Rules
Get Ready for 2011 – Rules of Golf
1. Honors or Ready Golf? This is the most popular question asked on the first tee box for stroke play. The answer – it is honors; on the first tee box, the competitor who has the honor is determined by the order of the draw. Then, the competitor with the lowest score at a hole takes the honor at the next teeing ground and then 2nd lowest and so on. If a competitor plays out of turn, there is no penalty and the ball is played as it lies but if the competitors have agreed to play out of turn to give one of the players an advantage, they are disqualified. Check the rule book: 10-2, page 36.
2. What happens when you hit out of order in Match play? There is no penalty but the opponent may immediately require the player to cancel the stroke and, in correct order, play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played. Check the rule book: 10-1c, page 36.
3. If you don’t announce a provisional ball – that ball is now in play and the prior ball(s) are no longer in play. You must announce that you intend to play a provisional ball and you must play it before you go forward and search for the original ball. Check the rule book: 27-2, page 75. Reminder: you must play your provisional ball after everyone has played their fist stroke. Check the rule book: 10-3, page 37.
4. A tree branch was broken and still connected to a tree but would affect my swing path – can I move my ball? You do not get free relief from a tree and you must play the ball as it lies. You can play the ball as it lies or you can proceed under rule 28, ball unplayable. Check rule 13-2, page 41.
5. You ball lands on the wrong putting green. You must not play the ball and you take relief without penalty. Lift the ball and drop it within one club-length of your nearest point of relief and not nearer to the hole. Check the rule book: 25-3, page 71.
6. What if I’m running late for my tee time? The player must start at the time established by the Committee and if they are not there, the penalty is disqualification. Check the rule book: 6-3, page 27.
7. You already searched for your “lost” ball, go back to the tee box and play another ball. You find your original ball and play it and pick up your 2nd ball. Since you already searched for your lost ball, the ball hit from the tee box is now the ball in play. If you continue and score you enter the score from your original first ball, you will be discontinued as you did not follow the rules of golf. Check the rule book: 27, page 75.
8. Red (lateral) and yellow (direct) stakes – what are my choices? Without penalty, play the ball as it lies. With a penalty stroke:
- play the ball where the original ball was last played (see rule 20-5)
- drop a ball behind the water hazard keeping the point at which the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped – no limit to how far behind the water hazard the ball may be dropped
- red/lateral only: drop a ball within two club-lengths of and not nearer the hole where the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard
- red/lateral only: drop a ball within two club-lengths of and not nearer to hole than a point on the opposite margin of the water hazard equidistant from the hole (works well with rivers/streams) Check the rule book: 26-1, page 72.
9. You are in the water hazard but are using your option of play the ball as it lies. You hit the ball and it stays in the water hazard but lands much closer to the hole. The ball is no longer hittable so you’d like to take relief. To take relief from the water hazard, you must go back to where you originally last crossed the margin and then follow the options available and take one penalty stroke. Check the rule book: 26-2a, page 73.
10. Already dropped the ball outside the water hazard but can you re-drop? The only time you can re-drop is if your drop does not follow the rules like an incorrect drop or placement. There are a total of 7 circumstances when you can re-drop without penalty. Check the rule book: 20-2c, page 57.