Aid to MEMORIZING the Rules of Golf by Gail Rogers
Begin by visualizing your own golf course. Each hole is going to represent a corresponding rule of golf.
Rule #1 - THE GAME.
As you walk toward the first tee, you feel the warmth of the sun, see the blue sky. It’s a beautiful day. It’s a great day
for a game of golf. “THE GAME”
Rule #2 - MATCH PLAY.
Standing on the tee you remember the great hole location used in a recent match play competition. This is a great hole
for match play. “MATCH PLAY”
Rule #3 - STROKE PLAY.
Match play was the first form of play, stroke play was second and so follows logically. “STROKE PLAY”
Rule #4 - CLUBS
As you walk toward the 4th Tee you see a golf bag fall off of a cart and the clubs scatter on the ground. “CLUBS”
Rule #5 - THE BALL
This hole is near an OB fence. You look over the fence seeing all the balls hit out of bounds. “THE BALL”
Rule #6 - THE PLAYER
This is a tough hole. You have to be a player if you are going to succeed here. “THE PLAYER”
Rule #7 - PRACTICE
This is a particularly difficult driving hole. I’m glad I had a chance to practice this shot on the driving range today.
“PRACTICE”
Rule #8 - ADVICE
This is a hole where I always target the large oak tree on the left. I can give that advice to my partner only. “ADVICE”
Rule #9 - INFORMATION AS TO STROKES TAKEN
My mathematical friend likes to total the scores for nine holes. He will need information from everyone as to the
number of strokes we have played on the hole. “INFORMATION AS TO STROKES TAKEN”
Rule #10 - ORDER OF PLAY
After a quick stop at the club house for refreshments, we begin the back nine. Who has the honor on the tee? “ORDER
OF PLAY”
Rule #11 - TEEING GROUND
Approaching the tee, I notice that someone has dropped a handful of golf tees. “TEEING GROUND”
Rule #12 -SEARCHING FOR AND IDENTIFYING BALL
My ball heads toward a magnolia tree on the left of the fairway. I am going to have to search for it and identify it if it is
in the tree. “SEARCHING FOR AND IDENTIFYING BALL”
Rule #13 - BALL PLAYED AS IT LIES; LIE, AREA OF INDENDED SWING AND LINE OF PLAY; STANCE
The left side of this hole has deep rough, awkward lies, and trees that can interfere with the line of play to the hole.
“PLAY THE BALL AS IT LIES”
Rule #14 - STRIKING THE BALL
A player really must strike the ball well to reach the end of the dog leg and not have an approach shot over the trees to
the green. “STRIKING THE BALL”
Rule #15 - WRONG BALL; SUBSTITUTED BALL
Two balls are next to each other in deep rough. I’d better identify my ball, as I do not want a penalty for hitting a wrong
ball. “WRONG BALL; SUBSTITUTED BALL”
Rule #16 - THE PUTTING GREEN
This green is so much more fun to play since it was rebuilt. “THE PUTTING GREEN”
Rule #17 - THE FLAGSTICK
Approaching this hole all I can see is part of the flagstick and no green surface. “THE FLAGSTICK”
Rule #18 - BALL AT REST MOVED
This is the last hole. After walking 18 holes, I will be able to rest when I’m done. “BALL AT REST MOVED”
Rule #19 - BALL IN MOTION DEFLECTED OR STOPPED
A ball being played from a bunker flew the green, struck the clubhouse and was deflected back in bounds. “BALL IN
MOTION DEFLECTED OR STOPPED”
Rule #20 - LIFTING, DROPPING AND PLACING;
PLAYING FROM WRONG PLACE
While lifting my golf bag to put it in the trunk of my car, I failed to realize the ball pocket was not closed. Two golf balls
dropped out. “LIFTING, DROPPING, and PLACING; PLAYING FROM WRONG PLACE.”
Rule #21 -CLEANING BALL
Just as you are about to leave the course, you are informed that you are in a playoff. You go to the first tee, realize your
golf balls are dirty from the previous round and need cleaning. “CLEANING BALL” (Second playing of Hole #1, = 21)
Rule #22 - BALL INTERFERING WITH OR ASSISTING PLAY
You and a fellow competitor hit your drives and your balls are lying next to each other short of the green. “BALL
INTERFERING WITH OR ASSISTING PLAY”
Rule #23 - LOOSE IMPEDIMENTS
My tee shot comes to rest in a fairway bunker. A large leaf is right behind it. I can’t remove the loose impediment in a
bunker. “LOOSE IMPEDIMENTS”
Rule #24 - OBSTRUCTIONS
A fellow competitor’s ball comes to rest near an irrigation control box. He wants relief, but there is no interference with
stance or swing. “OBSTRUCTIONS”
Rule #25 - ABNORMAL GROUND CONDITIONS AND WRONG PUTTING GREEN
Ground squirrels have dug many holes short of the green. A player needs relief from this burrowing animal hole.
“ABNORMAL GROUND CONDITIONS AND WRONG PUTTING GREEN”
Rule #26 - WATER HAZARDS (INCLUDING LATERAL WATER HAZARDS)
This rule does not work in coordination with my course. The only water on this hole is a drinking fountain. Oh Well. No
system is perfect. “WATER HAZARDS”
Rule #27 - BALL LOST OR OUT OF BOUNDS; PROVISIONAL BALL
The second shot is a difficult one when the hole location is on the top level of the green as the OB really comes into play.
“BALL LOST OR OUT OF BOUNDS; PROVISIONAL BALL”
Rule #28 - BALL UNPLAYABLE
Don’t hook the ball on the second shot or you will probably find it’s unplayable in the trees. “BALL UNPLAYABLE”