Introductory

Guide

Golf is a simple game with 34 rules, however the aim of the game is to play the ball from the teeing ground into the hole in as few strokes as possible. Remember, before you start playing on any course, check the following:

• What colour tee markers are being used
• Is there placing on the fairways
• Is there any additional Ground Under Repair (GUR)
• Are the Local Rules for the course on the back of the score card

Most Asked Questions By Beginners

Who tees off first?

On the first hole the order is decided by the drawsheet, but in the absence of a draw decide by lot e.g. Toss a coin. Thereafter, whoever wins the previous hole has the honor. If the hole is halved, the order remains the same. You may play your tee shot up to two club lengths back from the tee markers.

If my ball looks like it may be lost or Out of Bounds from my tee shot, what do I do?

Wait until your playing partners have teed off and you play another ball which you must call your provisional ball. If you find your original ball and it is in play, continue with it under no penalty. If it is lost or Out of Bounds your provisional ball becomes the ball in play and you have incurred a 1 stroke and distance penalty e.g. if it was your first stroke that went Out of Bounds you will now have played 3.

If the ball I hit goes into a water hazard, what can I do?

Firstly, if you want to, you may play the ball as it lies in the hazard, but you must not ground your club when addressing the ball.

If the hazard has yellow stakes, it is a water hazard and you may drop a ball for a penalty of 1 stroke behind the hazard keeping the point where it entered in a straight line between where you drop the ball and the flag. You may also go back to the spot where you hit the ball into the hazard and drop a ball under a penalty of 1 stroke. If the ball was hit from the tee, you may re-tee your ball.

If the stakes are red it is lateral water hazard, and you may do either of the above or drop a ball within two club lengths of the point where it entered the hazard but not nearer the hole. You may also follow the same procedure but on the opposite side of the hazard, equidistant from the hole, in both cases under the penalty of 1 stroke.

You must have reasonable evidence that your ball entered the hazard to obtain relief as explained above, otherwise your ball must be deemed lost.

If my ball is resting against a tree or against a boundary fence, what do I do?

You must play the ball as it lies or declare it unplayable, taking a drop within two clublengths, not nearer the hole, for a penalty of 1 stroke.

My ball finishes on a path alongside an immovable obstruction within the boundaries of the course such as a small shelter by the tee block. How do I proceed?

Find the nearest point, not nearer the hole, where the immovable obstruction no longer interferes with your swing or stance. You may now drop your ball within 1 club length of this point without penalty.

What is placing?

To help protect the course you are allowed to mark and then move your ball to a better lie on closely mown areas of the course (fairways). You must check your Local Rules to find out how far you can move the ball (usually 15 cm), and whether the placing only applies on the fairway of the hole that you are placing at the time. No penalty is incurred by doing this.

If my ball is behind a tree and I can’t see the hole, can I move it?

No, the ball must be played as it lies unless you wish to claim the lie as unplayable and drop within two club lengths under a penalty of 1 stroke.

What if my ball is sitting by a tree under two club lengths in height and the tree interferes with my swing or stance?

Check your Local Rules, as you may be entitled to a free drop.

If my ball lies in a divot mark on the fairway but there is no placing allowed in the Local Rules, do I get relief?

No, you must play the ball as it lies.

My ball is buried in long grass just off the fairway and I can’t hit it properly. What should I do?

You must either play the ball as it lies or deem it unplayable, taking a drop within two club lengths not nearer the hole, or go back as far as you wish keeping the spot where it lay and the flag in a direct line with where you played your previous stroke and drop the ball, all under a penalty of 1 stroke.

Who plays first other than on the teeing ground?

It should always be the person who is furthest from the hole. In match play, if you play out of turn, your opponent can ask you to cancel the stroke and replay it in the correct order

My ball lies in an abnormal ground condition e.g. Casual water, GUR, a hole made by a borrowing animal. Do I get relief?

Find the nearest point of relief for your swing and stance and drop within 1 club length of this point, not nearer the hole, under no penalty.

What do I do if I lose my ball while playing a hole?

Go back to the spot where you played the previous stroke from, drop another ball and add a penalty stroke to your score. If the ball was lost from a shot off the tee, you may tee the new ball up anywhere within the teeing ground.

What do I do if I play a stroke or several strokes with a ball that is not mine?

If you play any strokes with a wrong ball anywhere on the course other than in a hazard, you are penalised two strokes in stroke play and loss of hole in the match play. You are not penalised for playing a wrong ball in a hazard.

My ball is at rest on the green and is moved by another ball, which lands on the green and collides with mine. What do I do?

Your ball must be replaced on the spot where it sat at rest.

In a stroke-play round my ball is at rest on the putting green and is hit by my fellow competitor’s ball when he putts it. Is anyone penalised?

Your fellow competitor is penalised two strokes and you must replace your ball. What if my ball is moved like this during match play? There is no penalty in match play and your ball is once again replaced.

Where must I place my marker in relation to the ball when I mark it on the putting green?

Within the Rules you can place it in front, to the side or to the rear of the ball but it is advised to place it behind the ball, as you are less likely to then replace the ball in the wrong place.

Can I putt with the flag in?

If the ball strikes the flag stick or the person attending it when the ball has been played from on the green, in match play you lose the hole and in stroke play you incur a two stroke penalty.

What are the hazards of a golf course?

Hazards include bunkers, water hazards and lateral water hazards. You must not press down on your club behind the ball prior to hitting it in any of these circumstances.

If I swing at the ball and miss does that count as a shot?

Yes it does because you intended to hit the ball. A miss like this is sometimes called a whisky shot, and results in the player shouting a drink for their playing partners after the game.

If playing a nine hole golf course, who has the right of way on the 10^thtee if other players are starting?

Usually the players who are continuing their round, although a starter may be available to filter groups into the field.

If I hit my ball onto the fairway of another hole what should I do?

Check to see if players are waiting to hit in your direction, and let them do so. Should they wave you to play on, do so.

Summary

Please note that these are only an introductory guide to the Rules. To understand the game more fully you should read the Rules of Golf.

When taking any relief, please advise your opponent or marker first.

Get into the habit of marking your ball on the putting green prior to being asked.

At all times stay silent and still while players are playing their shots, and try to stay completely out of their line of site.