| The rules of golf are complex. The rule book is | | | | and it is in bounds, play that ball and pick up your |
| 155 pages long, and there is a book of decisions | | | | provisional ball. If the first ball is out of bounds or |
| on finer points that is almost 500 pages long. You | | | | you can't find it, continue playing with the |
| only have to understand a few of the basic rules | | | | provisional ball. Count the original stroke, count the |
| to be off to a good start. | | | | stroke you made with the provisional ball, and add |
| You may carry up to 14 clubs in your bag. You | | | | one penalty stroke. |
| should put a mark on your ball with a permanent | | | | If you think you just can't make a stroke where |
| marker, such as a red dot, to help identify your | | | | your ball is, declare it to be unplayable, and choose |
| ball. If two people in your group are playing a | | | | from three options: go back to where that ball |
| GoFar 2, the two balls might end up close | | | | was hit and play another, pick up the ball and drop |
| together and you would not know which one is | | | | it two club-lengths from where it is now (but not |
| yours. Your ball would be considered lost, which | | | | nearer the hole), or drop the ball anywhere on a |
| carries a penalty. | | | | line extended backwards from where the ball is |
| Tee off by putting your ball inside an imaginary | | | | now that connects that spot and the flagstick. |
| box the width of the tee markers and two | | | | With each option there is a one-stroke penalty. |
| club-lengths deep. You may stand outside the box | | | | If your ball goes into a sand trap, you may not |
| to hit your ball, but the ball must be inside it. | | | | touch the sand with your club before you make |
| Play the ball is it lies. If you move the ball to a | | | | your stroke. To do so incurs a two-stroke |
| better spot, or break or remove any growing | | | | penalty. |
| thing that is in the way to hit the ball or take your | | | | If you hit your ball into a water hazard that is |
| stance, you incur a two-stroke penalty. | | | | lined with yellow stakes, you may play another |
| On the putting green, you may mark your ball, | | | | ball from where you hit the one that went in the |
| pick it up, and clean it. Replace it on the same | | | | water, or you may play another ball anywhere on |
| spot it originally lay. If a ball played from the | | | | a line extended backwards that connects the spot |
| putting green hits the flagstick, there is a | | | | where the ball entered the hazard and the |
| two-stroke penalty. | | | | flagstick. If the water hazard is lined with red |
| If you accidentally move your ball, replace it and | | | | stakes, you may in addition choose to play a ball |
| add a one stroke penalty. | | | | within two club-lengths of (a) the point where the |
| If your ball is off the green and when you play on | | | | ball entered the hazard (but no nearer the the |
| and your ball hits a ball that is already there, play | | | | hole) or (b) a point on the opposite side of the |
| your ball from where it ends up and replace the | | | | hazard equidistant from the hole as point (a). With |
| ball you struck where it originally lay. If both balls | | | | each option there is a one-stroke penalty. |
| were on the putting green, proceed in the same | | | | The rules are designed to keep the game moving, |
| way, and you must take a two-stroke penalty. | | | | hold you accountable for certain mistakes, give |
| If you think your ball has gone out of bounds or | | | | you reasonable relief if you get into trouble. A |
| might be lost, announce that you are going to | | | | player who knows the rules and follows them |
| play a provisional ball. Hit it from where you | | | | earns great respect from the people they play |
| played the previous stroke. When you get to | | | | with. |
| where you think the first ball is, and you find it | | | | |