decisions are final (20.3).
Don't play through the group ahead; wait until they clear
Mini golf courses are typically played in groups spaced a hole apart. Players wait for the group ahead to finish and leave the hole before teeing off, rather than putting into players who are still on the green or cup area. This is a safety and courtesy norm at courses of all kinds.
Applies mainly to recreational courses where groups follow one another closely.
Honor system on scoring and counting your own strokes
In casual play, players usually keep their own scorecards and are trusted to count strokes honestly, including penalty strokes for balls leaving the course. Under-reporting a score to win is widely seen as poor sportsmanship.
Competitive events usually add a scorekeeper or marker.
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