Rules and Etiquette
Are you new to golf and need to understand rules and etiquette.
..Top 50 Most Important Golf Rules..
🔹 General Play Rules
Play the ball as it lies, unless the rules allow relief.
You must count every stroke, including air swings.
You may not improve your lie, line, or area of intended swing (e.g. by pressing down grass or moving twigs).
You must tee up your ball between the tee markers, not more than 2 club lengths behind them.
Only 14 clubs allowed in your bag during a round.
You can clean your ball when lifted, except when checking if it’s embedded or during search.
Do not make a practice stroke during a hole (practice swings are allowed, but no actual hits).
You must hole out — no “gimmies” in stroke play.
You can’t deliberately delay play — stay ready and play efficiently.
If unsure about a rule, play two balls and ask a rules official before signing the card (in stroke play).
🟨 Penalty Area & Out of Bounds Rules
Out of bounds = stroke and distance. Replay the shot from the previous spot with a one-stroke penalty.
A ball is out of bounds if any part touches outside the course boundaries.
Penalty area relief (red/yellow stakes) comes with a one-stroke penalty.
You may ground your club in penalty areas (since 2019).
You can play a ball as it lies in a penalty area, if it's playable.
You may take back-on-the-line relief from a penalty area.
Provisional balls cannot be played for suspected water hazards — only for lost or OB balls.
🟩 Lost Ball Rules
You have 3 minutes to search for a lost ball — not 5.
If not found within 3 minutes, it’s lost — stroke and distance applies.
If a ball is accidentally moved while searching, there’s no penalty; just replace it.
🟦 Relief Rules
When taking relief, drop from knee height (not shoulder height).
The ball must land in and come to rest in the relief area.
If it rolls outside the relief area after two drops, place it where it first touched the ground on the second drop.
You get free relief from immovable obstructions, like cart paths, sprinkler heads, and man-made objects.
Free relief is allowed for embedded balls, except in sand or penalty areas (unless local rules say otherwise).
Relief from casual water (temporary water) is free.
Relief from animal holes or dangerous animals (like snakes) is allowed without penalty.
Ball unintentionally deflected by you, your caddie, or equipment? No penalty.
⛳ Green Rules
You may repair ball marks, spike marks, and other damage on the green.
You can putt with the flagstick in or out, your choice.
You must mark your ball before lifting it on the green.
If your ball moves on the green after being marked and replaced, replace it—no penalty if not your fault.
Accidentally hitting the ball during practice strokes on the green? No penalty; replace it.
🏖️ Bunker Rules
Don’t ground your club in a bunker before hitting the ball.
You can remove loose impediments in the bunker without penalty.
You can’t test the sand’s condition by touching it with hand or club.
You can take unplayable relief in a bunker with 1-stroke penalty.
Or drop outside the bunker (back-on-the-line) with a 2-stroke penalty.
⛳ Etiquette / Pace of Play
Play “ready golf” in stroke play to speed things up.
Repair all pitch marks and divots.
Rake bunkers after use and leave rake where course recommends.
Stay quiet and still while others are hitting.
Keep up with the group in front, not just ahead of the group behind.
📝 Scoring & Competition Rules
Sign and return your scorecard (in stroke play) or you're disqualified.
Check your hole-by-hole scores carefully before submitting.
If you play the wrong ball in stroke play, it's a 2-stroke penalty.
In match play, wrong ball = loss of hole.
Declare your intention clearly when playing a provisional.
If your ball accidentally hits you or your equipment, there’s no penalty.
If you break a rule, don’t ignore it — assess the proper penalty and continue.
