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Rules of golf

Golf is more fun when you know the rules which are laided down by 'The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews' (R&A) every golfer should familiarise themselves with their booklets on ‘Golf Rules In Brief’ and ‘Rules of Golf’ as well as knowing the Local Rules of the golf course which can be found on the scorecard or posted at the clubhouse. The R&A quote… 

Golf is essentially a self-regulating game unless in a professional competition there is no need for a referee or umpire.  However course marshals are in place around and about the course should you need them.

Here are a few basic rules you should understand to get started in golf...

Before you play
- Put an identification mark on your ball if you can not identify your ball it is considered a lost ball
- Playing the wrong ball can in stroke play incur a two-stroke, or the loss of the hole in match play
- Make sure you only have a maximum of 14 clubs in your bag

Starting with the Tee Shot
Play your tee short from between, and not in front of, the red tee markers either inline or up to two club lengths behind.  If you knock the ball off the tee while addressing it you may replace it and play your shots without penalty as it is not considered to be 'in play' until after a player has struck the ball.

A ball in play
Play the ball as it lies, moving, bending or breaking anything fixed or growing to improve your lie or stance is a no-no. The ball must be fairly struck at, not pushed or spooned. If your ball is in a bunker or a water hazard, do not touch the ground with your club before you down swing. 

Loose Impediments and Obstructions
You may move a loose impediment (stones, twigs or fallen leaves) unless it and your ball are in a hazard. However if it causes your ball to move, the ball must be replaced and you incur a penalty shot.  Movable obstructions (rakes) may be moved if the ball moves it must be replaced without penalty. Check Local Rules for guidance on immovable obstructions (road, paths, sprinkler heads).

Water Hazards
Check the Local Rules to establish whether the sea, lake, river, ditch.. is a 'water hazard' or a 'lateral water hazard'.  Balls in water hazard (yellow stakes) play the ball as it lies or, under the penalty of one stroke - a) play again from where you hit the ball into the hazard or b) drop any distance behind the water hazard keeping a straight line between the hole, the point where the ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard and spot on which the ball is dropped. Ball in Lateral Water Hazard (red stakes) in addition to the above options, under penalty of one stroke, you may drop within two club lengths of, and not nearer the hole than a) the point where the ball last 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 to identify the boundaries of the course.  If the ball is lost outside a water hazard or out of bounds, you must play another ball (stated as a 'provisional ball') from the spot where the last shot was played under penalty of one stroke unless the original ball is found to which you must abandon the provisional ball.

Abnormal Ground Conditions, Casual Water, Ground Under Repair (GUR) or a hole or cast made by a burrowing animal (eg rabbit), you may drop within one club-length of the nearest point of relief not nearer the hole without penalty.

On the Putting Green - Before and during a stroke the player may have the flagstick attended, removed or held to indicate the position of the hole. If your ball strikes the flagstick which is still in the hole when you are putting, in stroke play you incur a two-stroke penalty, in match play you lose the hole. You may mark, lift and clean your ball on the putting green, always replacing it in the exact spot.