Golf can be a complicated game with some rules that may see a bit overly strict and old fashioned. However, many of them are there to aid in the fairness of the game and to make sure everyone is dealt with equally.
Below are some of the most popular rule errors that are made by golfers.
You can also get access to easy to read rules of golf on the R&A website HERE
You can download free rule apps onto your smartphones HERE
Below are some of the most popular rule errors that are made by golfers.
You can also get access to easy to read rules of golf on the R&A website HERE
You can download free rule apps onto your smartphones HERE
RED “LATERAL” HAZARD
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Option 1 - Play it from the hazard
Option 2 –Replay the shot from the original position incurring a stroke and distance penalty
Option 3 - Draw a line from the hole to where the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard and drop anywhere behind that point keeping the point between you and the hole incurring a 1 shot penalty.
Option 4 –go to the point where the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard and drop within 2 club lengths, no nearer the hole, on either side of the hazard incurring a 1 shot penalty.
YELLOW “WATER” HAZARD
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Option 1 –Play it from the hazard
Option 2 –Replay the shot from the original position incurring a stroke and distance penalty
Option 3 – Draw a line from the hole to where the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard and drop anywhere behind that point keeping the point between you and the hole. You would incur a 1 shot penalty
LOST BALL OR OUT OF BOUNDS
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After looking for a maximum of 5 minutes, you must go back to where the shot was originally played from, and replay, incurring a stroke and distance penalty.
UNPLAYABLE LIE
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Option 1 –Take 2 club lengths relief no closer to the hole and assess a 1 stroke penalty
Option 2 –Replay the shot from the original position incurring a stroke and distance penalty
Option 3 –Take the ball back as far as you want keeping the point where the ball lays between you and the hole incurring a 1 shot penalty
IMPROVING YOUR SWING PATH
You cannot bend, break or hack anything growing or fixed if it improves you lie, your stance, or your area of intended swing. The penalty for doing so is loss of hole in match play, or a 2 shot penalty in stroke play.
UNPLAYABLE LIE IN A BUNKER
Option 1 – Take a drop of no more than 2 club lengths no closer to the hole, but still in the bunker incurring a 1 shot penalty
Option 2 – Replay the shot from the original position incurring a stroke and distance penalty
Option 3 – Go back as far as you like in the bunker and drop keeping that spot where your ball laid between you and the hole. This incurs a 1 shot penalty.
REMOVING OBJECTS IN A BUNKER
You may not move or remove any loose impediments in the bunker unless they are foreign to the area.
Example – you may remove a sweet wrapper but not a pine cone or tree branch
CASUAL WATER
Find your nearest point of relief no closer to the hole where neither you or your ball lie in water that can be seen without pressing your feet up and down. You may then drop your ball within 1 club length from that point no nearer to the hole at no penalty
GROUNDING YOUR CLUB IN A HAZARD
Practice swings may be taken inside a hazard as long as you don’t touch the round, sand or water with your club. The top of the grass may be touched during a practice swing. The penalty for grounding your club is loss of the hole in match play or a 2 shot penalty in stroke play.
ACCIDENTALLY MOVING YOUR BALL
There is a 1 stroke penalty for accidentally moving your ball and it must be replaced in its original position before hitting. There is another 1 stroke penalty for hitting the ball from the wrong place if it is not replaced. There is no penalty for accidentally moving the ball when on the tee.
REMOVING LOOSE IMPEDIMENTS
If, in moving loose impediments, you accidently move your ball, you must return the ball to its original position and penalize yourself one stroke
ASKING FOR ADVICE
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It’s against the rules of golf to ask an opponent what club they have hit. The penalty for this breech is loss of hole in match play, or a 2 shot penalty in stroke play.
BALL ON A PATHWAY
You are entitled to free relief:
Step 1 – Determine the “nearest point of relief”. This is the point where the ball would lay affording the player both swing and stance from the cart path.
Step 2 – you are entitled to 1 club length relief from the point where the ball would lie once full relief is taken.
Step 3 – After dropping, the ball may roll up to 2 club lengths no closer to the hole.
HOW TO DROP THE BALL
SEE MORE DETAIL HERE
After determining the nearest point of relief, you may stand outside the drop area, no closer to the hole, and extend your hand to the side dropping the ball from shoulder height. The ball may roll up to 2 club lengths no closer to the hole. If the ball rolls farther than that you must re-drop. If after dropping 2 times the ball continues to roll past 2 club lengths, you must place the ball where it first touched the ground.
REPAIRING THE LINE OF YOUR PUTT
You may repair any ball marks in your line and removed any pebbles or foreign objects in your line, provided you do it with your hand or club. You may not fix spike marks or fan the ground with a towel or cap to remove sand or foreign objects. The penalty for doing so is loss of hole in match play or a 2 shot penalty in stroke play.
HITTING THE WRONG BALL
The penalty for hitting the wrong ball in match play is loss of hole. If both players hit the wrong ball, only the first player to do so would be penalized as that would be the end of the hole.
