GOLF RULES, ETIQUETTE, &GOLF RULES, ETIQUETTE, &EQUIPMENTEQUIPMENT

USGA GOLF RULESUSGA GOLF RULES

MATCH PLAYMATCH PLAY• WIN OR LOSE THE WIN OR LOSE THE

HOLEHOLE

MEDAL PLAYMEDAL PLAY• TOTAL STROKESTOTAL STROKES

STROKE PLAYSTROKE PLAY

ON THE TEEON THE TEE• MUST TEE BETWEEN OR BEHIND TEE MUST TEE BETWEEN OR BEHIND TEE

MARKERSMARKERS• IF THE BALL FALLS OFF THE TEE, IF THE BALL FALLS OFF THE TEE,

WHEN NOT IN PLAY, IT IS NOT A WHEN NOT IN PLAY, IT IS NOT A STROKESTROKE–WHEN DOES IT COST A STROKE?WHEN DOES IT COST A STROKE?

• A “WIFF” IS A STROKEA “WIFF” IS A STROKE

ON THE FAIRWAY OR IN THE ON THE FAIRWAY OR IN THE ROUGHROUGH

YOU MUST PLAY THE BALL WHERE IT YOU MUST PLAY THE BALL WHERE IT LIESLIES• YOU CANNOT IMPROVE YOUR LIE BY YOU CANNOT IMPROVE YOUR LIE BY

MOVING, BREAKING, OR BENDING MOVING, BREAKING, OR BENDING GROWING VEGETATION (2 STROKES GROWING VEGETATION (2 STROKES OR LOSS OF HOLE)OR LOSS OF HOLE)

• YOU CAN MOVE LOOSE NATURAL YOU CAN MOVE LOOSE NATURAL OBJECTS WITHOUT PENALTY; BUT IF OBJECTS WITHOUT PENALTY; BUT IF YOU MOVE THE BALL (1 STROKE)YOU MOVE THE BALL (1 STROKE)

FAIRWAY/ROUGH FAIRWAY/ROUGH (CONTINUED)(CONTINUED)

IF YOU PLAY THE WRONG BALL (2 STROKES OR IF YOU PLAY THE WRONG BALL (2 STROKES OR LOSS OF HOLE) LOSS OF HOLE) • PLAY OUT HOLE WITH CORRECT BALLPLAY OUT HOLE WITH CORRECT BALL

LOST BALLLOST BALL• 5 MINUTES AND/OR PLAY THRU5 MINUTES AND/OR PLAY THRU• DROP (PROVISIONAL BALL)FROM SPOT LAST DROP (PROVISIONAL BALL)FROM SPOT LAST

PLAYED (1 STROKE)PLAYED (1 STROKE)• MAY BE RETEED IF LOST FROM THE TEE MAY BE RETEED IF LOST FROM THE TEE

SHOT (HITTING 3)SHOT (HITTING 3)

RULES FOR HAZARDSRULES FOR HAZARDS

WATER HAZARDSWATER HAZARDS IF YOUR BALL LANDS IN WATER:IF YOUR BALL LANDS IN WATER:• IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE A SHOT GO FOR IT IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE A SHOT GO FOR IT

“LUCKY” (CAN’T GROUND CLUB)“LUCKY” (CAN’T GROUND CLUB)• PLAY A PROVISIONAL BALL FROM THE SPOT PLAY A PROVISIONAL BALL FROM THE SPOT

LAST PLAYED (1 STROKE)LAST PLAYED (1 STROKE)• DROP BEHIND THE HAZARD (1 STROKE)DROP BEHIND THE HAZARD (1 STROKE)• LATERAL WATER HAZARDLATERAL WATER HAZARD– PLAY FROM LAST SPOT OR;PLAY FROM LAST SPOT OR;– DROP WITHIN 2 CLUB LENGTHS OF DROP WITHIN 2 CLUB LENGTHS OF

HAZARD MARGINHAZARD MARGIN

SAND BUNKERSSAND BUNKERS

CANNOT GROUND CLUB (2 STROKES)CANNOT GROUND CLUB (2 STROKES)

IF BALL IS COMPLETELY BURIED OR COVERED IF BALL IS COMPLETELY BURIED OR COVERED

• YOU CAN REMOVE ENOUGH OF THE YOU CAN REMOVE ENOUGH OF THE

IMPEDIMENT TO SEE THE BALLIMPEDIMENT TO SEE THE BALL

CASUAL WATER, GROUND CASUAL WATER, GROUND UNDER REPAIR, OR....UNDER REPAIR, OR....

