Golf is a game in which a ball is struck with a club from a prepared area,
know as the "teeing ground", across fairway
and rough to a second prepared area, which has a hole in it, known as the
"putting green". The object of the game is to complete what is known as a hole
by playing a ball from the teeing ground into the hole on the putting green in
the fewest possible number of strokes. A "round of golf" consists of playing 18
such holes. There are basically two forms of play, one which is decided by holes
won and lost (match play) and the other which is decided by the total number of
strokes taken to complete the round (stroke play). There are three important
principles to remember when playing golf:
"Play the
course as you find it. Play the ball as it lies. And if you can't do either, do
what's fair."
To do what's fair you need to know the Rules. The
following is a summary of the Rules of Golf, simplified where possible.
Etiquette covers both courtesy and priority on the course as well as care of the course. Whilst the following points are not rules as such they are an important part of the game.
The Definitions section of the Rules of Golf contains over forty Definitions
which form the foundation around which the Rules of play are written. A good
knowledge of the defined terms will help in the correct application of the
Rules. These include:
Teeing Ground - the starting place for the hole, defined by two tee-markers.
Through the Green - the whole area of the golf course except the teeing ground and
putting green of the hole being played and all hazards.
Hazards - any bunker or water hazard.
Putting Green - an area specially
prepared for putting and containing a 4.25 inch diameter hole.
Out of Bounds - ground on which play is prohibited i.e. not
part of the course. A ball is out of bounds when all of it lies out of bounds.
Loose Impediments - natural objects
such as stones, leaves and twigs provided they are not fixed or growing, are not
solidly embedded and are not sticking to the ball.
Obstructions - any man-made object, except:
(i) objects
defining out of bounds;
(ii) any part of an immovable man-made object which
is out of bounds; and
(iii) any construction declared by the Committee in the
Local Rules to be an integral part of the course.
Casual Water - any temporary accumulation of water on the
course which is visible before or after the player takes his stance (dew and
frost are not casual water).
Ground Under Repair - any portion of the course so marked by the Committee. Also
includes material piled for removal and a hole made by a greenkeeper, even if
not so marked.
General Points
Before commencing your
round:
(i) Read the Local Rules on the score card.
(ii) Put an
identification mark on your ball. Many golfers play the same brand of ball and
if you can't identify your ball, it's lost.
(iii) Count your clubs. You are
allowed a maximum of 14 clubs.
During the round, don't ask for "advice"
from anyone except your partner or caddie. Don't give advice to anyone except
your partner.
During a hole you may not play a practice
stroke.
Teeing Off
Tee off between and
not in front of the tee-markers. You may tee off up to two club-lengths behind
the front line of the tee-markers.
Teeing off outside this area.
In
match play there is no penalty but your opponent may ask you to replay your
stroke; in stroke play you incur a two-stroke penalty and must then play from
within the proper area.
Playing the Ball
Play the ball as it lies. Don't improve your lie, the area of
your intended swing or your line of play by moving, bending or breaking anything
fixed or growing except in fairly taking your stance or making your swing. Don't
press anything down or build a stance.
If your ball lies in a bunker or a
water hazard don't touch the ground in the bunker, or the ground or water in the
water hazard, before your downswing.
The ball must be fairly struck, not
pushed or spooned.
Playing a wrong ball (except in a hazard)
In match
play you lose the hole; in stroke play you incur a two-stroke penalty and you
must then play the correct ball.
On the Putting Green
You may repair ball marks and old hole plugs on the line of
your putt but not any other damage, including spike marks.
You may mark,
lift and clean your ball on the putting green. Always replace it on the exact
spot.
Don't test the putting surface by scraping it or rolling a ball
over it.
Ball played from putting green strikes flagstick
In match
play you lose the hole; in stroke play you incur a two-stroke
penalty.
Ball at Rest Moved
If your
ball is at rest and it is moved by you, your partner or your caddie, except as
permitted by the Rules, or if it moves after you have addressed it, add a
penalty stroke and replace your ball.
If your ball is at rest and is
moved by someone else or another ball, replace it without penalty to
you.
Ball in Motion Deflected or
Stopped
Ball struck by you is deflected or stopped by you, your
partner or your caddie
In match play you lose the hole; in stroke play you
incur a two-stroke penalty and the ball is played as it lies.
