Golf rules can be tricky, there are a lot of them and not all are intuitive. Here are a few notes from a recent GSGA golf rules clinic I attended. As most junior golf tournaments are stroke play tournaments, the particularities of match play will not be referred to in this article.
In the Teeing Area
These rules apply when the player is teeing off to begin the hole or if during play in the teeing area, for example when they come back on the line after taking relief to the teeing area.
A player must tee off from inside the teeing area. Specifically the ball must be within the teeing area (the player can take a stance outside the area). If a player tees off outside the teeing area the general penalty (2 strokes) is invoked and the player must re-tee and correct their mistake from inside the teeing area.
The player has the entire hole to go back, restart the hole from within the teeing area with a 2 stroke penalty, and correct their mistake but if they fail to do so and tee off on the next hole they are disqualified.
Improving Conditions
What you are allowed to do in the teeing area to improve conditions:
- Alter the surface of the ground by making an indentation with a club or foot.
- Move, bend or break grass, weeds or other natural objectys attached or growing in the ground in the teeing area.
- Remove or press down sand and soil in the teeing area.
- Remove dew, water and frost in the teeing area.
Lifting or Moving the Ball
If you are playing from the teeing area the ball is not in play until a stroke is made so it may be lifted or moved without penalty, before the stroke is made. If the player makes a stroke while the ball is falling off the tee or after the ball has fallen off the tee the stroke counts and the ball is in play.
Changing Out a Ball in Teeing Area
If a ball is in play in the teeing area, for example the player swung and missed the tee shot, or the player returned to the teeing area after taking relief, they can play that ball or another ball from anywhere in the teeing area, from a tee, or the ground, including how it lies.
Substituting a Ball
If you take relief – whether free relief or from a penalty area you can drop your original ball, or another ball.
You are not allowed to substitute a ball when replacing it on a spot (like when you place your ball on the marker on the putting green or "lift clean and place"/preferred lies are in effect).
Other than when taking relief, a player can also substitute a ball during a hole if;
- The ball is cracked or cut.
- Play resumes after suspension of play.
- The original ball is not easily recoverable.
A ball that is substituted during play as the ball in play, becomes the ball in play even if the original ball is subsequently found, or the substitution was not allowed, or it was dropped or placed in an incorrect manner.
If a player’s cannot find their original ball and takes stroke and distance relief, the player must continue playing with the substituted ball even if the original ball is found regardless of whether it is found within the 3 minute search period or not.
Playing the Wrong Ball
If a player plays the wrong ball they get the general penalty (2 strokes) and must correct the mistake by playing with the original ball. Strokes made with the wrong ball do not count. If the mistake is not corrected before starting the next hole (or handing the scorecard in if it is the final hole) the player is disqualified.
Bunker Play
If a ball lies on soil or grass or growing natural objects inside the bunker without touching the sand, the ball is regarded as not in a bunker.
If a bunker were to extend down to the water edge and a red penalty demarcation is painted over the sand along the water and the ball lies on the red line the ball would be considered as lying in the penalty area.
There is a golf rule (2.2c) that determines the order of determining where you are on the course if your ball is lying in two specific areas (e.g. in on a painted red line). The order is as follows;
- Penalty area
- Bunker
- Putting Green
Playing Ball in Bunker
A player may remove loose impediments and moveable obstructions. Reasonable touching or movement of the sand in the bunker that happens while doing so is allowed, even if conditions affecting the stroke are improved by this action.
A player will be assessed the general penalty (2 strokes) in the bunker if touching the sand with hand, club, rake or other object, before taking a stroke, is deliberate to test the condition of the sand.
A player will also be assessed a penalty if they touch the sand in the bunker with a club in the area right in front of or right behind the ball. (Exceptions to this would be if searching for a ball or removing a loose object).
A penalty is also assessed if the player touches sand with the club during practice swing or backswing for a stroke.
On the Putting Green
Fixing Damage
Players can repair most damage on the putting green including pitch marks, spike marks, and can clear away sand and soil.
Damage that cannot be repaired on a putting green includes damage or conditions resulting from normal maintenance (eg. Aeration holes, and grooves from vertical mowing) and natural surface imperfections (eg. weeds, bare areas, uneven growth).
Ball Movement
There is no penalty for accidental ball (or ball marker) movement caused by the player or another player on the putting green. In this case you would simply move it back it to its original spot. An exception to this is that the ball must be played as it lies when the ball begins to move during backswing or stroke and the stroke is made.
If a ball moves due to natural forces (eg. wind) the course of action depends on if the ball has already been marked or not.
If the ball has already been lifted and replaced and is moved by natural forces it must be returned to the spot it moved from.
If the ball has not already been marked, lifted and replaced and moves as a result of natural forces it must be played from its new spot.
Ball Resting Against Flagstick
If the ball is resting against the flagstick but no part of the ball is below the surface of the putting green it is regarded as not holed even if it falls into the hole when the flagstick is taken out. In this case the ball will need to be replaced on the lip of the hole.
Ball Overhanging the Hole
If a ball is overhanging the hole there is a maximum wait time to see whether it falls in. The player can take a reasonable amount of time to walk to the hole and an additional 10 seconds to wait for the ball to fall in. If the ball falls in within this time period it is considered holed-out.
If the ball falls in outside of the 10 seconds wait time the ball is considered holed-out, however a one stroke penalty must be added to the score for the hole.
Returning a Scorecard
At the end of a tournament, if a player turns in a scorecard that is incorrect, e.g. an incorrect score has been returned for a hole, there are two possible outcomes.
- If the returned score is higher than the actual score, the higher returned score stands.
- If the returned score is lower than the actual score (or if no score is registered), the player is disqualified.
An exception to this rule is if the player’s hole score is lower than the actual score because they excluded a penalty stroke(s) they were not aware of before returning the score.
Conclusion
The rules of golf are extensive and can be intricate. This article deals with just a few areas of play; teeing area, bunkers, ball replacement, and putting green.
Other articles on the subject of golf rules, specifically written for junior players and their parents, include:
3 Golf Rules Juniors Get Wrong (and a few they might not know exist)
Common Golf Rules Simplified for Juniors
Golf Rules Quiz and Rules Summary
Knowing the rules not only builds confidence on the course but also encourages good sportsmanship, integrity and respect for the game.