OTHER THAN A OTHER THAN A HAZARD OR THE HAZARD OR THE GREENGREEN• ONE CLUB LENGTH ONE CLUB LENGTH

RELIEF RELIEF • NO CLOSER TO NO CLOSER TO

THE HOLETHE HOLE• NO PENALTYNO PENALTY

IN A HAZARD IN A HAZARD • PLAY IT AS IT LIES;PLAY IT AS IT LIES;• LIFT WITHOUT LIFT WITHOUT

PENALTY AND PENALTY AND DROP IN THE DROP IN THE HAZARD NO HAZARD NO CLOSER TO THE CLOSER TO THE HOLEHOLE

• LIFT AND DROP LIFT AND DROP OUTSIDE THE HAZARD; OUTSIDE THE HAZARD; PENALTY 1 STROKEPENALTY 1 STROKE

CASUAL WATER, GROUND CASUAL WATER, GROUND UNDER REPAIR, OR....UNDER REPAIR, OR....

ON THE GREENON THE GREEN• LIFT WITHOUT PENALTY AND PLACE TO GET LIFT WITHOUT PENALTY AND PLACE TO GET

MOST RELIEF POSSIBLE; NO CLOSER TO THE MOST RELIEF POSSIBLE; NO CLOSER TO THE HOLEHOLE

LOST BALLLOST BALL• NO PENALTY FOR LOST BALL IN THIS NO PENALTY FOR LOST BALL IN THIS

SITUATIONSITUATION

RELIEF FROM OBSTRUCTIONRELIEF FROM OBSTRUCTION

MOVABLE OBSTRUCTIONMOVABLE OBSTRUCTION• IF THE BALL DOES IF THE BALL DOES

NOT LIE IN OR ON THE NOT LIE IN OR ON THE OBSTRUCTION MOVE OBSTRUCTION MOVE THE OBSTRUCTIONTHE OBSTRUCTION

• BALL LIES IN OR ON BALL LIES IN OR ON OBSTRUCTION, LIFT OBSTRUCTION, LIFT AND PLACEAND PLACE

IMMOVABLE IMMOVABLE OBSTRUCTIONOBSTRUCTION• ONE CLUB LENGTH ONE CLUB LENGTH

RELIEFRELIEF

RULES ON THE GREENRULES ON THE GREEN

ON THE GREENON THE GREEN

IF YOU HIT THE FLAGSTICK WHILE IF YOU HIT THE FLAGSTICK WHILE PUTTING (2 STROKES OR LOSS OF HOLE)PUTTING (2 STROKES OR LOSS OF HOLE)

HITTING THE FLAGSTICK WHEN IT LIES HITTING THE FLAGSTICK WHEN IT LIES ON THE GREEN (2 STROKES, PLAY IT ON THE GREEN (2 STROKES, PLAY IT WHERE IT LIES; LOSS OF HOLE)WHERE IT LIES; LOSS OF HOLE)

HITTING AN ATTENDED STICK OR THE HITTING AN ATTENDED STICK OR THE ATTENDEE (SAME AS PREVIOUSATTENDEE (SAME AS PREVIOUS))

ON THE GREEN (CONT.)ON THE GREEN (CONT.)

TOUCHING THE GROUND ON YOUR LINE OF TOUCHING THE GROUND ON YOUR LINE OF PUTT (2 STROKES OR HOLE) EXCEPT:PUTT (2 STROKES OR HOLE) EXCEPT:• TO REPAIR BALL MARKTO REPAIR BALL MARK• CLEAN BALLCLEAN BALL• REMOVE LOOSE IMPEDIMENT, ETC....REMOVE LOOSE IMPEDIMENT, ETC....

IF YOUR BALL LANDS ON THE WRONG GREEN (1 IF YOUR BALL LANDS ON THE WRONG GREEN (1 CLUB LENGTH RELIEF, NO PENALTY)CLUB LENGTH RELIEF, NO PENALTY)

ON THE GREEN (CONT.)ON THE GREEN (CONT.)

OPPONENTS BALL IN THE LINE OF YOUR PUTTOPPONENTS BALL IN THE LINE OF YOUR PUTT• ASK THAT IT BE MARKED & LIFTEDASK THAT IT BE MARKED & LIFTED• MARKER MAY BE PLACED 1 OR MORE MARKER MAY BE PLACED 1 OR MORE

PUTTERHEAD-LENGTHS TO THE SIDEPUTTERHEAD-LENGTHS TO THE SIDE• STROKE PLAY THE PLAYER IN THE LINE CAN STROKE PLAY THE PLAYER IN THE LINE CAN

PUT FIRSTPUT FIRST

ON THE GREEN (CONT.)ON THE GREEN (CONT.)

