More about the Rules of Golf
LOOSE IMPEDIMENTS
You may move a loose impediment unless it and your ball are in a hazard. However,
if you have touched a loose impediment within one club-length of your ball and
your ball moves, the ball must be replaced and (unless your ball was on the
putting green) you incur a penalty stroke.
OBSTRUCTIONS
Check the Local Rules on the scorecard for guidance on immovable obstructions
(e.g. surfaced roads and paths etc). Movable obstructions (e.g. rakes, tin cans
etc.) anywhere on the course may be moved. If the ball moves it must be replaced
without penalty. If an immovable obstruction (e.g. a water fountain) interferes
with your stance or swing, you may drop the ball within one club-length of the
nearest point of relief not nearer the hole. There is no relief for intervention
on your line of play unless your ball and the obstruction are on the putting
green.
CASUAL WATER, GROUND UNDER REPAIR etc.
If your ball is in casual water, ground under repair or a hole or cast made
by a burrowing animal e.g. a rabbit, you may drop without penalty within one
club-length of the nearest point of relief not nearer the hole.
WATER HAZARDS
Check the Local Rules on the scorecard to establish whether the sea, lake,
river etc. is a `water hazard' or a `lateral water hazard'. Ball in watery hazard
- play the ball as it lies or, under penalty of one stroke, (a) drop any distance
behind the water hazard keeping a straight line between the hole, the point
where the ball crossed the margin of the water hazard and spot on which the
ball is dropped, or (b) play again from where you hit the ball into the hazard.
Ball in lateral water hazard - in addition to the options for a ball in a water
hazard (see above), under penalty of one stroke, you may drop within two club-lengths
of (a) the point where the ball crossed the margin of the hazard or (b) a point
on the opposite side of the hazard equidistant from the hole.
BALL LOST OR OUT OF BOUNDS
Check the Local Rules on the scorecard to identify the boundaries of the course.
If your ball is lost outside a water hazard or out of bounds you must play another
ball from the spot where the last shot was played under penalty of one stroke
i.e. stroke and distance. You are allowed 5 minutes to search for a ball, after
which if it is not found or identified it is lost. If, after playing a shot,
you think your ball may be lost outside a water hazard or out of bounds you
may play a `provisional ball'. You must state that it is a provisional ball
and play it before you go forward to search for the original ball. If the original
ball is lost or out of bounds you must continue with the provisional ball under
penalty of one stroke. If the original ball is not lost or out of bounds, you
must continue play of the hole with it and the provisional ball must be abandoned.
BALL UNPLAYABLE
If you believe your ball is unplayable outside a water hazard (and you are
the sole judge), you may under penalty of one stroke, (a) drop within two club-lengths
of where the ball lies not nearer the hole, (b) drop any distance behind the
point where the ball lay keeping a straight line between the hole, the point
where the ball lay and the spot on which the ball is dropped, or (c) replay
the shot. If your ball is in a bunker you may proceed under (a), (b) and (c).
However, if you elect to proceed under (a) or (b) you must drop in the bunker.
CONCLUSION
A good score may be spoiled, or a match lost, due to a penalty incurred through
ignorance or confusion concerning the Rules. A sound knowledge of the above
summary should aid the golfer in tackling a "Rules problem". Nevertheless,
the complete Rules of Golf as approved by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of
St. Andrews and the United States Golf Association, should be consulted where
any doubt arises.