Basic Rules Of Golf

In this post, we will discuss the basic rules of golf. We will also discuss the importance of using at least 150 words when writing an introduction for a golf blog post.

Excess Baggage

Before you begin, make sure you have the appropriate number of clubs. If you have more than 14 clubs, you will be penalized. In a matchplay competition, you will have to deduct one hole for every hole played with an extra club, up to a maximum of two holes. In a strokeplay event, you are penalized two strokes for each hole played with the extra clubs.

Playing Out Of Turn

In a strokeplay event, if you play out of turn, there is no penalty, but it is poor etiquette. However, if you do so in a matchplay event, your opponent can demand that you play the stroke again.

Outer Limits

If you play from outside the area, the penalty varies, depending on the type of game.

Accidental Nudge

If you accidentally nudge the ball off the tee with the clubhead, there is no penalty. You simply place the ball back on the tee and start again.

Trouble Off The Tee

If you lose your ball off the tee, or hit your tee shot out-of-bounds, follow the illustrated instructions on the right to work out the correct procedure to follow and the appropriate penalty to add to your score.

Striking The Ball

A stroke is a forward motion of the club with the intention of striking at and moving the ball. Remember this description when considering what to do, for example, if you play an air shot. A legal strike of the ball also requires a backswing: you cannot scoop or push a ball toward the target.

Bunkers

To avoid incurring a one-shot penalty, it is important to hover the clubhead above the surface when playing sand golf.There are, however, finer points to consider with bunker play. If the clubhead touches the sand in your backswing, you may be penalized as you would be at address.

Penalty Drop

When you face an unplayable lie, opt for a penalty drop. First, signal your intentions to one of your playing partners or the opponent.When you make the drop, stand upright with your arm extended in front of you and let the ball fall out of your hand and drop to the ground.If the ball comes to rest nearer the hole, drop again. If this happens again, place the ball on any lie, choosing a position within two club-lengths of the original spot.

Free drop

You can make a free drop (\u201cfree relief\u201d), in cases where, for example, the ground is damaged or there are immovable obstructions. But although a free drop does not incur a penalty, you are allowed a relief of only one club-length.

Playing The Wrong Ball

It is against the rules to play a stroke with a ball that is not your own. In matchplay, the penalty is the loss of the hole, while in strokeplay, you receive a two-shot penalty and must take your next shot from where you played the wrong ball.If you fail to comply with the rules, you will be disqualified from the competition.

Water Hazard

There are two types of hazards on a golf course: water hazards (marked with a yellow stake or a yellow painted line) and lateral water hazards (indicated by red stakes or a red painted line).Whenever your ball finishes in water, identify which of the two hazards you are dealing with, since the procedures for each vary slightly.You may play the ball in the water – without incurring a penalty. But as you address the ball, the club must not touch the water.A safer option is to drop the ball on an imaginary line running from the target through the point at which your ball first crossed the edge of the hazard. However, this incurs a one-stroke penalty.You may take a drop of two club-lengths from the spot where the ball first crossed the water’s edge. Do not give yourself a closer lie to the hole.If you hit the ball in the water hazard, you can take a drop of water from where the ball first crossed the water edge. This is called a lateral water hazard. You cannot give yourself a closer lie to the hole.If the first option is not practical, you may drop a ball as described in the step above, except on the other side of the hazard.

What you can do on the green

If you want to clean your ball before putting, mark it by placing a coin or ball-marker on the back of the ball before lifting it away. You can replace a damaged ball with a new one, provided your opponent agrees.If your ball-marker interferes with the line of your opponent’s putt, use your putterhead to measure as far to the side as is necessary and remark. Put the marker back before you replace the ball.

What you can’t do on the green

Remember to not touch the green unless you are brushing aside loose impediments, repairing a pitch mark, or measuring distance to determine whose putt should be played first.Please avoid testing the putting surface by rolling a ball along the green. Avoid hitting your putt while another ball is in motion. And, please avoid brushing aside dew from the putt-line.

Flagstick Misdemeanors

If you are far from the hole, and you want to ensure you can see where the hole is, it’s best to have the flagstick attended (so you can see where the hole is). The flag must be pulled out before your ball goes in the hole. If you remove the flagstick, keep it out of the way, as there is a two-stroke penalty if it is hit.

Moving The Marker

If you are intending to putt and your marker is on or near the line of another player’s putt, you should move it. The procedure outlined below will show you the correct way to do this.

Position the club

To move your ball-marker away, place the toe of your putterhead so that it is next to the marker.

Move the marker

Position the marker behind the heel of the putterhead. Move several putterhead lengths away if needed.

Casual water

If your ball lands in casual water\u2014a temporary accumulation of water\u2014you are allowed to play the ball as it lies.This is a free-drop scenario, and whenever possible, identify the original ball position, mark the nearest point of relief with a tee, and drop within one club-length of the tee in any direction.If the water is in a bunker, identify a dry spot on which to drop the ball. If the bunker is waterlogged, either drop the ball into the shallowest area or drop it outside the bunker and incur a one-stroke penalty.

Ground under repair

If a ball is played on the ground under repair, the player can declare it “ground under repair” and play from the spot where the ball first touched the ground. If the ball lands inside the ground under repair, the player can measure one club-length from the point where the ball is no longer an interference, and take their drop.

Plugged ball

If a ball plugs in its own pitch mark on a mown area of grass, you are allowed a free drop. Mark the ball position, clean it, and drop it as close as possible to where it became plugged. You are not permitted a free drop in the rough.

Loose impediments

If the object is not growing and is not solidly embedded in the ground, you can move it without penalty. But if the object moves as you clear it away, you will be penalized one shot. You can’t move loose impediments in a hazard.You can move stones from around the ball in a bunker, as long as they are not on the green. Sand and loose soil are impediments if found on the green, but not off of it.

Immovable obstructions

If you feel that an obstruction is interfering with your stance or swing, you are entitled to free relief. You are not allowed relief if the obstruction is in the flightpath of your next shot.

Movable obstructions

If your ball comes to rest touching any empty cans or a bunker rake, you may move the obstruction. Mark the ball position with a tee.

Ball in motion

If your ball is deflected while it is in motion, the correct procedure varies according to the cause of the deflfection. If your ball hits something natural, such as a tree, play the ball from where it comes to rest. The same is true if your ball hits an \u201coutside agency,\u201d such as a mower.If an animal intercepts your ball while it is in motion, you must replace it on the spot from where it was first taken. If your moving ball hits one at rest, you must play your ball from wherever it finishes. If it happens on the green, you incur a penalty.

Stationary ball deflected

If your ball, while at rest, is moved by an outside agency, such as an animal, you may replace the ball as close as possible to the spot from where it was moved (there is no penalty).If the ball disappears, replace it with a new ball and continue playing without penalty.If a ball is moved by you, your caddie, partner, or any piece of equipment belonging to you or your partner, there is a one-stroke penalty. You must replace the ball in its original position.You can use the \u00a0 character to produce a space.This paragraph is not a text block.