| The rules of golf are constantly being amended and | | | | you find yourself in a hazard, you can't touch the sand, |
| added to. This set of tips will explain some of the basic | | | | ground or water with the club before or during your |
| rules and help you understand the game a bit better. | | | | back swing. |
| Match Play | | | | How To Strike |
| There are two ways to play golf: match play and | | | | You must hit your golf ball swiftly while making a shot. |
| stroke play. In match play, each hole is a separate | | | | You aren't allowed to push, rake, or scrape the ball. |
| contest. The scoring is as follows: if you win the first | | | | You also aren't allowed to hit or touch the ball while it's |
| hole, you are one-up; if you lose it, you are one-down; if | | | | moving. |
| you tie it, you are all-square. | | | | Water Hazard |
| Stroke Play | | | | If your ball is in a water hazard, you can play it as it lies. |
| Stroke play is a round of golf in which the score is | | | | If you can't find it or don't want to play it, you need to |
| kept by adding the total of strokes taken throughout | | | | add a penalty stroke and drop and play another ball |
| the round (9 or 18 holes). Another name for stroke play | | | | from where you last played, or drop a ball behind the |
| is medal play. | | | | water hazard as far back as you want. |
| Your Responsibilities | | | | Dropping Your Ball |
| You have several responsibilities as a golf player. Here | | | | When you drop your ball, stand straight, hold your arm |
| are a few: | | | | out straight and drop it. There are several rules about |
| Read the rules on the course you're playing on. | | | | when this drop doesn't count, and you're allowed to |
| Tee off on time. | | | | re-drop. |
| Always use your correct handicap. | | | | Here are some of those circumstances: |
| Record your score correctly on your scorecard. | | | | If it hits the ground and rolls into a hazard |
| Play your own ball. | | | | If it comes to rest more than two club-lengths from |
| Practice | | | | where it first struck a part of the course |
| You are not allowed to take practice shots from any | | | | If you are dropping away from an immovable |
| hole, or on any hazard. Local courses may have their | | | | obstruction or ground under repair, etc., and it goes |
| own rules about this; make sure you're familiar with | | | | back into the obstruction. |
| them. | | | | The Putting Green |
| Asking Advice | | | | When your ball is on the green, you're allowed to brush |
| When playing a round of golf, you're not allowed to | | | | away leaves and other loose impediments within your |
| ask anyone except your caddie or partner for advice | | | | line of putt. You're not allowed to test the surface of |
| on how to play. You can ask about rules, however. | | | | the green by rolling a ball or scraping the surface. |
| You're not allowed to give advice to your opponent or | | | | Hitting the Flagstick |
| fellow-competitor, either. | | | | There are several rules about hitting the flagstick. Here |
| When to Play | | | | are a few: |
| When playing a hole, the player whose ball is farthest | | | | If your ball is off the green, there is no penalty if you |
| from the hole plays first. This is important to remember | | | | play and your ball strikes the flagstick. |
| because, if you play out of turn, your opponent can | | | | If your ball is on the green, either take the flagstick out |
| make you replay your shot. | | | | or ask another player to hold it and take it out when |
| Teeing Ground | | | | you play your ball. |
| The area you tee your ball to make the first hit of | | | | In match play, if you putt and your ball hits the flagstick |
| each hole is called the teeing ground. You can put your | | | | when it is in the hole, you lose the hole. In stroke play, |
| ball between the tee markers, or a little behind them. | | | | you must add two penalty strokes to your score for |
| You're allowed to place your ball as far as two club | | | | the hole. |
| lengths behind the markers. If your ball accidentally falls | | | | Ball Interference |
| off the tee, you may replace it without penalty. | | | | If another ball is in your line of putt, you can ask the |
| As It Lies | | | | owner to lift it. If your ball is near the hole, and could be |
| A big rule in golf is that you must play the ball as it lies; | | | | in the way of another player's shot, you may lift your |
| you can't move it to a better spot. You can't improve | | | | ball. |
| your shot by pressing down the turf behind the ball. If | | | | |