| There is a universal set of rules in golf. The | | | | your swing it does not count as a stroke.o Once |
| following will provide an outline of some of the | | | | you have struck your ball, you must play as it lies |
| most important rules in the game of golf for | | | | which means you may not touch the ball as it lies. |
| beginners. For more details of these rules refer to | | | | Often during winter some courses will permit you |
| the actual golf rule book.o Starting out announce | | | | to clean and place the ball on the fairway, and |
| the make and number of golf ball you are going | | | | allow placing the ball within 6" of its original position, |
| to play with.o You are allowed only to have 14 | | | | but it cannot be closer to the hole. The course |
| clubs in your golf bag.o Penalties for too many | | | | may also have a specific ruling on the rough, |
| golf clubs are: For stroke-play it is two penalty | | | | which you will have to check with the golf club.o |
| strokes are given on each hole where the fault | | | | Always make sure the ball you are about to play |
| occurred. In match-play you loose the hole where | | | | is your ball. Playing the incorrect ball will incur a |
| the violation occurred, stableford deduct 2 points | | | | penalty. In match play you loose the hole. In |
| for every hole the violation occurred, maximum | | | | stroke-play you incur a two-stroke penalty and |
| deduction 4 points.o The player with the honour | | | | then play your own golf ball. If the ball belongs to |
| of teeing off first: In organized competition the | | | | a fellow player the ball must be replaced.o Lost |
| player whose name appears first. Otherwise toss | | | | Ball: you are allowed 5 minutes to look for your |
| a coin.o Teeing off, make sure to stay within the | | | | golf ball. Always remember to direct the match |
| line of the two markers.o Teeing off outside the | | | | behind you to play through. If after 5 minutes you |
| line of the markers in match play your opponent | | | | cannot find your ball, in match- play and |
| can ask you to take your shot again, but there is | | | | stroke-play you must play your new ball at where |
| no penalty. In stroke-play you are penalized by | | | | you played your last shot, if on the fairway you |
| two strokes and have to re-take your shot.o Ball | | | | play near as possible to where you played your |
| falls off the tee even if you touch the ball with | | | | previous shot. Penalty is added, for example if |
| the club head there is no penalty. If you have | | | | your shot was a tee shot, well you would then be |
| started your down swing and making a glancing | | | | playing your 3rd shot.o Finally always refer to the |
| blow on the ball or even if you miss the ball, it | | | | golf rule book if in any doubt about a particular |
| counts as a stroke. But if you are able to stop | | | | question. |