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Basic Rules of Golf
There are 34 rules to golf, some with long, drawn-out explanations.
Here are some of the basic ones to know so you can get started
playing right away:
* You are allowed to carry up to 14 clubs of any combination. More
than that will cost you 2 strokes.
* You must play your ball as it lies and you cannot improve the lie.
* If you lose your ball, play another one from where the original
was played and add a stroke.
* If you think you won't be able to find your ball, you may play a
provisional one up to where you think the original one was lost. If
the first one is lost, continue with the provisional. If it is
found, you must play the original.
* If you play the wrong ball in stroke play, you add on 2 strokes
for each shot you play with that wrong ball. In match play, you lose
the hole. (see type of games).
* Casual water and ground under repair allows a free drop within 1
club length of the nearest point of relief.
* You are not allowed to ground your club or touch your hand in a
bunker or water hazard. Doing so will cost you 2 strokes. You also
cannot move any loose impediments in a bunker (leaves, twigs,
stones).
* Obstructions can be moved if they are man-made, without any
penalty. If the obstruction can't be moved, you may place the ball
at the nearest point of relief, no nearer the hole. If the
obstruction is in a bunker your point of relief must be taken in the
bunker. Some things considered obstructions are cart paths, sprinker
heads, electrical boxes, power lines, paved roads.
* If dirt or mud gets on the golf ball, it cannot be picked up to be
cleaned other than on the putting green. Once on the green, the ball
should be marked with a ball marker before being picked up so that
the ball can be replaced in the same spot.
*If an animal or bird (or an outside agency) moves or picks up your
ball, it must be replaced to its original position. If the ball
cannot be found, a new ball replaces it in its original position.
*If your ball strikes another ball that's within the fairway,
bunker, or hazard, no penalty occurs and the ball that was moved is
placed in its original position. If your ball strikes another ball
while on the putting green, a 2 stroke penalty occurs to the person
putting his/her ball.
*White stakes usually mark the out of bounds on a golf course. You
may hit the ball if it's resting in bounds even though you stand out
of bounds. Out of bounds occurs when the entire ball is beyond the
marked stakes. Out of bounds ball incurs 1 penalty stroke.
*Yellow stakes or lines indicate a water hazard. Red stakes or lines
indicate a lateral water hazard. |
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