Golf Rules and Etiquette
In the end of the 18th century the Company of Gentlemen Golfers codified the first rules of play. The rules have been evolving ever since. The official USGA rules and decisions cover over five hundred pages.
It’s impossible to cover every facet in a brief article. The following rules are highly simplified.
In general, the idea is to hit your own golf ball the fewest number of times in order to reach a hole that starts a couple of hundred yards distant. Remember, the rules may not always be fair, but like your parents’ rules — they’re rigid.
Teeing off
You should tee off between or behind (up to two club-lengths), not in front of, the tee-markers.
Ball in motion interfered
If you deflect or stop your ball in motion it will cost you two strokes. Accidents will happen, but you still pay the price. If someone else interferes a ball struck by you, play it as it lies.
If your ball is struck by another ball — oh well, that’s life. Unless you’re both on the putting green at the start, in which case “that’s life” costs two strokes.
Playing the ball
Play the ball where it lies. Don’t try to improve your position by bending anything fixed or growing, except in taking your stance or making your swing.
Ball at rest moved
If you move your ball after it’s come to rest, it’ll cost you a stroke.
Ball lost or out of bounds
If you lose your ball and can’t find it after five minutes, you have to play another ball from the spot where the last shot was played. You lose one stroke.
Obstructions
You are allowed to move rakes, beer bottles, etc. when they’re in your way. If you put them there to interfere with your partner, you owe him a beer. If an immovable obstruction, such as a water fountain, interferes with your stance or swing, you are allowed to drop the ball within one club-length of the nearest clear point that’s not nearer the hole.
On the green
The area about 10 yards in diameter of smoother and lower grass near the hole is called “the green”. When you get your ball there, remove the flagstick from the hole and replace it when all players have finished the hole.
You can pick up and clean your ball on the green, provided you replace it exactly where it was. You are expected to do all this with golf clubs only.
Etiquette
The ideas behind golf etiquette are all common sense courtesies. Dress appropriately, don’t make loud noises, and don’t toss cans or bottles onto the course.
Always arrive on time as most courses are usually busy. If you can’t get through a hole or a shot in a reasonable amount of time, let those behind you play through.
Who plays first is usually decided by a coin toss, but you can be creative. Spin the beer bottle works for some.
Don’t get in the way of someone’s shot. Besides of being courteous, this is also in the best interest of your safety. A one-pound clubhead moving at 100 miles per hour can seriously hurt you.
Replace divots (chunks of turf and earth scooped up during a swing) and rake the sand trap after you’re done making your bunker shot.
Don’t fling your club fifty yards when you miss that two foot putt.