Playing By The Rules Of Golf And Why Ignorance Will Get You Nowhere

Want to take this game of golf seriously? Then you have to learn a few basic rules.

I’m talking about the official rules of golf published by the USGA (United States Golf Association), not the local rules of a particular golf course. Those local rules are important too, but they often change depending on the season, the weather or the popularity of the golf course.

Some rules may seem self-evident, but it’s important to be clear, and it’s each golfer’s responsibility to learn the basics. If you are playing in a tournament there are usually Marshalls on the course you can ask if you have a question about a certain rule. Tournament officials are trained to handle most any situation, and their ruling should be followed. But even if you are out playing a friendly round of golf with your pals, it’s important to follow the rules of golf. It keeps the game moving and your scores honest, especially if you submitting your score to the GHIN system for your handicap.

A little history….

The official rules of golf once numbered only 13! Back in 1744 they were drawn up by the Honorable Company of Edinburg Golfers in Scotland, the first officially organized golf society. Eleven years later, in 1754, they were adopted by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews. Further revisions in 1755 and 1809 added to those original rules and make up the essential rules we use today.

I’ve listed a few here with definitions—the ones I encounter most frequently during a round of golf. (These rules are for stroke play. Match play is a different kettle of fish.)

First here is the official definition for the game of golf.

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

The Ball – You get to play one golf ball during a round of golf. (If you have questions about a rule while playing a hole, play a second ball on that hole, keeping score for both, and resolve the question with the club pro when you return to the club house at the end of your round.)

The Stroke – a stroke is a forward movement of the club made with the intention of striking the ball. There has to be a backswing (no matter how short) and a forward swing to have that action of the club called a stroke. You can voluntarily stop your forward swing mid-way, and it won’t count (no backswing) and the ball can drop off the tee by means of the wind (does not count as a stroke as there was no intention to hit the ball.

Honors – this is a rule that counts in tournaments. Whoever won the previous hole has the “honor” and is supposed to play first off the next tee. In a friendly round of golf honors are generally ignored, but you never know if someone you are playing with takes this rule seriously, so check before charging up to the tee box first.

Hazards and Bunkers – There are three main hazards you might encounter on the golf course.

The first is a water hazard such as a pond, lake, stream, or swamp that is marked by yellow lines or stakes that you have to get over on your way to the green. If you happen to hit your ball into a yellow staked water hazard you must drop a ball along the line between the hole and the point at which your ball entered the hazard. You can go back as far as you like, but you must stay on that line, and you have to add one penalty stroke to your score.

The second is a lateral water hazard. This would be a lake or stream that runs beside the fairway. It is marked by red stakes. You don’t have to hit over it to get to the hole, but you might hit into it if you hit a slice or hook your ball off line. If your ball goes into a lateral hazard you can drop a new ball within two club lengths of the hazard, no nearer the hole. Depending on the circumstances you can drop your ball on either side of the hazard if that gives you a better lie. For example if there is a narrow stream running along the right edge of the fairway and you hit into it, you can drop your ball on either side of the stream, as long as it is no closer to the hole. You must take a one stroke penalty.

(Note If your ball lands within the bounds of a water hazard but you still think you can play it, you do not have to take a penalty stroke. However, your club cannot touch the ground in a hazard.)

Bunker – There is no penalty if your ball lands in a sand bunker or fairway trap, but you have to hit out of it. You may not ground your club in the bunker before you take your stroke.

Out of Bounds – Most out-of-bounds markers are white. If you hit your ball out of bounds you must bring the ball back to the spot from which you hit it, and try again, taking a one stroke penalty. If the ball lies directly on the boundary line, and you can play it, there is no penalty stroke. The player is the only one to make this declaration. The player is allowed to stand outside the boundary line in order to play a ball that is sitting on or inside the boundary line.

Lost Ball – If you hit your ball into the bushes, woods, trees or even lose it on the fairway (believe it or not, it’s happened to me – I think a gopher took it) you are given up to five minutes to find it. Beyond that time, if you cannot find your ball, you must declare it lost.

If you lose the ball while hitting your tee shot, then it’s smart to hit a provisional ball from the tee. (It’s polite to wait until all the other players have hit before taking your provisional.) Then go and try to find the first ball. If you cannot find it, you must play the provisional and take a one stroke penalty.

If you lose your ball at any other time, you must declare the ball lost, go back to the spot from which you hit the ball and try again, and of course, you need to add a penalty stroke to your score. In either case you must declare to your fellow players that you are hitting a provisional ball. If you later find your first ball before hitting the provisional ball again, you must continue play with the first ball and put the provisional in your pocket. No penalty involved. The killer to this is that the nearly lost ball is probably in a bad spot while the second “provisional” ball is probably sitting pretty in the middle of the fairway. But rules are rules. If you look for your lost ball and find it, you must play it, no matter where it is. (Sometimes it’s not worth looking, but that’s your call.)

Unplayable Lie – If you find your ball is stuck under a bush, nestled in the roots of a tree or wedged between a couple of rocks and you know you can’t hit it without breaking your club or your back, you can declare the ball unplayable. In this case, you have three choices for what to do next.

