Back in 1828, the Burntisland Golf Club had a wild rule on the books. If your ball landed in sand, mud, or rubbish and you couldn’t play it, your opponent could hijack your ball and play it themselves. Yes, you read that right—your adversary could steal your ball mid-round and use it against you. Fortunately, the rule didn’t last.

Golf’s rulebook is littered with bizarre regulations that seemed permanent until they weren’t. We’re exploring the top five golf rules that no longer exist—rules that were once gospel but are now relegated to history books.

The USGA and R&A’s Stymie Rule (Eliminated 1952)

Picture this nightmare scenario. Your opponent’s ball sits directly between your ball and the hole on the putting green. Can you mark it and move it? Not if the balls are more than six inches

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