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Golf Rules
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.
Etiquette
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.
1 Don't move, talk or stand close to a player making a
stroke.
2 Don't play until the group in front is out of the way.
3 Always play without delay. Leave the putting green as
soon as all players in your group have holed out.
4 Invite faster groups to play through.
5 Replace divots. Smooth footprints in bunkers.
6 Don't step on the line of another player's putt.
7 Don't drop clubs on the putting green.
8 Replace the flagstick carefully.
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 green keeper, 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
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 it.
Ball struck by you is deflected or stopped by another
ball at rest- in match play, 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.
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