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ETIQUETTE
Etiquette covers both Courtesy and Priority on the Course as well as Care of
the Course. Whilst the following points are not Rules as such they are an
important part of the game.
1 Don't move, talk or stand close to a player making a stroke.
2 Don't play until the group in front is out of the way.
3 Always play without delay. Leave the putting green as soon as all players
in your group have holed out.
4 Invite faster groups to play through.
5 Replace divots. Smooth footprints in bunkers.
6 Don't step on the line of another player's putt.
7 Don't drop clubs on the putting green.
8 Replace the flagstick carefully.
THE RULES OF
PLAY
GENERAL POINTS
Before commencing your round:
(1) Read the Local Rules on the score card.
(2) Put an identification mark on your ball. Many
golfers play the same brand of ball and if
you can't identify your ball, it's lost.
(3) Count your clubs. You are allowed a maximum of 14 clubs.
During the round, don't ask for "advice" from anyone except your partner or
caddie. Don't give advice to anyone except your partner.
During a hole you may not play a practice stroke.
TEEING OFF
Tee off between and not in front of the tee-markers. You may tee off up to
two club-lengths behind the front line of the tee-markers.
Teeing off outside this area - in match play there is no penalty but your
opponent may ask you to replay your stroke; in stroke play you incur a
two-stroke penalty and must then play from within the proper area.
PLAYING THE BALL
Play the ball as it lies. Don't improve your lie, the area of your intended
swing or your line of play by moving, bending or breaking anything fixed or
growing except in fairly taking your stance or making your swing. Don't
press anything down or build a stance.
If your ball lies in a bunker or a water hazard don't touch the ground in
the bunker, or the ground or water in the water hazard, before your
downswing.
The ball must be fairly struck, not pushed or spooned.
Playing a wrong ball (except in a hazard) - in match play you lose
the hole; in stroke play you incur a two-stroke penalty and you must then
play the correct ball.
ON THE PUTTING GREEN
You may repair ball marks and old hole plugs on the line of your putt but
not any other damage, including spike marks.
You may mark, lift and clean your ball on the putting green. Always replace
it on the exact spot.
Don't test the putting surface by scraping it or rolling a ball over it.
Ball played from putting green strikes flagstick - in match play you
lose the hole; in stroke play you incur a two-stroke penalty.
BALL AT REST MOVED
If your ball is at rest and it is moved by you, your partner or your caddie,
except as permitted by the Rules, or if it moves after you have addressed
it, add a penalty stroke and replace your ball.
If your ball is at rest and is moved by someone else or another ball,
replace it without penalty to you.
BALL IN MOTION DEFLECTED OR STOPPED
Ball struck by you is deflected or stopped by you, your partner or your
caddie - in match play you lose the hole; in stroke play you incur a
two-stroke penalty and the ball is played as it lies.
Ball struck by you is deflected or stopped by someone else - play
your ball as it lies wihout penalty, except (a) in match play, if an
opponent or his caddie deflects the ball you have an option to replay the
stroke or (b) in stroke play, if the ball is deflected after a stroke from
on the putting green, you must replay it.
Ball struck by you is deflected or stopped by another ball at rest-
in matchplay, no penalty and the ball is played as it lies except. In stroke
play you incur a two-stroke penalty if your ball and the other ball were on
the putting green before you played.
LIFTING, DROPPING AND PLACING THE BALL
If a lifted ball is to be replaced, its position must be marked. If a ball
is to be dropped or placed in any other position (e.g. taking relief from
GUR, etc.) it is recommended that the ball's original position be marked.
When dropping, stand erect, hold the ball at shoulder height and arm's
length and drop it. If a dropped ball strikes you or your partner, caddie or
equipment it must be re-dropped without penalty.
There are eight instances where a dropped ball rolls to such a position that
it must be re-dropped - see Rules of Golf Rule 20 - 2c
BALL INTERFERING WITH OR ASSISTING PLAY
You may lift your ball if it might assist any other player.
You may have any ball lifted if it might interfere with your play or assist
any other player.
LOOSE IMPEDIMENTS
You may move a loose impediment unless it and your ball are in a hazard.
However, if you have touched a loose impediment within one club-length of
your ball and your ball moves, the ball must be replaced and (unless your
ball was on the putting green) you incur a penalty stroke.
OBSTRUCTIONS
Check the Local Rules on the score card for guidance on immovable
obstructions (e.g. surfaced roads and paths etc.) .
Movable obstructions (e.g. rakes, tin cans etc.) anywhere on the course may
be moved. If the ball moves it must be replaced without penalty.
If an immovable obstruction (e.g. a water fountain) interferes with your
stance or swing, you may drop the ball within one club-length of the nearest
point of relief not nearer the hole. There is no relief for intervention on
your line of play unless your ball and the obstruction are on the putting
green.
CASUAL WATER, GROUND UNDER REPAIR etc.
If your ball is in casual water, ground under repair or a hole or cast made
by a burrowing animal e.g. a rabbit, you may drop without penalty within one
club-length of the nearest point of relief not nearer the hole.
WATER HAZARDS
Check the Local Rules on the score card to establish whether the sea,lake,
river etc. is a `water hazard' or a `lateral water hazard'.
Ball in watery hazard - play the ball as it lies or, under penalty of one
stroke, (a) drop any distance behind the water hazard keeping a straight
line between the hole, the point where the ball crossed the margin of the
water hazard and spot on which the ball is dropped, or (b) play again from
where you hit the ball into the hazard.
Ball in lateral water hazard - in addition to the options for a ball in a
water hazard (see above), under penalty of one stroke, you may drop within
two club-lengths of (a) the point where the ball crossed the margin of the
hazard or (b) a point on the opposite side of the hazard equidistant from
the hole.
BALL LOST OR OUT OF BOUNDS
Check the Local Rules on the score card to identify the boundaries of the
course. If your ball is lost outside a water hazard or out of bounds you
must play another ball from the spot where the last shot was played under
penalty of one stroke i.e. stroke and distance. You are allowed 5 minutes to
search for a ball, after which if it is not found or identified it is lost.
If, after playing a shot, you think your ball may be lost outside a water
hazard or out of bounds you may play a `provisional ball'. You must state
that it is a provisional ball and play it before you go forward to search
for the original ball. If the original ball is lost or out of bounds you
must continue with the provisional ball under penalty of one stroke. If the
original ball is not lost or out of bounds, you must continue play of the
hole with it and the provisional ball must be abandoned.
BALL UNPLAYABLE
If you believe your ball is unplayable outside a water hazard (and you are
the sole judge), you may under penalty of one stroke, (a) drop within two
club-lengths of where the ball lies not nearer the hole, (b) drop any
distance behind the point where the ball lay keeping a straight line between
the hole, the point where the ball lay and the spot on which the ball is
dropped, or (c) replay the shot. If your ball is in a bunker you may proceed
under (a), (b) and (c). However, if you elect to proceed under (a) or (b)
you must drop in the bunker.
CONCLUSION
A good score may be spoiled, or a match lost, due to a penalty incurred
through ignorance or confusion concerning the Rules. A sound knowledge of
the above summary should aid the golfer in tackling a "Rules problem".
Nevertheless, the complete Rules of Golf as approved by the Royal and
Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews and the United States Golf Association,
should be consulted where any doubt arises.
Press here for the full Rules of Golf from the Royal & Ancient Home Page (www.randa.org)