Basic Golf Rules Every Beginner Should Know

Know the Basics Before You Play

Essential Golf Rules

Basic Golf Rules Every Beginner Should Know

Equipment Rules:

Clubs and Balls

Clubs: You are allowed a maximum of 14 clubs in your bag. If you happen to have a 15th club, leave it in your car to prevent any complications. The 14 clubs can consist of any combination you prefer. It’s important to note that you aren’t obligated to carry 14 clubs; it’s merely the upper limit, with no minimum requirement other than having at least one club.
Ball: You must complete a hole with the same ball you started with. While you can switch to a different ball between holes, you cannot change it during a hole. However, if you lose a ball within a hole, you are permitted to use any other ball as a replacement.

Rules for Tee Box/Teeing Ground:

When teeing off, your ball must be positioned behind the line marked by the tee markers. You can tee it up anywhere between these markers and as far back as the length of two drivers. For example, if your driver measures 45 inches, you can tee up to 90 inches behind the imaginary line, but never in front of the tee markers. To avoid mistakes, it’s a good practice to tee it up at least one foot behind the tee markers.
If the ball falls off the tee before you take a swing at it, it doesn’t count as a shot. Just place the ball back on the tee and humor any “one” jokes that might follow.
Taking a practice swing while the ball is on the tee and accidentally hitting the ball incurs no penalty. Simply put the ball back on the tee and proceed with your shot, which is still considered your first.
Missing the ball entirely during your swing counts as one shot. If the ball falls off the tee due to the wind you generate, you must play it from that position without re-teeing. This counts as your first shot if you made a genuine attempt to hit the ball.
The order of play on the tee is determined by the scores from the previous hole, with the lowest scorer teeing off first, followed by players in ascending order of their scores. However, the exception is when your group opts for “ready golf,” where the player ready to hit goes first, regardless of their distance from the pin.
It’s crucial to stand outside the teeing ground while others are taking their shots on the tee. Avoid standing directly behind the ball, watching your friend’s shot down the fairway, as this can be distracting. Only move after your friend has hit the ball.

Rules During Play of a Hole:

Play the ball as it lies; you cannot move, kick, or adjust it to a better position, and neither can your caddie. You should only use a tee to tee up the ball on the tee box.
Avoid pressing your club or foot behind the ball to flatten the ground or make it easier to hit. This rule applies to the fairway; you may stamp your foot behind the ball on the tee for your first shot.
Some courses may implement local rules such as preferred lies, allowing you to place your ball on the fairway within one foot of its original position.
Do not break or bend branches to create a clearer swing path.
In a bunker, refrain from grounding the club in the sand behind or in front of the ball. Do not rake the sand before your shot or use your fingers to test the consistency. Removing leaves and stones from the bunker is permitted. If the club accidentally touches the sand, there is no longer a penalty. However, avoid testing the sand with practice swings. Note that exceptions may exist for “waste bunkers”; inquire about their locations on the course.
You may remove stones, leaves, rocks, boulders, feathers, dead grass, pine needles, and other impediments from around your ball, but be careful not to move the ball itself. Use your hands to remove impediments; dragging your feet or kicking is not allowed.
Do not damage any growing vegetation to improve your lie. In case of a significant issue, it’s better to take a penalty drop within two club lengths from the ball’s location. Mark the spot, pick up the ball, measure two club lengths, drop the ball, and add one stroke before hitting your next shot.

Practice Shots:

You are allowed to take practice swings through the air, but you cannot hit an actual ball before your designated shot. You can strike an acorn or stone on the ground, but golf balls are off-limits.
In normal bunkers, practice swings should not make contact with the ground. However, in waste bunkers, you may take practice swings that touch the ground, including ones that take a divot.

Order of Play:

The player farthest from the hole should play first. This is a good guideline for new players in a group. If someone in your group follows “ready golf,” where the player ready to hit goes first, ensure you do not play while someone else is in the middle of their swing. When in doubt, establish the order before proceeding.
Remember to be considerate of other players’ putting lines on the green and avoid standing on the path their balls might roll.

Flagstick Rules:

If your ball hits the pin when you are off the green, there is no issue as long as no one is touching the flagstick. You can putt with the flagstick in the hole or remove it at your discretion. There is no longer a penalty for leaving the flagstick in while on the green.

Rules for Interactions with Other Players:

Giving and Asking for Advice:

You can ask your caddy for advice on how to play a hole, but you cannot seek advice from other players about which club to use, how to putt, or any similar aspects. In social rounds, this rule is often overlooked, so consider the preferences of the players you are with.
Your caddy cannot assist you with aiming or setting up your shot; you must do this independently. They can offer advice on strategy and direction but cannot stand behind you to guide your alignment.
Holding the flag for other players and sharing publicly available information, such as water hazard locations and distances, is allowed. However, giving advice to someone who is not your partner in a competition, even if they request it, is not permitted.

