Golf Rule Tips

Searching for the ball
 Finding your ball on a golf course is sometimes a challenge. Your shots don't always land in the fairway, and once the ball gets into long grass it can become well hidden. When you do find a ball in the deep stuff, you might not be sure it's yours.

In searching for the ball, Rule 12-1 allows the player to move "long grass, bushes, heather, or the like" in order to find and identify his ball. The restrictions are that neither the lie of the ball, the area of the player's intended swing, nor his line of play can be improved.

Finding the ball is one thing, but playing it is another. Rule 12-1 makes clear that "a player is not necessarily entitled to see his ball when playing a stroke." Grass, etc., may be moved to find the ball, but not for the purpose of seeing it at address.

In general, you are penalized under Rule 18-2 for moving your ball during a search. However, there is no penalty if the ball is lying in an abnormal ground condition, such as ground under repair.

Finding the ball is only the first step. You need to be sure it's yours, because you are penalised for playing the wrong ball, except from a hazard. Rule 12-2 allows you to lift a ball for identification, but only under a specific procedure. You must announce your intention, mark the position of the ball, and give your opponent, marker, or fellow competitor an opportunity to observe both the lifting and the replacement. If you skip any of these steps, you are penalized one stroke for lifting your ball. You may clean the ball only to the extent necessary for identification, and you may not lift your ball in a hazard.

On the green
 As soon as the ball is on the putting green, a player may pick up and wipe his ball as long as he or she marks it properly.

The ball is on the putting green when any part of it touches the surface.

You may use anything to mark the ball but a small penny or marker pin is recommended.

If the marker is in the line of your opponents putt you may choose to move the marker to either side of the line. This should be done by marking the ball then moving it one club’s head or club’s length to the side on a line with a fixed spot on the horizon.

Be careful after marking your ball and putting in your pocket that you take out the right one. If you put down a different ball, you will be penalised two shots, or in match play, concede the hole.

Take care what you do while you are waiting to putt. You are not allowed to practice putting on the green or test the surface before your shot.

Teeing area
 Players must play their first shot on every hole from the teeing area, known as the tee.

The ball must be played from anywhere between the two tee markers and up to two club lengths back from an imaginary line running between them.

A player may stand with his or her feet outside the imaginary box as long as the ball is inside the imaginary box.

The tee markers may not be moved.

In stroke play, if you are found to have played from outside the tee area you must add two shots to your score.

In match play you must play the stroke again but without penalty.

If you knock the ball off the tee while addressing it you may replace it and play your stroke without penalty. This is because the ball is not considered to be ‘in play’ until after a player has teed off.

Ball unplayable
 A ball is unplayable if, in the opinion of the player, he cannot reasonably play a stroke at it because of its lie.

A player may declare his ball unplayable anywhere on the course, except if it is in, or touching, a water hazard.

  1. The player must be able to identify his ball in order to declare it unplayable. If he cannot see it or identify it, he must treat it as a lost ball and apply the 'lost ball' rules.
  2. He must announce his intention to declare it unplayable, then lift the ball - he may also clean it.
  3. Having taken the 1 STROKE PENALTY, he then has three options:-
    1. Play a ball as near as possible from the spot where his original ball was last played.
    2. Drop his ball within two club lengths of where it last lay, but not nearer the hole.
    3. Drop his ball any distance behind the spot where his original ball lay, but on the extension of a line between that spot and the hole.
NB. After declaring his ball unplayable, a player may change his mind as to which option he adopts providing he has not put the ball into play by dropping it.

Hazard
There are three types of hazard:-
1. BUNKER
2. WATER HAZARD
3. LATERAL WATER HAZARD

There are also three basic rules that apply to hazards. Before making a stroke at a ball in or touching the hazard, the player must not:-
1. Test the condition of the Hazard.
2. Touch the ground in the hazard with a club or in any other way.
3. Touch or move any loose impediments in or touching the hazard.

Examples of loose impediments - these can be banana skins, loose clods of earth, leaves, branches, detached divots, twigs, stones, and so on.

Water hazards are normally marked with yellow posts and/or lines.
Lateral water hazards are marked with red posts and/or lines.

Example: Water Hazard at Laleham GC
The ditch and surrounding area marked by yellow posts across the 8th fairway.

Many players drive into this area and before playing their next shot, proceed to remove loose impediments and touch or ground their club. This should not be done and would incur a penalty; so keep your wits about you in a hazard. The watchword is 'watch what you're doing!'

Always read the Club notice board before play - their local rules will often be very helpful.