Rules plus July 3

 

Basic Golf Rules:

·       Golf is a game of honor … and as a golfer, it's your responsibility to know and follow the rules.  The rules of golf apply to all levels of play, from tournaments and league play to casual weekend rounds with friends.  Strict adherence to the rules is crucial in competitive settings.  Always act with integrity and call penalties on yourself when necessary.

·       If you swing at a ball and miss it completely, this is called a “WHIFF” and it counts as one stroke.

·       You must play the ball as it lies. You're not allowed to kick it or move it to a better spot.

·       No breaking or bending branches to allow you to swing easier at the ball.

·       When you're in a bunker always remember to NOT ground the club in the sand behind or in front of the ball.  NO TOUCHING THE SAND ON PRACTICE SWINGS!  You can pick out stones and leaves and throw them out of the bunker.

·       You can pick up sticks, stones, leaves, rocks, boulders, feathers, dead grass, or pine needles that are around your ball but make sure not to move your ball because then that's a penalty.

·       You cannot break any growing thing to improve your lie.

·       Identify your ball before you play it - if you hit any other ball but yours, you will get a 2 stroke penalty. 

·       Water hazards (now known as penalty areas) are defined by yellow stakes or painted lines. Lateral water hazards are identified by red stakes or painted lines.  You can play the ball inside the hazard if it is playable or you can:

o   Drop a ball where you played the last shot and add one additional penalty stroke.

o   Drop a ball in line with the hole and the place you crossed the hazard and go as far back as you like and add one additional penalty stroke.

o   If it's a lateral (red staked) hazard you can drop within 2 club lengths of where your ball crossed the line of the hazard and add one additional penalty stroke.

·       If your ball is lost or out of bounds, you must play another ball from where you last played and add one additional penalty stroke.

·       If you see your ball and you think you can't play it because it's under a bush or stuck in a tree, you can deem it unplayable, take a penalty stroke and:

o   Drop a ball on the line that runs from the hole to where your ball was lying. You can drop as far back as you want on that line.

o   Hit a shot from the same place you hit the last shot.

o   Measure 2 club lengths from where the ball is lying and drop it there.

·       A hole is not considered complete until your ball comes to rest in the hole. Always ensure your ball is correctly holed before moving on to the next tee.  You must make and count every putt.

Please learn these rules and play with integrity.