- Is it a two-stroke penalty when you hit your ball out of bounds? No – but it feels like it. Many golfers believe that hitting your ball out of bounds is a two-stroke penalty, but that is not quite right. Rather, it is a ‘stroke and distance’ penalty, meaning you add one stroke to your score and you have to play the shot over again from the same spot. In this way, it feels like a two-stroke loss, because you add the swing and the penalty stroke to your score, and you are still in the same place. So, for example, if you hit your tee shot out of bounds, you need to hit that tee shot again – and you’ll be hitting your third shot. So, it does feel like a two-stroke penalty, but technically speaking, it is only a penalty of one stroke, plus the loss of distance that you incur from having to play again from the same spot.
- Do you have to count a stroke when you accidentally touch your ball before the swing? This is another common point of misconception among amateur players. The correct answer here is actually ‘it depends’, because the appropriate ruling is going to depend on where you are on the golf course. On the tee, if you accidentally knock your ball off the tee while preparing to swing, there is no stroke added to your score. You simply replace the ball and go on with the process of hitting your shot. The shot you hit will still be your first stroke on the hole. However, if you make the same mistake from the fairway, you do need to add a stroke, assuming the ball moved positions on the ground. If the ball moves, you will move it back to its original location, add a stroke to your score, and move on.
- Is it a penalty to play out of turn? When you are playing stroke play – which is what you will typically be playing when out for a round with your friends – there is no penalty for playing out of turn. You might annoy your playing partners if you do this all day long, but it isn’t going to affect your scorecard. In match play, however, you are penalized for playing out of turn. Rather than adding a stroke to your score, you will simply be required to play the shot again. It should be noted that the requirement to replay your shot is completely up to your playing partner. If you hit a poor shot, it is entirely within your opponent’s rights to require you to keep that shot, rather than playing again. So, while in a match play situation, it is important to respect honors and only play when you are furthest from the hole.
- Can I use my putter when I’m not on the green? Yep – you can use any club in your bag, at any time, from any location on the course. There is nothing in the rules of golf to dictate when you can and can’t use any of your 14 clubs. With that said, the golf course you are playing would not be happy if you decided to take divots out of their greens by using a wedge, so apply common sense and respect the course. As long as you aren’t doing any unnecessary damage to the golf course, feel free to employ the use of whatever club you feel is going to give you the best chance for success on a given shot.
- Can I clean my golf ball during a hole? When your ball comes to rest on the green, you are allowed to mark it, clean it, and replace it. Anywhere else on the course, however, this would be a penalty. You have to ‘play the ball as it lies’ throughout the course, except when on the green, where you can pick it up and clean it off. If you play in a cold-weather environment your course may enact ‘winter rules’ during the off season, which would likely allow you to clean your ball when in the fairway (or even when anywhere other than a hazard). While winter rules are not official under the rules of golf, they are used in many places to make the game playable during rainy weather. Check in the pro shop at your local course for the current rules status before you head to the first tee.
To put it lightly, the rules of golf can be a bit confusing for a new golfer. For that matter, the rules of golf remain confusing for many experienced golfers. Even on the PGA Tour, where the competitors are highly accomplished players with years and years of experience on the links, it is common to see rules officials called in to make fairly simple decisions. Recently, the governing bodies of the game have taken steps to simplify the rules, which is good news indeed. However, there are still many parts of the rule book which confuse the average golfer, so let’s dive right into some key rules questions.
It is a good idea to keep a copy of the rule book in your golf bag for quick consultation on the course. Or, if you are technologically inclined, you could add an app to your phone which allows you to check on the rules. Even during a casual round with your friends, it is a good idea to abide by the rules in order to keep the game fair for all involved.