A. Drop a ball within two club lengths of the unplayable ball at your nearest point of relief, no nearer the hole, and take one penalty stroke.

B. Go back to the spot from which you hit the ball and try again. Take one penalty stroke.

C. Drop behind the point where the ball lay, keeping that point between the hole and the new spot on which the ball is dropped. There is no limit to how far back you can go before dropping the ball. Take one penalty stroke.

One hidden fact: ANY LIE CAN BE DECLARED “UNPLAYABLE” except one in a water hazard, the player being the “sole judge” as to whether the shot is “unplayable.” A one stroke penalty must be taken. Depending on circumstances, declaring a ball “unplayable” might be good strategy if your options leave you a difficult shot over a tree or hazard.

Hitting your partner or his/her equipment – If you inadvertently hit one of your golf foursome, his/her caddie, golf bag or equipment there is no penalty. You can cancel the shot and replay it or play the shot where it lies. But if you hit yourself, your own caddie, or your own equipment, there is a one stroke penalty and you must play the shot as it lies.

In tournament play the rules are slightly different. Your partner in a tournament is considered to be equal to yourself. If you hit your partner, his/her caddie or equipment it’s as if you hit yourself. One stroke penalty and you must play the ball as it lies. Be careful out there!

Playing the Wrong Ball – If you hit the wrong ball while playing stroke play the penalty is two strokes. If you don’t realize your mistake before the next tee, you are disqualified from the game. If you don’t know when you began playing the wrong ball you are automatically disqualified. In most friendly games, the player who hits the wrong ball takes his or her two stroke penalty and keeps on playing. But there are some golfers who are very strict about rules, and if they declare you should be disqualified from the round, then the rules give them that right. Of course, if it happens during a tournament, you have no recourse.

Grounding Your Club In A Hazard – You are not allowed to ground your club in a hazard, whether sand or a lateral water hazard. If you do, it’s a two stroke penalty!

Hitting an unattended flagstick with your putt – If your putt strikes the flag stick while it is in the hole, unattended, you receive a two stroke penalty! Don’t rush your game. Be sure you or your golf partner pull the flag before putting.

Resources you might want to consult about rules:

  11 comments for “Playing By The Rules Of Golf And Why Ignorance Will Get You Nowhere

  1. Jacqui says:

    Could you please tell me if there is a penalty if a player hits his umbrella (attached to his golf buggy) with his club on his follow through after he has hit the ball

    Many thank
    Jacqui

    • Pat Mullaly says:

      As far as I know there is a penalty for hitting your own or your partner’s equipment with your ball. But I don’t think there is a penalty if you hit it with your club. Interesting question. I will pass it on to our golf rules guru and double check with her.

      • Anne Kinsey says:

        after hitting my ball toward the green in the back swing hit the top of my cart will this be a penalty on me. please help.

        • Pat says:

          There is no penalty for hitting your cart with your golf club. However, if your golf Ball hits the cart there is a one stroke penalty.

  2. Marilyn Smith says:

    Is hitting your own umbrella, attached to your golf bag, on your back swing (not having hit the ball yet) deemed to be a penalty under the rules of hitting your own equipment or does it only apply to the ball hitting your equipment?

    • Pat Mullaly says:

      Interesting question Marilyn. As I interpret the rule, a penalty is incurred if your ball hits a piece of your equipment, i.e. your cart, your umbrella, etc… but not if your club does. If the ball hits your own body, you also receive a penalty. Happened to me last season when I was trying to get out of a sand bunker, ball hit the rim of the trap and came back and struck my foot. Got a one stroke penalty for that! Sigh.

  3. Clarissa says:

    Wow only 13 rules in the first official game of golf. That really is something. Now so many other facets have been added to truly make golf an intricate and exciting game.

  4. Catherine says:

    As in every game in life, rules are important. Provided everyone playing agrees to the rules, the standard rules don’t really matter. Check with your partners to see that they agree with the rules you think you are playing by that day. Rules matter in competition. Change it up and keep it interesting.

  5. Pat Mullaly says:

    Dee Dee, I double checked that rule you questioned – and discovered a caveat for when you are playing in a tournament. If you hit your own partner in a tournament it’s as if you hit yourself and there is a penalty. According to the PGA book of rules, it’s a one stroke penalty, not two.

    You can download a Free copy of the book of rules as a pdf file by clicking on the link at the bottom of the page above.

  6. Dee Dee Grevelis says:

    Interesting! In a Ladies Tournament, I was chipping up to the green when my playing partner (already on the green)walked across the green and didn’t see that I taking my shot. My ball hit her shoe. She wasn’t paying attention to me hitting up, yet I was told that I had to take a two stroke penalty. The rule above “Hitting your partner or his/her equipment”, states that there is NO penalty. I was robbed!

    • Pat Mullaly says:

      Dee Dee, I’m not sure if you were robbed. Because you were playing on a team in a tournament, hitting your ball against your own partner might be the same as hitting yourself. It’s an interesting question, which I will research. Will get back to you.

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