The penalty for hitting the wrong ball in stroke play for either player is 2 strokes and the original ball must be replayed from its original position
SEE MORE DETAIL HERE
Option 1 - Play it from the hazard
Option 2 –Replay the shot from the original position incurring a stroke and distance penalty
Option 3 - Draw a line from the hole to where the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard and drop anywhere behind that point keeping the point between you and the hole incurring a 1 shot penalty.
Option 4 –go to the point where the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard and drop within 2 club lengths, no nearer the hole, on either side of the hazard incurring a 1 shot penalty.
YELLOW “WATER” HAZARD
SEE MORE DETAIL HERE
Option 1 –Play it from the hazard
Option 2 –Replay the shot from the original position incurring a stroke and distance penalty
Option 3 – Draw a line from the hole to where the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard and drop anywhere behind that point keeping the point between you and the hole. You would incur a 1 shot penalty
LOST BALL OR OUT OF BOUNDS
SEE MORE DETAIL HERE
After looking for a maximum of 5 minutes, you must go back to where the shot was originally played from, and replay, incurring a stroke and distance penalty.
UNPLAYABLE LIE
SEE MORE DETAIL HERE
Option 1 –Take 2 club lengths relief no closer to the hole and assess a 1 stroke penalty
Option 2 –Replay the shot from the original position incurring a stroke and distance penalty
Option 3 –Take the ball back as far as you want keeping the point where the ball lays between you and the hole incurring a 1 shot penalty
IMPROVING YOUR SWING PATH
You cannot bend, break or hack anything growing or fixed if it improves you lie, your stance, or your area of intended swing. The penalty for doing so is loss of hole in match play, or a 2 shot penalty in stroke play.
UNPLAYABLE LIE IN A BUNKER
Option 1 – Take a drop of no more than 2 club lengths no closer to the hole, but still in the bunker incurring a 1 shot penalty
Option 2 – Replay the shot from the original position incurring a stroke and distance penalty
Option 3 – Go back as far as you like in the bunker and drop keeping that spot where your ball laid between you and the hole. This incurs a 1 shot penalty.
REMOVING OBJECTS IN A BUNKER
You may not move or remove any loose impediments in the bunker unless they are foreign to the area.
Example – you may remove a sweet wrapper but not a pine cone or tree branch
CASUAL WATER
Find your nearest point of relief no closer to the hole where neither you or your ball lie in water that can be seen without pressing your feet up and down. You may then drop your ball within 1 club length from that point no nearer to the hole at no penalty
GROUNDING YOUR CLUB IN A HAZARD
Practice swings may be taken inside a hazard as long as you don’t touch the round, sand or water with your club. The top of the grass may be touched during a practice swing. The penalty for grounding your club is loss of the hole in match play or a 2 shot penalty in stroke play.
ACCIDENTALLY MOVING YOUR BALL
There is a 1 stroke penalty for accidentally moving your ball and it must be replaced in its original position before hitting. There is another 1 stroke penalty for hitting the ball from the wrong place if it is not replaced. There is no penalty for accidentally moving the ball when on the tee.
REMOVING LOOSE IMPEDIMENTS
If, in moving loose impediments, you accidently move your ball, you must return the ball to its original position and penalize yourself one stroke
ASKING FOR ADVICE
SEE MORE DETAIL HERE
It’s against the rules of golf to ask an opponent what club they have hit. The penalty for this breech is loss of hole in match play, or a 2 shot penalty in stroke play.
BALL ON A PATHWAY
You are entitled to free relief:
Step 1 – Determine the “nearest point of relief”. This is the point where the ball would lay affording the player both swing and stance from the cart path.
Step 2 – you are entitled to 1 club length relief from the point where the ball would lie once full relief is taken.
Step 3 – After dropping, the ball may roll up to 2 club lengths no closer to the hole.
HOW TO DROP THE BALL
SEE MORE DETAIL HERE
After determining the nearest point of relief, you may stand outside the drop area, no closer to the hole, and extend your hand to the side dropping the ball from shoulder height. The ball may roll up to 2 club lengths no closer to the hole. If the ball rolls farther than that you must re-drop. If after dropping 2 times the ball continues to roll past 2 club lengths, you must place the ball where it first touched the ground.
REPAIRING THE LINE OF YOUR PUTT
You may repair any ball marks in your line and removed any pebbles or foreign objects in your line, provided you do it with your hand or club. You may not fix spike marks or fan the ground with a towel or cap to remove sand or foreign objects. The penalty for doing so is loss of hole in match play or a 2 shot penalty in stroke play.
HITTING THE WRONG BALL
The penalty for hitting the wrong ball in match play is loss of hole. If both players hit the wrong ball, only the first player to do so would be penalized as that would be the end of the hole.
The penalty for hitting the wrong ball in stroke play for either player is 2 strokes and the original ball must be replayed from its original position