Ball Moves by Accident or External Factors:

If you accidentally move your ball while searching for it, there is no penalty. You have three minutes to locate the ball; otherwise, you must take a drop or re-hit the shot with a penalty stroke.
If someone else or an animal moves your ball, there is no penalty. Replace the ball in its original position and continue play as usual.
If water or wind moves your ball (provided you did not ground your club behind the ball), play it from the new position without returning it to the original spot.

Rules for Dropping and Marking Balls Not on the Green:

Penalty Drops:

When dropping a ball, stand upright and release it from knee height, ensuring it does not touch your body or equipment during the drop.
If your dropped ball rolls back into a hazard, retrieve it and drop it once more. You must take full relief from obstacles or trouble that would hinder your stance.
If, after two drops, your ball continues to roll into the hazard or the area you initially dropped it from, place the ball where it last landed after the second drop.

Free Drops:

You may drop your ball away from temporary water that causes the ground to be wet or squishy, with no penalty.
Ground marked as “Ground Under Repair” (GUR) allows you to take a free drop without penalty.
Free drops are allowed from burrowing animal holes without penalty.
If your ball lands on the wrong putting green, you must drop it off the green, one club length from the edge, without penalty. Do not hit a ball from another green, as it can damage the green and upset other players. Some courses may have specific local rules for free drops in certain areas; check their scorecard or consult with course staff.

How to Drop a Ball:

Dropping a ball must be done from knee height, a somewhat awkward requirement.
If your dropped ball rolls into a hazard after the drop, retrieve it and drop it once more. Ensure your stance is not impeded by the object or condition you’re trying to avoid.
When dropping within a water hazard, locate the point where your ball last crossed the hazard’s boundary and drop it there or behind that point, in line with the flagstick, as far back as you like.

Rules for Marking a Ball Not on the Green:

If another player’s ball interferes with your swing, ask them to mark and lift it.
If someone requests that you mark and lift their ball not on the green, use a coin or tee peg to mark it and pick it up. You are not allowed to clean it; simply hold it until they are ready to continue. When replacing the ball, ensure it returns to its original position.

Rules for Obstructions:

Man-made objects that are not part of the natural terrain, such as bottles, cans, rakes, stakes, and similar items, are considered movable obstructions. Sprinkler heads, shelters, cart paths, etc., are classified as immovable obstructions. You can take a free drop from sprinklers and cart paths if they interfere with your stance. The rules regarding buildings as obstructions may vary by course.
You can move movable obstructions, but be cautious not to inadvertently move your ball in the process.
If an immovable obstruction interferes with your stance or swing, mark the ball, pick it up, and drop it at the nearest point that allows an unimpeded swing. There is no penalty, unless the specific golf course has a rule against this practice.

Rules for a Ball in the Water, Lost, Out of Bounds, or Unplayable:

Water Hazards:

Water hazards, now referred to as penalty areas, are typically indicated by yellow stakes or painted lines, while lateral water hazards are marked with red stakes or lines.
You have options when dealing with a ball in a water hazard: (1) Play the ball from within the hazard, (2) Drop a ball where you played your last shot with an additional penalty stroke, or (3) Drop a ball in line with the hole and the point where your ball crossed into the hazard, going as far back as you like. For lateral water hazards (red stakes), you can drop within two club lengths of where the ball crossed the hazard line.
Ensure you drop the ball where it last crossed a red stake hazard. Some golfers may mistakenly drop it in line with where the ball ended up, which is not correct.

Lost and Out of Bounds:

If you believe your ball might be lost or out of bounds, you can hit a provisional ball from the same spot and label it as such. This allows you to search for the original ball without incurring additional penalty strokes.
You must inform your playing partners that the ball you are about to hit is provisional; failure to do so implies that you are playing with the provisional ball and adds a penalty stroke.
A ball is considered lost if you cannot find it within three minutes or if you declare it lost. You can also declare a ball lost while standing at the location where you played the errant shot. In this case, the next ball you drop in the same spot becomes your ball in play, with an added penalty stroke.
Out of bounds is defined as the entire ball lying outside the white line or stake marking the out-of-bounds boundary. In such cases, you must return to the original position and re-hit, or certain courses may allow a drop at the point of the out-of-bounds with a substantial penalty.

Unplayable:

If you determine that your ball is unplayable, you can take a penalty stroke and choose one of three options: (1) Drop a ball on the line from the hole to where your ball was, (2) Play from the same spot as your last shot, or (3) