Teeing off is not a crime, China's Communist Party has ruled, saying that officials can play golf as long as they pay out of their own pockets.
Playing golf itself is not a wrongdoing, the Discipline Inspection and Supervision News, the flagship newspaper of the ruling Communist Party's Central Commission for Disciplinary Inspection, said.
The article said, "There is no right or wrong about playing golf, as it's just a sport."
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However, officials will be subject to punishment if they accept membership cards illicitly, including through sports clubs, resorts or entertainment firms.
Other activities like using public money to play golf, or playing during office hours, also violate discipline rules, Si Xiaojian, deputy director of the investigation department of the anti-graft commission in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, said.
The paper cited the example of Lin Chunsong, former deputy mayor of Wuyishan, Fujian province, who accepted a prepaid golf card worth nearly 14,000 yuan (USD 2,170) from people whose interests were under his sphere of influence, the China Daily reported.
"Can officials play golf while the nation steps up efforts to clamp down on corruption and promote austerity?" the China Daily asked. "The answer is yes - if they pay out of their own pockets."
A nationwide campaign against corruption and the "eight point rules", usually referred to as austerity rules, were introduced in December 2012.
The rules aim to reduce bureaucracy, extravagance and undesirable work practices among Communist Party members.
With clauses focusing on various forms of corruption, such as banquets at public expense, unnecessary travel and meetings and unauthorised use of official cars, the rules have played a significant role in the anti-corruption campaign.
China's burgeoning golfing community is one of many to have been hit by President Xi Jinping's bid to eradicate corruption.
Since he came to power some of the party's most powerful figures have been thrown into jail including former security chief Zhou Yongkang and some of the most senior members of the powerful People's Liberation Army.
