Hands up if you’ve ever actually read the Rules of Golf?
I might have done, sometime in the last century when I was about to join a club as a junior. I’ve a vague memory of that process involving some sort of pop-quiz on rules and etiquette.
But since then I’ve just sort of assumed I know the rules, and I think I do. Well, enough to play in my local club’s competitions and that sort of thing. But I must admit there’s the odd moment where I’m not totally sure, and have to check with a playing partner.
This made me think there must be millions of us out there playing this game (which relies so much on self-policing) who don’t know the rules all that well. And the thing is, a lot of the time those rules could actually be helping us out.
The ten most helpful rules of golf
Here then, are ten of the most helpful rules of golf, that a lot of ordinary golfers might not be aware of (and could even save you a shot or two…).
These are the R&A rules by the way – there might be some subtle differences with the USGA rules – and please do check for yourself before quoting us on any of these!
1. Ball moved by your practice swing
We’ve all done it, or at least seen it. You’re standing on the tee having a little practice swipe and just catch the side of the ball. But fear not, because as long as this is happens on the tee, you get to replace it with no penalty.
If you accidentally cause your ball to move when it is in the teeing area (including by your practice swing), it may be re-teed anywhere in the teeing area without penalty.
The same applies if you accidentally move your ball on the putting green – replace it with no penalty. But, slightly confusingly, if this happens anywhere else, you have to replace it with a one stroke penalty.
If you accidentally cause your ball to move by your practice swing when it is in the general area, the ball must be replaced on its original spot (which if not known must be estimated) and you get one penalty stroke.
2. Ball falling off the tee
Closely related to the above rule, we have the classic “ball falls off the tee before you’ve actually started your swing” situation. While it is compulsory for at least one playing partner to smirk and say “one”, the actual rule is that you get to re-tee it with no penalty
If a teed ball falls off the tee or is knocked off the tee by the player before the player has made a stroke at it, it may be re-teed anywhere in the teeing area without penalty.
3. Playing a provisional
A very common occurrence for most of us: a shot heads towards trouble so we decide to play a provisional ball. But when does it stop being a provisional ball?
Well, as long as it’s behind where the original ball is estimated to be, you can keep playing it as a provisional, at least until the first one is found or the three minutes search time is up.
Your provisional ball becomes your ball in play under penalty of stroke and distance in either of these two cases:
- Your original ball is lost anywhere on the course except in a penalty area or is out of bounds.
- When your provisional ball is played from a spot nearer to the hole than where your original ball is estimated to be.
4. Relief from staked trees
So, you’ve hit your ball right behind a tree. Again. The only option is to chip out sideways, right? Well, hang on, because if that tree is a young tree, and is marked by a stake or something similar, you get a free drop (within one club length of the nearest point of relief and no nearer to the whole)! This rule also applies to things like sprinkler heads and cart paths, but there are a few caveats.
If a player has any type of interference as defined in Rule 16.1 from such a tree designated as a no play zone, they must take relief under Rule 16.1f.
5. Out of Bounds, or Not?
We all flirt with those white stakes now and then, but do you know exactly where the out of bounds line is?
If there are stakes marking the OB, the line is on the inside of the stakes. If it’s a painted line, the ball is in play if some part of it is on the right side of the line. This calls for a diagram…Also, you can stand out of bounds to play a ball that’s in bounds.
6. Replacing a cracked ball
If your ball becomes cut or cracked while playing a hole, did you know you can replace it? Neither did I, but you can…
The player may substitute another ball only if it can be clearly seen that the original ball is cut or cracked and this damage happened during the hole being played – but not if it is only scratched or scraped or its paint is only damaged or discoloured.
If the original ball is cut or cracked, the player must replace either another ball or the original ball on the original spot (see Rule 14.2).
If the original ball is not cut or cracked, the player must replace it on its original spot (see Rule 14.2).
7. Cleaning your ball
Stop sniggering at the back…
Most of us probably do know this one, but just in case. You are allowed to lift up and clean your ball whenever it’s on the putting green. You obviously need to mark it first, and replace it in the right place, but this is a definitely a rule to take advantage of – a bit of dirt on the ball can play havoc with your putting.
8. Relief from the wrong green
For those of us whose tee shots are, let’s say, inconsistent, it’s not unheard to drive the green. It’s just usually not the right green!
When this happens, DO NOT PLAY IT FROM THE GREEN. The greenkeepers will string you up for that.
Instead, you get to take a free drop from within one club length of the nearest point of relief, which means you’re not standing on the green to play the shot, and no nearer to the hole you are actually playing.
9. Relief from an embedded ball
The course is a bit soft and you’ve hit one of your famous “high fades” which plummets vertically back down to earth. You get to the ball and it’s half-buried in the ground.
Luckily, in this situation, you get to take a free drop, within one club length of the spot immediately behind where it was embedded. There are some caveats to this, so check the detailed rules here.
10. Ball moved by outside influence
Let’s say you stripe one down the middle of the fairway (I know, but let’s just imagine for a moment…).
You walk up to where the ball should be and…nothing there. But you do see someone who is playing a different hole suspiciously walking off from where your ball should have been. Did they just hit your ball?! If you are virtually certain that some outside influence has moved your ball, you can replace it with no penalty.
If it is known or virtually certain that an outside influence (including another player in stroke play or another ball) lifted or moved a player’s ball at rest:
- There is no penalty, and
- The ball must be replaced on its original spot (which if not known must be estimated) (see Rule 14.2).
The threshold for being ‘virtually certain’ is high – you and your playing partners need to be at least 95% sure than the thing in question happened. But, if that’s the case, this rule could save you from one of the most frustrating things golf can throw at you.
So there we are, 10 of the most helpful rules in golf. I hope that helps some of you out – let’s face it, this game is difficult enough without taking advantage of some of the rules that are there to help.
Dave McLean