Rules? Where, What and How Many.
Golf has been described as complicated, but its just like riding a bike once you learn you never forget
INTRODUCTION
Golf is a game in which a ball is struck with a club from a prepared area,
known 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.
DEFINITIONS
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 41/2 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:
(1) objects defining out of bounds
(2) any part of an immovable man-made object which is out of bounds; and
(3) 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.
THE RULES OF PLAY
GENERAL POINTS
Before commencing your round:
(1) Read the Local Rules on the score card.
(2) 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.
(3) 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 gre·en. 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 wihout 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 it.
Ball struck by you is deflected or stopped by another ball at rest-
in matchplay, 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 lifted ball 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 Rules of Golf 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 nearer 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 watery 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 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) and (c). However, if you elect to proceed under (a) or (b) you must drop
in the bunker.
CONCLUSION
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 "Rules 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.