USGA – Rules You Should Know

 

 

OFFICIAL GOLF RULES

Ball Lost or Out of Bounds
(No Water or White Stakes)
 
Summary
Penalty is Stroke and Distance

Considered one of the most severe penalties in golf.
Shoot again from the original spot and take a penalty stroke.
For example;
If this was your tee shot, you are now shooting your 3rd shot,
from the same tee box.
Please view video below titled

Rules of Golf Explained: Ball Lost or Out of Bounds

 
Alternative is 2 Stroke Penalty
If you take your shot in the area near where the original ball was
lost, you will receive a general penalty for playing a ball from the
wrong place.  This penalty is added to the original 1 stroke penalty.
This results in a two stroke penalty for this lost ball.
Please view video below titled

Golf’s New Rules (2019): Alternative to Stroke and Distance

 

Hitting A Provisional Ball

Summary
Rule 18.3 A: When a provisional ball is allowed
If the player is aware that the only possible place the original ball could be
lost is an a penalty area, a provisional ball is not allowed and a ball played from
where the previous stroke was made becomes the player’s ball in play under
penalty of stroke and distance.
 
Rule 18.3 B:  Announcing play of provisional ball
Before the stroke is made, the player must announce that they are going to play a
provisional ball.
 
Rule 18.3 C: Playing provisional ball more than once
The player may continue to play the provisional ball without it losing its status
as a provisional ball so long as it is played from a spot that is the same distance or
further from the hole then where the first ball is estimated to be.  This is true even
if the provisional ball is played several times.
 
Rule 18.3 C(2): When provisional ball becomes ball in play
The provisional ball becomes the players ball in play under penalty of stroke and
distance in either of these two cases:
1) When the original ball is lost anywhere on the course except in a penalty area
or is out of bounds.
2) When provisional ball is played from a spot nearer the hole than where the original
ball is estimated to be.
 
Rule 18.3 C(2): When provisional ball MUST be abandoned
When a provisional ball has not yet become the ball in play it must be abandoned
in either of these cases:
1) When the original ball is found on course outside penalty area before the end of
the three minute search time.
2) When the original ball is found in a penalty area or is known or virtually certain
to be in a penalty area.
 
For additional information on provisional ball situations – please view video below titled

How to Play A Provisional Ball In Golf / Everything You Need To Know

 

Water Hazards / Red Stakes / Red Lines

Yellow Stakes / Yellow Lines

Summary
Red stakes pounded into the ground on a golf course or red lines painted on the ground 
are the markers used to indicate a lateral water hazard.
 
Yellow stakes or painted lines represent a water hazard crossing the fairway in front of you.
 
Note:  Officially water hazards are now known as red or yellow penalty areas.
 
RED STAKE OR RED PAINTED LINE OPTIONS
 
Rule 17.1 B: Player may play the ball as it lies in the penalty area.
There is no penalty stroke utilizing this option.
NOTE:  Grounding the club, moving loose impediments, and practice swings
are all allowed on these types of shots. 
Just be careful not to hit the ball (or it’s a one stroke penalty)
 
Rule 17.1 D: Stroke and distance relief
Go back to the original spot where you hit and try again.  In doing so, you count
the original shot that got you in trouble and then add one penalty stroke.
 
Rule 17.1 D (2): Back-On-The-Line Relief
Please view the video below titled

Golf’s New Rules (2019): Procedure for Taking Back on the Line Relief

Rule 17.1 D (3): Lateral relief (only for red penalty area)
Essentially a lateral drop from the red penalty area.  Measured two club lengths from the
ball entry point and will cost you the original shot plus one penalty stroke.
 
YELLOW STAKE OR YELLOW PAINTED LINE OPTIONS
 
Option 1 – Stroke and Distance Relief (your shot plus one stroke)
Option 2 – Back-On-The-Line Relief (your shot plus one stroke)
 
Please view the video below titled

Rules of Golf Explained (2023) – Penalty Areas

Unplayable Ball – USGA Rule 19

Summary
One stroke penalty – 3 relief options available (see below)
Same relief options in the bunker.  Two stroke penalty for moving out of the bunker.

Rule 19.1 ONLY the player can decide to take unplayable ball relief.
This can be done anywhere except in a penalty area.  If the player takes an unplayable
ball, they are taking penalty relief under rule 19.2 and 19.3
 
Rule 19.2 Relief options for unplayable ball in general area or on putting green.
3 Options Available
 
1)  Stroke and distance. (count shot plus penalty stroke) – Rule 19.2A
 
2) Back on the line relief (count shot plus penalty stroke) – Rule 19.2B
 
3) Lateral relief (count shot plus penalty stroke) – Rule 19.2C
Original spot of ball is reference point with this option.  2 club lengths.
 
Rule 19.3 Relief Options for Unplayable Ball in the Bunker
The same relief options that are listed above so long as you don’t move it out of the bunker.
Except stroke and distance which of course is 1 penalty stroke.
Back on the line relief outside the bunker is a 2 stroke penalty.
 
Please view the video below titled

Unplayable Ball – USGA Rule 19 Explained

 

Taking Relief From the Cart Path (animal holes, etc.) or Free Relief

 
Summary
This rule covers free relief that is allowed from interference by animal holes, ground
under repair, immovable obstructions, or temporary water.  These are collectively called
abnormal course conditions.
 
Rule 16.1 Abnormal Course Conditions
You can take free relief if the area of your ball touches or is in an abnormal course condition.
An abnormal course condition physically interferes with the players area of intended stance or
area of intended swing.
You get 1 club length (longest club in your bag) to the nearest point of relief.
THERE IS NO FREE RELIEF FROM OB BOUNDARIES OR MARKERS UNLESS THE PRIOR LISTED
ABNORMAL COURSE CONDITIONS APPLY.
 
Please view the video below titled

Taking Relief From the Cart Path – USGA Rule 16.1A Explained

Rules of Golf Explained: Nearest Point of Complete Relief (2019)

 

Embedded Balls

 
Summary
Free drop for balls embedded in the general area.  The general area does not include
your tee box for the hole, penalty areas, bunkers, and the putting green of the hole you are playing.
 
This rule covers free relief that is allowed from interference by animal holes, ground
under repair, immovable obstructions, or temporary water.  These are collectively called
abnormal course conditions.
 

Hitting Another Ball While Putting

 
Summary
If you putt a ball and it hits another ball on the
putting green, it is a two stroke penalty on you if you are playing stroke play.
If you are playing match play there is no penalty
 
Ask the person to spot their ball.  In a perfect world, everyone on the
green should have marked their ball.  In any event, if you putt and
hit a ball; it will cost you two strokes.
 
 
 
 
 
To view this video on You Tube click here

Rules of Golf Explained: Ball Lost or Out of Bounds

To view this video on You Tube click here

Alternative to Stroke and Distance Penalty

To view this video on You Tube click here

Provisional Ball – Everything you need to know

To view this video on You Tube click here

Procedure for Back-on-line relief

To view this video on You Tube click here

Rules of Golf Explained (2023) – Penalty Areas

To view this video on You Tube click here

Unplayable Ball – USGA Rule 19 Explained

To view this video on You Tube click here

Rules of Golf Explained: Ball Unplayable

Taking Relief From the Cart Path – USGA Rule 16.1A Explained

To view this video on You Tube click here

Rules of Golf Explained: Nearest Point of Complete Relief (2019)

To view this video on YouTube click here

Golf Tips: Golf Ball Marker Rules