Basic Rues of Golf

Basic Rules Of Golf To Get You Going


There are 34 rules to golf, some with long, drawn-out explanations. Here are some of the basic ones to know so you can get started playing right away.

• You are allowed to carry up to 14 clubs of any combination.  More than that will cost you 2 strokes. 
• You must play your ball as it lies and you cannot improve the lie.
• If you lose your ball, play another one from where the original was played and add a stroke.
• If you think you won't be able to find your ball, you may play a provisional one up to where you think the original one was lost.  If the first one is lost, continue with the provisional.  If it is found, you must play the original.
• If you play the wrong ball in stroke play, you add on 2 strokes for each shot you play with that wrong ball.  In match play, you lose the hole. (see type of games).
• Casual water and ground under repair allows a free drop within 1 club length of the nearest point of relief.
• You are not allowed to ground your club or touch your hand in a bunker or water hazard.   Doing so will cost you 2 strokes.  You also cannot move any loose impediments in a bunker (leaves, twigs, stones).  
• Obstructions can be moved if they are man-made, without any penalty.  If the obstruction can't be moved, you may place the ball at the nearest point of relief, no nearer the hole.  If the obstruction is in a bunker your point of relief must be taken in the bunker. Some things considered obstructions are cart paths, sprinker heads, electrical boxes, power lines, paved roads.
• If dirt or mud gets on the golf ball, it cannot be picked up to be cleaned other than on the putting green.  Once on the green, the ball should be marked with a ball marker before being picked up so that the ball can be replaced in the same spot.
• If an animal or bird (or an outside agency) moves or picks up your ball, it must be replaced to its original position.
• If the ball cannot be found, a new ball replaces it in its original position.
• If your ball strikes another ball that's within the fairway, bunker, or hazard, no penalty occurs and the ball that was moved is placed in its original position.   
• If your ball strikes another ball while on the putting green, a 2 stroke penalty occurs to the person putting his/her ball.
• White stakes usually mark the out of bounds on a golf course.  You may hit the ball if it's resting in bounds even though you stand out of bounds.  Out of bounds occurs when the entire ball is beyond the marked stakes.  Out of bounds ball incurs 1 penalty stroke.
• Yellow stakes or lines indicate a water hazard.  Red stakes or lines indicate a lateral water hazard.