Need to Know
Rules
USGA GOLF RULES
 MATCH
PLAY
 WIN
OR LOSE THE
HOLE
 MEDAL
 TOTAL
PLAY
STROKES
Player Responsibility
6-1. Rules
-Player and caddie are responsible for knowing the
Rules.
6-3. Time of Starting and Groups
-Player responsible for starting on time; he is
disqualified if he fails to do so.
6-5. Ball
-Player responsible for identifying; should put
individual identification mark on ball.
Player Responsibility
Scoring in Stroke Play
-Player responsible for correct hole-by-hole scores,
signatures.
(If sign for score lower than actually made – DQ;
if sign for score higher, take score.)
Undue Delay; Slow Play
-Player responsible for playing at proper pace.
ON THE TEE
 MUST
TEE BETWEEN OR BEHIND TEE MARKERS
 IF THE BALL FALLS OFF THE TEE, WHEN NOT IN
PLAY, IT IS NOT A STROKE
 WHEN DOES IT COST A STROKE?
 A “WIFF” IS A STROKE
ON THE FAIRWAY OR IN THE
ROUGH

YOU MUST PLAY THE BALL WHERE IT LIES
 YOU CANNOT IMPROVE YOUR LIE BY MOVING,
BREAKING, OR BENDING GROWING VEGETATION



(2 STROKES OR LOSS OF HOLE)
YOU CAN MOVE LOOSE NATURAL OBJECTS WITHOUT
PENALTY; BUT IF YOU MOVE THE BALL (1 STROKE)
IF YOU PLAY THE WRONG BALL

(2 STROKES OR LOSS OF HOLE)

PLAY OUT HOLE WITH CORRECT BALL
LOST BALL



5 MINUTES AND/OR
PLAY THRU
DROP (PROVISIONAL
BALL)FROM SPOT LAST
PLAYED (1 STROKE)
MAY BE RETEED IF LOST
FROM THE TEE SHOT

(HITTING 3)
Ball at Rest Moved
If a ball moves and comes to rest in some other place, it
must be replaced in its original location
- Exception: ball moved by wind, water or gravity – play it as it
lies
18-1 Moved by Outside Agency
- No penalty
- The ball must be replaced
- Neither wind nor water is an outside agency
18-2 Moved by Player, Partner, Caddie or Equipment
- a. General (player causes ball to move)
- b. Ball moves after address
-Player incurs a one-stroke penalty
-The ball must be replaced
Ball at Rest Moved
 Moved
by Fellow-Competitor, Caddie or
Equipment in Stroke Play
- No penalty – The ball must be replaced
 Moved
by Another Ball in Motion
- No penalty (Exception: stroke play when both
balls on green)
- The ball must be replaced
 Ball
Moved in Measuring
- No penalty, provided directly attributable to act
of measuring
- The ball must be replaced
RULES FOR HAZARDS
Water Hazards
WATER HAZARDS
 IF
YOUR BALL LANDS IN WATER:
 IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE A SHOT GO FOR IT
(CAN’T GROUND CLUB)
 PLAY A PROVISIONAL BALL FROM THE SPOT
LAST PLAYED (1 STROKE)
 DROP BEHIND THE HAZARD (1 STROKE)
 LATERAL WATER HAZARD
 PLAY
FROM LAST SPOT OR;
 DROP WITHIN 2 CLUB LENGTHS OF HAZARD MARGIN
SAND BUNKERS

CANNOT GROUND CLUB (2 STROKES)

IF BALL IS COMPLETELY BURIED OR COVERED
 YOU CAN REMOVE ENOUGH OF THE IMPEDIMENT TO SEE THE
BALL
CASUAL WATER, GROUND
UNDER REPAIR, OR....
Fairway
 ONE CLUB LENGTH
RELIEF
 NO CLOSER TO THE
HOLE
 NO PENALTY
ON THE GREEN…
• LIFT WITHOUT
PENALTY AND
PLACE TO GET
MOST RELIEF
POSSIBLE; NO
CLOSER TO THE
HOLE
Lifting, Dropping & Placing
 Lifting
and Marking
Ball must be marked before it is lifted if it is to be replaced.
DropIn a fairway- if relief is needed then drop ball no more than
two feet from original location and no closer to the hole
Loose Impediments
-Loose impediments are natural objects.
-Loose impediments may be removed, except:
-when ball and loose impediment lie in the same hazard.
-when ball is in motion –
Obstructions
Definition
-Artificial objects except: O.B. fence
24-1. Movable Obstruction
-May
be moved, if ball moves,
no penalty, replace it.
Ball Lost; Out of Bounds
(a.k.a. Lost)
1a - Proceeding Under Stroke and Distance
1b - Ball Out of Bounds
1c - Ball Not Found Within Five Minutes
27-2.Provisional Ball
-Must announce intent to play provisional ball
-Must play before going forward to search
RULES ON THE GREEN
ON THE GREEN
 IF
YOU HIT THE FLAGSTICK WHILE PUTTING (2
STROKES OR LOSS OF HOLE)
 HITTING THE FLAGSTICK WHEN IT LIES ON THE
GREEN (2 STROKES, PLAY IT WHERE IT LIES; LOSS OF
HOLE)
 HITTING AN ATTENDED STICK OR THE ATTENDEE
(SAME AS PREVIOUS)
 OPPONENTS BALL IN THE LINE OF YOUR PUTT– ask
to mark
 IN MATCH PLAY YOU CAN CONCEDE THE
HOLE/MATCH BEFORE ITS CONCLUSION
 IN STROKE PLAY EVERY PLAYER MUST HOLE OUT ON
EVERY HOLE
ENJOY THE GAME!
 BE
PATIENT
 PRACTICE OFTEN
 READ AND LEARN
 KEEP THE GAME IN
PERSPECTIVE
 HAVE FUN