There are many natural and man-made obstacles that may interfere the game, detailed rules are listed out to address different scenario to make sure the game can be carried on fairly.
Before Match
- Be punctual to arrive at the first tee.
- Mark your identification symbol on your ball so you
don't hit a wrong ball Announce your handicap to
others.
- Confirm it is a match play or stroke play.
Playing the Ball
- Play the ball as it lies.
- Don't touch or lift it unless the Rules permit.
- Don't improve your lie.
- Don't hit practice shots unless between holes.
- Except your partners or caddies, don't ask for others'
advice.
- You can consult how your opponent is doing anytime If
you incur a penalty, tell your opponents.
- If you think your opponent has goofed and broken a
rule, claim immediately.
- If you play a wrong ball, you lose the hole in match
play and in stroke play, you receive a two-stroke
penalty.
On the Green
- Don't touch the line of your putt unless a Rule permits.
- After you hole out, repair divots, ball marks and spike
marks.
- You may lift and clean your ball on the putting green.
Mark the spot with a coin, then put the ball at the
exact spot Let someone hold the flagstick if you are
putting on the green or you will be penalized if the ball
strikes the flagstick. If you clip from off the green and
the ball hit the flagstick, no penalty.
Ball at Rest Moved
- If your ball 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 moved by someone else or another ball,
replace it without penalty to you. If you are not sure of
the original spot, drop it.
Ball in Motion Deflected or Stopped
- If your ball in motion 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.
- If your ball in motion is deflected or stopped by
someone else, play your ball as it lies without penalty
or replay.
Lifting, dropping and placing
- If a ball to be lifted is to be replaced, its position must
be marked. When dropping, stand erect, hold the ball
at shoulder height and arm's length and drop it in any
direction. A ball to be dropped in a hazard must be
dropped, and stay, in the hazard.
- There are many cases which require redrop, for
example, diverted by your legs while dropping.
Interference
- You may lift your ball if it might assist any other player.
- You may have any other ball lifted if it might interfere
with your play or assist any other player
Loose Impediments
- You may move any loose impediment (natural objects
such as stones and leaves) unless the loose
impediment and your ball lie in or touch the same
hazard.
- If you move a loose impediment within one club-length
of your ball and your ball moves, the ball must be
replaced and you incur a penalty stroke. This does not
apply to when your ball is on the green).
Water Hazards
- If your ball falls into or lie in touch of water hazard,
you may play the ball as it lies or, under one-stroke
penalty, drop any distance 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, or
replay the shot.
- In a lateral water hazard, you may also, under
one-stroke penalty, drop within two club-lengths of (a)
the point where the ball last crossed the hazard margin
or (b) a point on the opposite hazard margin
equidistant from the hole.
Lost or Out of Bounds
- If you cannot find your ball within five minutes, it is
considered lost ball, you may under penalty of one
stroke and replay the shot.
- A ball is out of bounds when it is all the way outside
the boundaries of the course usually marked by white
stakes or lines. You incur one-stroke penalty, then
replay the shot. If you think your ball is lost or out of
bounds, you can replay the shot with your provisional
ball after telling your opponents your intention.
Unplayable lie
If you believe your ball is unplayable outside a water hazard, you may add one penalty stroke and (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 that point directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped), or (c) replay the shot.
Playing well means you can hole out in each hole with minimum strokes. Good knowledge in golf rules; possession of quality equipment and clubs; being properly dressed and back-up of learned technique all contribute to being a good golfer. Of course, reasonable training with numerous practices in top class fields also count. Golf is a gentleman sport in tradition and that's why it is important to learn etiquette as a courtesy on the course to honour yourself and to respect other players.
To make golf your beloved pass-time, you can try the following:
- Understand the basic rules and theories;
- Team up with your friends for regular practices;
- Forget all the theories and enjoy the pure pleasure of hitting the ball on the field; and
- If you can afford, go overseas to meet new challenges in exotic courses