HITTING ANOTHER PLAYERS BALLHITTING ANOTHER PLAYERS BALL• REPLACE ITREPLACE IT• STROKE PLAY 2 STROKE PENALTYSTROKE PLAY 2 STROKE PENALTY• MATCH PLAY NO PENALTYMATCH PLAY NO PENALTY

IN MATCH PLAY YOU CAN CONCEDE THE IN MATCH PLAY YOU CAN CONCEDE THE HOLE/MATCH BEFORE ITS CONCLUSIONHOLE/MATCH BEFORE ITS CONCLUSION

IN STROKE PLAY EVERY PLAYER MUST HOLE IN STROKE PLAY EVERY PLAYER MUST HOLE OUT ON EVERY HOLEOUT ON EVERY HOLE

HANDICAPSHANDICAPS

THE HANDICAP SYSTEMTHE HANDICAP SYSTEM

PAR FOR THE COURSEPAR FOR THE COURSE• THE TOTAL OF THE PAR VALUES FOR ALL THE TOTAL OF THE PAR VALUES FOR ALL

HOLESHOLES THE COURSE RATINGTHE COURSE RATING• A MEASURE OF THE DIFFICULTY OF THE A MEASURE OF THE DIFFICULTY OF THE

COURSECOURSE JUST BECAUSE A HOLE IS A PAR 5 DOESN’T JUST BECAUSE A HOLE IS A PAR 5 DOESN’T

MEAN IT PLAYS TO THAT SCOREMEAN IT PLAYS TO THAT SCORE

HANDICAPPING CONT.HANDICAPPING CONT.

THE AVERAGE SCORE ON A PAR 5 MAY THE AVERAGE SCORE ON A PAR 5 MAY ACTUALLY BE A 4.6----AND ON SOME PAR 3 THE ACTUALLY BE A 4.6----AND ON SOME PAR 3 THE HOLE MAY PLAY LIKE A 3.4HOLE MAY PLAY LIKE A 3.4

THE COURSE RATING IS:THE COURSE RATING IS:• THE TOTAL OF THE AVERAGE SCORES FOR THE TOTAL OF THE AVERAGE SCORES FOR

ALL THE HOLESALL THE HOLES SLOPE RATINGSLOPE RATING• BETWEEN 100 AND 140; HIGHER IS MORE BETWEEN 100 AND 140; HIGHER IS MORE

DIFFICULTDIFFICULT

HOW TO ESTABLISH A HOW TO ESTABLISH A HANDICAPHANDICAP

EVERY TIME AN 18-HOLE ROUND IS EVERY TIME AN 18-HOLE ROUND IS COMPLETED (OR COMBINING 9’S) IT IS COMPLETED (OR COMBINING 9’S) IT IS ENTERED INTO THE COMPUTERENTERED INTO THE COMPUTER

WHEN 20 SCORES ARE ENTERED, THE WHEN 20 SCORES ARE ENTERED, THE COMPUTER CALCULATES COMPUTER CALCULATES

BEST 10 OF 20 SCORES ARE AVERAGED; THE BEST 10 OF 20 SCORES ARE AVERAGED; THE HANDICAP IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AVG. HANDICAP IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AVG. AND THE COURSE RATING: 87 - 72 = 15AND THE COURSE RATING: 87 - 72 = 15

SOLVE THE PROBLEM?SOLVE THE PROBLEM?

HOW MANY STROKES DOES A 10 HANDICAPPER HOW MANY STROKES DOES A 10 HANDICAPPER GIVE TO A 16 HANDICAPPER TO CREATE A FAIR GIVE TO A 16 HANDICAPPER TO CREATE A FAIR GAME?GAME?

6 STROKES ALL RIGHT!@!$#!6 STROKES ALL RIGHT!@!$#!

HANDICAP SCORINGHANDICAP SCORING

SCRATCH GOLFERS HAVE NO HANDICAPSCRATCH GOLFERS HAVE NO HANDICAP A 2-HANDICAP GOLFER SHOULD AVERAGE 2 A 2-HANDICAP GOLFER SHOULD AVERAGE 2

SHOTS MORE PER ROUND THAN A SCRATCH SHOTS MORE PER ROUND THAN A SCRATCH GOLFERGOLFER

A 18-HANDICAPPER WOULD AVERAGE 18 MORE A 18-HANDICAPPER WOULD AVERAGE 18 MORE SHOTS THAN A SCRATCH GOLFERSHOTS THAN A SCRATCH GOLFER

HOW THE HANDICAP WORKSHOW THE HANDICAP WORKS

IN STROKE PLAY , PLAYERS HANDICAPS ARE IN STROKE PLAY , PLAYERS HANDICAPS ARE SUBSTRACTED FROM THEIR GROSS SCORES:SUBSTRACTED FROM THEIR GROSS SCORES:• SCRATCH PLAYER SHOOTS A 78SCRATCH PLAYER SHOOTS A 78

– 78 - 0 = 7878 - 0 = 78• 2-HANDICAPPER SHOOTS A 792-HANDICAPPER SHOOTS A 79

– 79 - 2 = 7779 - 2 = 77• 18-HANDICAPPER SHOOTS A 9018-HANDICAPPER SHOOTS A 90• 90 - 18 = 7290 - 18 = 72• WHO WINS?WHO WINS?

ENJOY THE GAME!ENJOY THE GAME!

BE PATIENTBE PATIENT PRACTICE OFTENPRACTICE OFTEN READ AND LEARNREAD AND LEARN KEEP THE GAME KEEP THE GAME

IN PERSPECTIVEIN PERSPECTIVE HAVE FUNHAVE FUN