Golfing is not just a sport; it is also an art that is mastered through practice. From swings to finishing and everything in between, consistency is the only way to get you ahead. It' not a game for the rich. Understanding and being aware of basic golf rules is a must.
1. Clubs and Balls
One important rule to note is that you are allowed to carry up to 14 clubs in your bag during a competitive round. You are permitted to carry less, but be wary of additional clubs that may be in your bag, for they will cost you penalty strokes for every hole you play.
You must finish a hole with the ball that you started with.
However, you can change balls between two holes, but not during a hole. However, if you lose a ball, you can use any other ball as the new ball in play.
2. Play within the parameters of the tee
The ball must be teed up behind the line created by the markers. As long as you can tee is as far back as the length of two drivers, you can tee it up between the two markers. However, you cannot tee in front of the tee markers. In the scenario where your ball falls off the tee before you swing at it, it does not count as a shot. You can put your ball back on the tee and take your shot. But, if you swing at it and the ball falls off the tee, that counts as your first shot. You will then have to take the next shot from where it is.
3. Avoid playing the wrong ball
What should sound very obvious and seem self-explanatory is often overlooked, especially some notes for beginners. But the danger of not marking your ball before you start is dangerous. Due to the ever-increasing common stamps on golf balls, you can mistake your ball for someone else's. By doing so, it could mean a loss of hole in singles and will be a two-stroke penalty in stroke play. To avoid such a penalty, mark your ball with personalized symbols and that is distinctive to you.
4. Hitting the ball
Golf rules for beginners are as simple as it sounds; you need to hit the ball in one stroke. You are not allowed to scoop the ball either by swooping it. You cannot push the ball like a hockey puck either, with extended contact. You can only hit a ball that is standing still. Hitting moving balls is completely prohibited unless it is in the water. It becomes very tricky to count the shots and penalties. This is why marking your ball is important, or you will get a two-stroke penalty.
5. Play your ball as it lies
It would be best to play your ball wherever it lies when it comes to rest unless mentioned otherwise. The most common exemptions include the effect of loose impediments. In such cases, you can remove leaves, loose twigs, litter, or obstructions such as human-made paths, drainage, sprinklers. You will receive free relief and can drop your ball within one club-length at the nearest point of relief, not nearer to the hole.
6. Unplayable lies
It is common not to know what to do if your ball comes to rest in a position that you deem is unplayable, but there are three things you can do. You can either hit another ball from the point of your previous shot, drop the ball behind the unplayable lie or drop the ball within two club-lengths either side of the unplayable lie. However, each option incurs a one-stroke penalty. This is such a basic golf rule for kids that it seems like a no brainer. One thing you should always keep in mind is staying safe when playing.
7. No way back from Out of Bounds (OB)
You must know what to do if your ball goes out of bounds, especially if you are a beginner. If the ball is hit beyond the confines of the course, then it just is replayed from the original position with the addition of one penalty stroke.
If you feel that a shot has gone OB or into a water hazard, play a provisional, and declare it. You will have five minutes to search for it, and if it's lost, you have saved valuable time.
The scorecard of any golf course must have its boundaries marked or described. However, if your original is subsequently found in bounds or dry within five minutes of the point of search, you must continue with the original ball.
8. Giving and asking for advice
You are only allowed to ask your caddy for advice on how to play the hole. However, you cannot let your caddie line you up. You can only ask for advice on where to hit the ball. You are strictly not allowed to ask another player which club he hit or which club you should use or any advice. In more social settings, it is not a rule that applies, so it's up to you to gauge who you are playing with and observe their behavior and conversations on the course.
However, something you are allowed to do is anyone to hold the flag for anyone else. You can also ask for information that is public knowledge like where the water hazards are and distances on the sprinklers.
These are the eight basic golf rules that you need to know before you get out on the golf course or decide to take up on the competition.
