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Rules & Etiquette

Basic Golf Rules

These rules are a rough outline,more detailed or course specific ones can be found at the golf course you are using. Always look at the local rules on the back of the scorecard.

These are a collection of basic golf rules to help you get started.Official rules can be found on the R&A St Andrews website

Who plays When:

Decide who goes first at the start of the game.

For the following shots on that hole the person the furthest away from the hole plays his/her shot.

The lowest scorer on a hole tees off the next hole first.

Playing the wrong ball:

If in a hazard you find a ball and play it and realise that it is not yours then there is no penalty and you can continue the search.

Playing a ball as it lies:

You must not try to improve the ground around where your ball lies.Dont flatten it ,however you are allowed to move limited loose debris.

Ball out of bounds

If you hit the ball out of bounds or lose it,then play another ball (provisional) and add an extra shot to your score.Play the shot from the last position played.

Taking a drop

If a ball is deemed unplayable, you can take a drop shot which means standing straight up with your golf ball in your hand, the arm with the ball at shoulder height outwards from where the ball was found and letting go. The drop shot cannot be dropped closer to the hole and may be re-dropped without a peanalty if:

The ball rolls more than two club lengths away from the spot it hit the ground
If it rolls onto the green or into a hazard

Obstructions

If your ball is obstructed by a removable item then this can be moved.

If your ball is obstructed by an immovable object which prevents you swinging the club etc then move the ball (no nearer the hole where you can take a shot.