PDGA CERTIFIED RULES EXAM 2026 STUDY GUIDE | VERIFIED QUESTIONS & CORRECT ANSWERS WITH EXPLANATIONS | COMPLETE DISC GOLF RULES REVIEW | SCORE 100% ON THE PDGA RULES CERTIFICATION

PDGA CERTIFIED RULES EXAM 2026 STUDY
GUIDE | VERIFIED QUESTIONS & CORRECT
ANSWERS WITH EXPLANATIONS | COMPLETE
DISC GOLF RULES REVIEW | SCORE 100% ON
THE PDGA RULES CERTIFICATION
PDGA CERTIFIED RULES EXAM

300 Case Scenario Questions | Verified Answers & RATIONALE

Question 1 Jake places his back heel exactly on the rear edge of the tee pad at the moment of
release. A competitor calls a foot fault. What is the ruling?

A. Foot fault — touching any boundary line is a violation B. Legal throw — the back edge
is still part of the teeing area C. Foot fault — both feet must be completely inside the tee
surface D. Legal throw — only the front edge of the tee creates a boundary E. The group must
call a referee to measure foot position before ruling

RATIONALE: PDGA Rule 803.01 states the teeing area includes the tee surface up to and
including its edges. A supporting point on the back edge is still within the teeing area. A foot
fault only occurs if a supporting point is completely outside the designated boundary.



Question 2 Maria is playing in a sanctioned tournament. She tees off from a spot she believes is
the tee, but it is actually 1 meter behind the designated tee marker. No one notices until the next
hole. What is the correct ruling?

A. No penalty — if no one noticed, the throw stands B. Two-stroke penalty for throwing
from outside the teeing area C. The hole must be replayed from the correct tee D. One-stroke
penalty plus re-throw E. Disqualification for intentional misconduct

RATIONALE: PDGA Rule 803.01B: Throwing from outside the designated teeing area results
in a two-stroke penalty and the player must re-throw from the correct teeing area before
completing the hole.



Question 3 During a casual round, Tyler asks if he can move a large pine cone that is sitting
inside the tee pad before he throws. What is the correct ruling?

A. Yes — loose impediments on the teeing area may be removed B. No — nothing on the
course may be moved C. Only the TD can authorize removal of natural objects D. Yes, but only
if all players in the group agree E. Only moveable obstacles may be removed, not natural objects

,RATIONALE: PDGA Rule 803.01: Players may remove loose impediments from the teeing
area without penalty. A pine cone is a loose impediment and may be freely moved.



Question 4 On a wooded hole, the designated tee pad is elevated and the player must stand on it.
The player's disc slips during the throwing motion and is released behind the tee line before any
forward momentum. What is this called?

A. A foot fault B. A legal throw — release point does not matter C. A falling putt or
unintentional release, which is still a legal throw D. A penalty throw for an illegal throwing
motion E. The player must re-throw without penalty

RATIONALE: PDGA Rule 801.02C: Any release of the disc during a throwing motion, even
unintentional, counts as a throw. An unintentional release is still scored as a throw. There is no
additional penalty unless a rule is violated.



Question 5 Carlos is on hole 1 and notices the tee markers are missing. He asks his group where
to tee from. What should they do?

A. Play from wherever seems logical B. Skip the hole and move on C. Ask the Tournament
Director or consult the scorecard/course map for the designated tee location D. Play from
the most worn area near the sign E. Use the nearest concrete surface as the tee

RATIONALE: PDGA Rule 803.01: When tee markers are missing or unclear, players should
consult the TD or official course documentation. Playing from an incorrect location results in a
penalty.



Question 6 Samantha tees off and her back foot slips forward after release, landing outside the
tee boundary. Is this a foot fault?

A. Yes — any post-throw movement outside the boundary is a fault B. No — foot faults are
only judged at the moment of release C. Yes — all supporting points during the throw are
judged D. No — only front foot position matters E. Yes — follow-through must stay within the
teeing area

RATIONALE: PDGA Rule 803.01: Foot faults are evaluated at the moment of release. Post-
release movement outside the teeing area does not constitute a foot fault.

