Rules of Golf

Have you tried to explain the rules of golf to your friends? Are they stunned and nodded without understanding any of the terms you use? This is our gift to start the year well: explain the running of the tour in 10 easy points and access to all. A golfer’s first tour always poses an avalanche of questions: “Why do you play with a tee?” Why do you place the ball here?” How do you know it’s your ball?” How do you throw play behind a tree?” We offer you a selection of 10 Basic Rules to solve your doubts and understand golf.

How do you count points on a golf course?

At the beginning of the hole, you will find the information necessary for the game, such as the distance to the hole and the number of hits you must give to play on the pair. The score of the players depends on the number of hits made until they enter the hole. At the end of each hole, players score the number of hits on their scorecard. The player who has needed fewer strokes to complete the course wins.

How do I start the tour?

What color do I go from?

You are ready to start the tour; you have carefully chosen the stick depending on the distance of the hit. But surprise! You have to choose between 4 different outputs. What do you want? Depending on your level of play and experience:

The red exits are for women golfers beginning and evolving
The Blue exits are for women golfers of reasonable level and competitions.
Yellow exits are for beginning and evolving golfers.
White outings are for right level golf players and competitions.

Although it is a temptation to compete with the best players since the first punches, don’t forget that it is more pleasant to choose an output Mark appropriate to your real level.

Use tee

In the golf Start kit, you will have been recommended to include a tee. All right, but how do you use it? First of all, it is essential to know that this small accessory can only be used in the exit area of the route. Don’t even think about planting it in every punch at the fairway or the rough! If you want more information about using a tee, I recommend you to read this article: putting the tee right on the exit is an art!

Output behavior

There are usually several players at the start. Concentration and safety are the two essential elements of golf. There are mandatory etiquette rules when there is more than one player at the beginning. First, respect absolute silence so that you can concentrate without distractions, move as little as possible, and pay attention to not overshadowing your ball. The ideal position is to face the player in the starting zone, at a distance of several sticks, to observe the direction of the ball and see where it falls. So you can win a few precious minutes of play.

What order is followed during the game?

Start whoever’s further away

This is an crucial rule that affects players ‘ shifts. For obvious security reasons, always strike first the player who has been further away. Never pass in front of a player who’s getting ready to throw. Waiting patiently to have thrown to get close to your ball.

The behavior on the path

A blow to the head with a golf ball can cause serious injury. Don’t take useless risks! To avoid them, always respect the safety rules of the field in which you play and pay attention to your surroundings, before playing and during your travels on the fairway.

How do I recognize my ball?

90% of the balls used in the tours are white, so it is difficult to differentiate them in the fairway. To avoid playing with a partner’s ball by mistake, follow these simple recommendations. The first thing you have to do on the way out is to look at the number of your ball and remember it. You can also mark your ball to identify it quickly; for example, draw a distinctive sign on the ball with a particular marker. Another solution is to play with a non-white ball, opting for colored balls. Orange, yellow, or pink balls, as well as being different from your teammates ‘ balls, are more easily located on tour.

If you want to choose golf balls with more precision, don’t hesitate to consult our article: What kind of ball to choose?

What do I do when the ball comes off the line?

The ball is out of the field. How do you keep playing? There’s nothing easier. Stay where you are and play a second ball, you’ll have to count a penalty kick. If you’re not sure, play a provisional ball. If the ball is off-limits, it’ll be your fourth strike. If it turns out that the starting ball was finally valid, collect the provisional ball and play the 2nd hit with the starting ball.

The ball can’t be played. What do I do?

If the ball has fallen behind a tree or into a hole, it is considered that it cannot be played. The boldest may try to play it, but if you don’t dare, don’t despair. You have three options, and all accounted for a stroke penalty:

Drop the ball at a distance of two sticks from where it is, without approaching the flag.
Drop the ball along the line that separates you from the flag, without overtaking distance. So you can get out of a hole or avoid a bush, for example.
Like when the ball comes out of bounds, you can play it again from the starting point of the last blow.

The ball has fallen into a bunker, what do I do?

If you’re thinking about the holidays and, following your thoughts, the ball goes straight into the sand of a bunker, stay calm one more time.

If the ball can be played, try to get out of the bunker! Attention: during the test blows, the stick should never touch the sand.
If it cannot be played, follow the steps of Point 6 to get out of the problem.

When you leave the bunker, don’t forget to rake it to remove the tracks and leave the sand clean and smooth for the next players.

Pluf! How do I keep playing?

You tried a nice hit over the water, but no luck and the ball took a bath. You have two solutions out of the water:

a) Side pickets (red)

If the obstacle is on one side of the course and surrounded by Red pickets, you can replace the ball, with an apparent penalty hit. You have three options:

Play the ball again from the place of the previous run.
Drop the ball on the line between the entry point on the obstacle and the flag, away from the flag.
Drop the ball at a distance of two sticks from the entrance of the ball into the obstacle

b) Front pickets (yellow)

If the obstacle is in the middle of the course and surrounded by yellow pickets, you can replace the ball with a penalty kick. In this case, you only have two chances to get out. Drop the ball on the line between the entry point on the obstacle and the Flag, always moving away, or play the ball again from the exit point of the previous hit.

How do I finish the hole?

Bravo! You’ve reached the green; you have the hole in front of you in a straight line.

How do I act on the green?

The green is the most fragile area of the route; you must deal with it with the maximum care. It’s essential that you follow these primary rules:

Don’t abandon the bag or pass the cart on the green.
It always raises the Pikes, that is, the impact the ball leaves when it lands on the green. You have to do it with an arrangement.
Don’t go through the putting line of other players. Putt’s line is the path between the ball and the hole.
Remove the flag if all the players are on the green.
At the end of the hole, put the flag back on and leave the green quickly so that the next players can access the coveted Grail.

How do I finish the hole?

The hole is finished the moment the ball gets in, with a putt or a right approach. On the green, the hole is being marked with a flag. When all the balls have gone in, abandon the green and write down the score on the card.

Who starts the next hole?

Congratulations! You finished hole number one! And now who starts hole number two?

Very easy, the player who has won the previous hole, so that you do not get any possible advantage over your opponent in match play or other players in stroke play.