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BasicGolfRules PDF
BasicGolfRules PDF
TEE
1. Be ready
– Be at the first tee 10 minutes before your tee time
3. Teeing ground
- Extends from the markers to 2 club-lengths behind (not in front)
- Ball must be teed up in this area (ball is outside if entire ball is outside)
- Stance can be outside
2 stroke penalty for hitting from outside this area
5. Air shot
- Every stroke counts, even if you miss the ball. If intended as swing – it counts.
(This applies everywhere on the course)
- After an air shot on tee, the ball is in play and can no longer be touched
6. Provisional ball
- If you suspect that you will not be able to find ball or if it has landed out of bounds,
you should play a provisional
- Announce that it is provisional – tee it up, play it, until you reach the approximate
position where you believe original ball lies
If you do not explicitly announce the second ball as provisional it automatically
becomes the new ball with a 1 stroke penalty (you are lying 2 after your first shot with
the undeclared provisional)
1
FAIRWAY
1. Immovable impediments
- You can NOT break anything off or bend anything out of the way
- You need to play the ball as it lies
2 stroke penalty
2. Loose impediments
- Leaves, twigs, stones, grass cuttings or other natural objects
- CAN be removed without penalty (sand and loose soil can only be removed on the
green)
- If ball moves as a result, put it back 1 stroke penalty
3. Movable obstructions
- Bottles, cans, signs, stakes (yellow, red, blue)
- CAN be removed without penalty
- If ball moves as a result, put it back without penalty
- Removing out of bounds posts never permitted 2 stroke penalty
4. Immovable obstructions
- Roads, paths with an artificial surface or other fixed, artificial objects
- Free relief IF they interfere with the ball’s lie, your stance, or your swing
(NO relief if they only interfere with the line of play)
- To take relief: nearest point where you can take stance or swing without
interference, and drop within 1 club-length (no nearer the hole)
6. Unplayable Lie
- If a ball is in an extremely bad position, the player can declare an unplayable lie
- If you hit a provisional, you must use your original ball if found even if unplayable
lie
OPTIONS
1. Drop with 2 club-lengths, (no nearer the hole) 1 stroke penalty
2. Re hit/tee from last stroke 1 stroke penalty and distance
3. Go back as far as desired on the line from the ball to the flag 1 stroke penalty and
distance
2
8. Out of bounds - 1 stroke penalty and distance
- White stakes (out of bounds if entire ball lies out of bounds)
- Only 1 option: take a drop on the site of the last stroke
- You can NOT take drop from where it went out of bounds, you must go back to the
site of the last stroke
- If thought ball was lost, but original ball found within 5 minutes and not out of
bounds, you MUST play that ball and not provisional
9. Water hazard
- Yellow Stakes / yellow lines
- Do not touch ground/water, do not ground club 2 stroke penalty
OPTIONS
1. Play it as it lies – no penalty, but can not ground club (not allowed if
environmental area)
2. Re hit/tee from last stroke 1 stroke penalty and distance
3. Go back as far as desired on the line from the flag and intersection (where ball
last crossed the margin of the hazard) 1 stroke penalty and distance
4. May be drop zone (check score card) 1 stroke penalty
3
BUNKER
GREEN
- Once on green, you can mark ball (pick up and clean it)
- If ball or marker is moved accidently while marking, picking up or replacing - no penalty
- Player who is farthest away goes first (even if one player on fringe); may be deviated
from for pace of play
- Loose impediments can be removed
- Ball marks can be repaired
- You are NOT allowed to improve the line of putt by touching or treading on the line;
spike marks may NOT be repaired 2 stroke penalty
- If you are putting on the green and your ball hits either the flagstick (in the hole or on the
ground) or the person tending it 2 stroke penalty (ball then played from where it lies)
- Flagstick must be removed when all balls are on the green; carefully remove and replace
flag
- Be mindful of other player’s putting line, eye line, your shadow etc.