Locust Grove
High School
Golf Team
Rules & Etiquette of Golf
Purpose
The golf team was created to provide a competitive
environment for golfers to learn good
sportsmanship and the enjoyment of playing with
their fellow golfers from other High Schools.
Player Responsibilities - Etiquette
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Be considerate of other players!! Don’t talk, move or stand
near a player about to make a stroke.
Leave the course and the facility in better condition than
you find it!
 Replace divots
 Repair ball marks
 Rake sand bunkers
 Don’t drag your feet on the greens
 Be careful with the flag stick
 Always act like ladies and gentlemen
Player Responsibilities – Course Conduct
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No club throwing
No swearing
No cheating

Disciplinary action may include disqualification, suspension
and/or expulsion from the team without warning!

Players should point out rule infractions upon other players.
Player Responsibilities – Pace of Play
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9 holes should be completed in 2 hours.
Walk to your golf ball and be ready to play when it is your
turn.
If someone has a lost ball, play your shot first, then help
them search for the lost ball.
If you can not see the group ahead of you, you are playing
too slow.
Player Responsibilities – Tee Times

Players should arrive 30 minutes before their scheduled tee
time.
 Players arriving 5 minutes after the last golfer, in their group
has teed off will be disqualified.
 Players are required to give 48 hours notice (or as soon as
possible) when withdrawing from an match. This must be
done directly to the coach!
 Failure to give notice will result in suspension from the
next event in which the player is scheduled to participate.
Player Responsibilities – Scorecard

Players are required to keep score for another player in their
group, not your fellow team mate.

Each player is responsible for his/her score for each hole.
The scorer is not held responsible for the addition of your
total score, you are accountable.
Player Responsibilities - Scorecard
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Upon completion of the round, scorecards should be
returned to the scorer’s table and players must wait for their
cards to be checked.

If a player withdraws during a round, they must check in at
the scorer’s table and the coach before leaving the facility.
Spectator Information
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Golf carts are not provided to parents, spectators or
volunteers.

If you are interested in renting a spectator cart, please check
in advance with the host facility.
Spectator Information
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Do’s and Don’ts
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Do help players look up rules in the rule book
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Do help players search for lost golf balls
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Don’t give players advice – (club selection, type of shot etc.)
Do carry water bottles, clothes, or rain suits for players
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Don’t make any rulings for the group in question
Don’t carry the players clubs or bag
Don’t talk on your cell phone while on the course
Do help keep the golf course clean and neat

Don’t let any player get away with damaging the course
Player Responsibilities - Rules
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It is the obligation of every player to know and follow the
USGA Rules of Golf. Georgia High School Exceptions:
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Players may use push carts in regular and post season matches.
Players may NOT use electronic devices that compute playing
distances.
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Players should not seek rules advice from spectators.
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Players should discuss rules questions with fellow
competitors, the coach, and consult the rules book.
Player Responsibilities - Rules
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Doubt as to Procedure
In stroke play only, if a competitor is doubtful of how to
proceed (uncertain of a rule) he/she may, without penalty,
play a second ball.
Providing that:
The player announces their intention to a fellow
competitor and the player announces which ball they
wish to count if the rules permit
Player Responsibilities - Rules
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Playing a Wrong Ball
The penalty for playing a wrong ball is 2 strokes and
the player must correct the error.
Player Responsibilities - Rules
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Loose Impediments
Natural objects (such as stones and
leaves) not fixed or growing, not
solidly embedded and not adhering
to the ball.
May be moved unless the impediment and
your ball lie in or touch the same hazard. If
you accidently move your ball while
moving impediments it is a stroke penalty.
Player Responsibilities - Rules
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Obstructions
Obstructions are artificial (i.e.,
man-made) objects.
There are two types of
obstructions:
--MOVABLE
--IMMOVABLE
Obstructions - Rules

Objects defining out of bounds
such as fence posts or stakes
and immovable artificial objects
out of bounds are not
obstructions (Therefore: No
relief without penalty!!!! ).
Obstructions – Movable - Rules

Movable Obstructions
anywhere may be moved.
If your ball moves, replace
it without penalty.
Obstructions – Immovable - Rules

Interference exist when an
immovable obstruction or
abnormal ground condition
interferes with a players lie,
stance or areas of intended swing.

On the putting green, interference
also occurs if the condition on the
putting green intervenes on the
line of putt.
Obstructions – Immovable - Rules
Through the Green:
The player shall lift the ball and drop it within one club
length of the nearest point of relief on a part of the course
that
a. is not nearer the hole,
b. avoids interference,
c. is not in a hazard or on a putting green.
Obstructions - Immovable

Nearest Point of Relief
The point on the course
nearest to where the ball lies
which
(a) is not nearer the hole,
(b) avoids interference (lie,
stance, area of swing) and
(c) is not in a hazard or on a
putting green.
--It is the spot where the club is grounded in a simulated address position.
Player Responsibilities - Rules

•
Water Hazard
Defined by yellow stakes or lines
Player has 3 options
1.
Play the ball as it lies – no penalty
2.
Play the ball at the spot from
which the original was last played
– 1 stroke penalty
3.
Drop behind the hazard keeping
the point which the ball last
crossed the margin of the hazard
between the hole and the spot on
which the ball is dropped – 1
stroke penalty
1
3
2
Player Responsibilities - Rules

Rule 26 Lateral Water Hazard
Defined by Red stakes or lines
1
•
2 additional options
1.
Drop 2 club-lengths from the point of
entry into the hazard
2.
5
4
3
Drop 2 club-lengths from point
on the opposite margin,
equidistant from the hole
2
Player Responsibilities - Rules
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Ball Lost or Out Of Bounds
If your ball may be lost outside
a water hazard or out of bounds,
you may play a provisional ball
before you go forward to look
for the original, provided you
announce your intention to do
so.
“That one might
be out, I’d better
hit a provisional ball”
Lost Ball - Rules

When is a ball lost?
1 of 3 actions must occur
1.
Cannot find or identify the ball within five minutes after you have
begun to search for it
2.
The player has made a stroke at a substituted ball
3.
Player has played provisional ball from where the original is likely to
be or from a point nearer the hole than that option
Lost Ball or Out of Bounds - Rules
If your ball is lost outside
a water hazard or is out of
bounds, add one penalty
stroke and play the
provisional ball or, if you
did not play a provisional
ball, replay the shot.
The penalty is a stoke plus
distanced.
Out of Bounds - Rules

The ball is OB when
the entire ball is at rest
OB.

The OB line is
determined by the
inside edge of the
stakes or fence posts
O.B.
1
Questions?