Ball struck
by you is deflected or stopped by someone else
Play your ball as it lies
without penalty, except
(a) in match play, if an opponent or his caddie
deflects the ball you have an option to replay the stroke or
(b) in stroke
play, if the ball is deflected after a stroke from on the putting green, you
must replay.
Ball struck by you is deflected or stopped by another ball
at rest
No penalty and the ball is played as it lies except in stroke play
you incur a two-stroke penalty if your ball and the other ball were on the
putting green before you played.
Lifting, Dropping and Placing the Ball
If a ball to be lifted is to be replaced, its
position must be marked. If a ball is to be dropped or placed in any other
position (e.g. taking relief from GUR, etc.) it is recommended that the ball's
original position be marked.
When dropping, stand erect, hold the ball at
shoulder height and arm's length and drop it. If a dropped ball strikes you or
your partner, caddie or equipment, it must be re-dropped without
penalty.
There are eight instances where a dropped ball rolls to such a
position that it must be re-dropped - see Rule 20-2c
Ball Interfering with or Assisting Play
You may lift
your ball if it might assist any other player.
You may have any ball
lifted if it might interfere with your play or assist any other
player.
Loose Impediments
You may move
a loose impediment unless it and your ball are in a hazard. However, if you have
touched a loose impediment within one club-length of your ball and your ball
moves, the ball must be replaced and (unless your ball was on the putting green)
you incur a penalty stroke.
Obstructions
Check the Local Rules on the score card
for guidance on immovable obstructions (e.g. surfaced roads and paths
etc).
Movable obstructions (e.g. rakes, tin cans etc.) anywhere on the
course may be moved. If the ball moves it must be replaced without
penalty.
If an immovable obstruction (e.g. a water fountain) interferes
with your stance or swing, you may drop the ball within one club-length of the
nearest point of relief not nearer the hole. There is no relief for intervention
on your line of play unless your ball and the obstruction are on the putting
green.
Casual Water, Ground Under Repair etc.
If your ball is in casual water, ground under repair or a
hole or cast made by a burrowing animal (e.g. a rabbit), you may drop without
penalty within one club-length of the nearest point of relief not near the
hole.
Water Hazards
Check the Local
Rules on the score card to establish whether the sea, lake, river etc. is a
'water hazard' or a 'lateral water hazard'.
Ball in water hazard:
Play
the ball as it lies or, under penalty of one stroke,
(a) drop any distance
behind the water hazard keeping a straight line between the hole, the point
where the ball crossed the margin of the water hazard and the spot on which the
ball is dropped or
(b) play again from where you hit the ball into the
hazard.
Ball in lateral water hazard:
In addition to the options for a
ball in a water hazard (see above), under penalty of one stroke, you may drop
within two club-lengths of
(a) the point where the ball crossed the margin of
the hazard or
(b) a point on the opposite side of the hazard equidistant from
the hole.
Ball Lost or Out of
Bounds
Check the Local Rules on the score card to identify the
boundaries of the course.
If your ball is lost outside a water hazard or
out of bounds you must play another ball from the spot where the last shot was
played under penalty of one stroke i.e. stroke and distance. You are allowed 5
minutes to search for a ball, after which if it is not found or identified it is
lost.
If, after playing a shot, you think your ball may be lost outside a
water hazard or out of bounds you may play a 'provisional ball'. You must state
that it is a provisional ball and play it before you go forward to search for
the original ball. If the original ball is lost or out of bounds you must
continue with the provisional ball under penalty of one stroke. If the original
ball is not lost or out of bounds, you must continue play of the hole with it
and the provisional ball must be abandoned.
Ball Unplayable
If you believe your ball is unplayable outside a water
hazard (and you are the sole judge), you may under penalty of one stroke,
(a)
drop within two club-lengths of where the ball lies not nearer the hole,
(b)
drop any distance behind the point where the ball lay keeping a straight line
between the hole, the point where the ball lay and the spot on which the ball is
dropped, or
(c) replay the shot.
If your ball is in a bunker you may
proceed under (a), (b) or (c). However, if you elect to proceed under (a) or (b)
you must drop in the bunker.
A good score may be spoiled, or a match lost, due to a penalty incurred
through ignorance or confusion concerning the Rules. A sound knowledge of the
above summary should aid the golfer in tackling a "Rule problem". Nevertheless,
the complete Rules of Golf as approved by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St.
Andrews and the United States Golf Association, should be consulted where any
doubt arises. These complete Rules of Golf can be accessed by clicking on the
Rules of Golf link at the top of this page.