,Question 7 A player tees off and their disc clearly flies backward over their head due to a severe
mis-throw. The disc lands behind the tee. Where does the player play their next shot from?

A. From the tee again — the throw didn't count B. From behind the tee line extended C.
From where the disc comes to rest, even if behind the tee D. From the tee — a disc cannot
land behind its release point E. Player may choose: from the lie or re-tee with one penalty

RATIONALE: PDGA Rule 802.01: A throw counts once the disc is released. The player must
play from where the disc lies, regardless of whether it came to rest behind the tee.


Question 8 During a doubles event, both partners want to stand on the tee pad during the throw
for moral support. Is this allowed?

A. Yes — partners may always share the tee pad B. Only the throwing player may occupy
the teeing area during the throw in most formats C. Both may stand there as long as neither
interferes D. Yes — doubles rules override standard teeing rules E. Only if they stand behind the
throwing player

RATIONALE: PDGA Rule 803.01: During a throw, the teeing area is occupied by the thrower.
Teammates or partners should not be in a position that could interfere with the throw or
constitute a stance violation.



Question 9 A concrete tee pad has a large crack that creates a raised lip. A player's foot catches
the lip, causing a stumble during the throw. Can the player re-throw without penalty citing
equipment/course conditions?

A. Yes — any course hazard allows a re-throw B. No — course conditions including tee
surface irregularities do not grant a re-throw C. Yes — safety hazards always allow a free re-
throw D. No — only weather can justify a re-throw E. Only the TD can grant a re-throw for
course conditions

RATIONALE: PDGA Rule 803.01: Players are expected to play the course as it exists. Natural
wear or surface conditions on the tee do not entitle a player to a re-throw. Players accept course
conditions as part of the game.



Question 10 Kevin arrives at the tee but realizes he has 16 discs in his bag — two over the
PDGA limit of 14. A competitor notices before Kevin tees off. What happens?

, A. Kevin must discard two discs and receives a two-stroke penalty B. Kevin is disqualified
immediately C. Kevin must reduce to 14 discs; no penalty if corrected before the first
throw of the round D. Kevin may play all 16 — there is no PDGA disc limit E. Kevin receives
one warning and must discard before the next hole

RATIONALE: PDGA Rule 813.01: Players may carry any number of discs. There is no PDGA
rule limiting the number of discs a player may carry during a round. This is a common
misconception — there is NO disc limit.



Question 11 Rachel tees off on a par-3 hole and her disc comes to rest on the tee pad of the same
hole — it didn't travel far enough. Where does she play from?

A. She must re-throw from the tee — the disc didn't leave the teeing area B. She plays from
where the disc lies, even if still on the tee pad C. One-stroke penalty and re-throw from the tee
D. She may choose to play from the lie or re-throw without penalty E. The throw is void — she
must re-throw without penalty

RATIONALE: PDGA Rule 802.01: Once a disc is thrown and comes to rest, it must be played
from that lie. There is no rule requiring the disc to leave the teeing area for the throw to count.



Question 12 A player is throwing from a portable tee marker at a temporary hole setup. The
marker shifts slightly when he plants his foot. Does this constitute a violation?

A. No — accidental movement of a tee marker during play is not a violation B. Yes —
all tee markers must remain fixed during play C. The throw must be retaken as the tee boundary
changed D. A referee must reset the marker before the throw E. Yes — one-stroke penalty for
disturbing course equipment

RATIONALE: PDGA Rules: Accidental movement of course equipment (including tee
markers) by a player does not constitute a penalty unless the player deliberately moves the
marker for advantage.



Question 13 Diana is playing a tournament hole where the tee is on a hill. She discovers that
standing in the designated teeing area makes it physically impossible to throw safely due to a tree
directly overhead. What is her option?

A. Skip the hole without penalty B. Throw from the nearest open area without penalty C.
She must throw from the designated teeing area — course challenges do not grant relief D.