Basics Rule on Golf

This is a summary of basic golf rules in brief.  In case of doubt, please refer to the complete rules by The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews and The United States Golf Association.

Rule 1.  The Game

1.1       General

The Game of Golf consists of playing a ball from the teeing ground into the hole by a stroke or successive strokes in accordance with the Rules.

Types of Competition

Stroke Play    The person with the lowest score is the winner.

Match Play    The person who has the highest number of holes won is the winner.

Preparation

No more than 14 clubs are allowed.

Make an identification on your ball.

Rules for Teeing Off

• Play is started at each hole by teeing the ball within the teeing ground, two club-lengths in depth and bounded in the front and on the sides by the outer edges of the tee markers.

• Honor, the privilege of teeing first, is usually decided by lot on the first tee.  After the first hole, the person with the lowest score shoots first.

• If a player accidentally knocks the ball off the tee, it may be teed again without penalty.

• If a player swings at and misses the ball on the tee, the stroke counts.

General Rules

• The ball should be played as it lies, except as otherwise provided in the rules.

• The ball farthest from the hole is played first.

• Any attempt to hit the ball is counted as a stroke,  whether or not the ball is struck.

• When the ball is in play, player may not press or stamp down the ground, or break, bend, or remove anything fixed or growing.

• If, after addressing the ball in play, the ball moves, the penalty is one stroke, and the ball must be replaced.

• Loose impediments, such as fallen leaves, pebbles, worms and insects that interfere in play, maybe moved.  If a ball lies in a hazard, however, loose impediments may not be touched or moved.

• In certain situations, a player may lift or be required to lift a ball and place or drop it.

• Movable obstructions, such as water hoses, rakes, trash containers, and benches that interfere with play, may be moved.

• Immovable obstructions include cart paths, shelters, and sprinkler heads.  Through the green, if the ball lies in or on an immovable obstruction or if the obstruction interferes with the player’s stance or swing, the ball may be lifted and dropped within one club-length of the nearest point of relief without penalty.

• The penalty for playing a wrong ball is two strokes in stroke play and loss of hole in match play.

• You may ask only your caddie, partner, or partner’s caddie for advice.

• The score card should be checked for local rules and interpretations that apply to the course being played.

Rules for the Putting Green

• Taking a stance with either foot touching or astride the line of putt is prohibited.

• The flagstick must be attended or removed from the hole when playing the ball from the putting green.

• When the ball lies on the putting green, it may be marked, lifted and cleaned.

• Sand and loose soil are considered loose impediments on the putting green only.  They may be picked up or brushed aside with the hand or club.

• In stroke play, if a ball played from the putting green strikes a fellow player’s ball (also on the putting green), the penalty is two strokes.  If the fellow player’s ball is moved by the impact, it must be replaced.  In match play, there is no penalty.

• When any part of the ball overhangs the hole, the player, after walking to the hole without delay, may wait ten seconds.  If the ball does not fall into the hole in that time, it is considered to be at rest.

Rules for Hazards

• Hazards are bunkers and water hazards (including lateral water hazards).  The limit of water hazards are usually defined by stakes or lines: yellow for water hazards and red for lateral water hazards.  Marked boundaries (lines and stakes) are within the hazards.

• When the ball lies in a hazard, loose impediments may not be touched or moved.

• In addressing the ball in a hazard, you may not ground the club.

• If the ball is lost in a water hazard or declared impossible to play, the player may choose one of these options:

• Drop a ball under penalty of one stroke at the spot from which the original ball was played.

• Drop a ball under penalty of one stroke any distance behind the hazard, keeping the point at which the ball last crossed the hazard margin between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped.

• If the ball is lost in a lateral water hazard or declared impossible to play, the player may choose one of these options:

• Drop a ball under penalty of one stroke at the spot from which the original ball was played.

• Drop a ball under penalty of one stroke any distance behind the hazard, keeping the point at which the ball last crossed the hazard margin between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped.

• Under penalty of one stroke, drop a ball within two club-lengths of where the ball last crossed the margin on the hazard or within two club-lengths of a point equidistant from the hole on the opposite margin of the hazard.

Out of Bounds (O.B.)

• A ball is out of bounds when all of it lies beyond the inside points of the out-of-bounds stakes or fence or all of the ball lies on or beyond a line chalked to indicate out of bounds.

• The penalty for hitting a ball out of bounds is one stroke, and the player loses the distance of the shot.  The player plays again from where the original ball was played and adds one penalty stroke.

Lost Ball

• A player is allowed five minutes to search for a ball.  After that time, the ball is considered lost. 

• The penalty for a ball lost outside of a water hazard is one stroke and loss of distance.

Golf Etiquette

Etiquette is probably more important in golf than in any other sports mainly due to the intense concentration required when playing a shot.  Etiquette is closely linked with safety.

Dress Code

Proper golf apparel is required on every golf course.  Jeans and T-shirts with no collar are not allowed on golf course and some driving range.  Golf shoes with soft spike are required at most of golf courses nowadays.

Creating Quiet Atmosphere

• Remain quiet when a player is either preparing to play or is playing a shot.

• Stand well out of way and position yourself where you will not distract the player taking his shot.

• Be careful not to disturb players outside your group.

On Fairways

• No player should play until the players in front are out of range.

• On the fairway, never be ahead of the striker and keep a reasonable distance.

• Shout “FORE” loudly if you think your ball might hit other players. 

• Replace all divots and press them firmly in place.  Avoid taking divots with practice swing. 

• Keep all carts well away from the greens and aprons and off the teeing grounds.

On the Putting Green

• Take great care even when you are just walking on them

• Use proper marker to mark ball and place it directly behind the ball

• When removing the pin from the hole, reach for it at arm’s length

• When collecting the ball from the hole, stand as far from it as possible

• Always stand out of your opponent’s line of vision and keep as still and quiet as possible

• Before leaving a green, repair the ball pitch-mark by using a proper pitchfork to lift the buried turf carefully, then level off the damaged area by tapping lightly over it with the sole of your putter.

In the Bunker

• Leave your golf bag or cart well outside the edge of the bunker. 

• Enter the bunker at the lowest bank and take the shortest route to the ball.

• On leaving the bunker, rake or in some manner smooth out all footprints and marks.

Respect for Others

Slow play can cause frustration in golf.  When one player in a group loses his ball and his partners go to help him find it , they should call the match waiting behind through.  Tradition has always given a two-ball match priority over a threesome or four-ball game.  It is also reasonable to expect players whose match is losing ground on the games ahead by more than a hole, to call through those waiting behind.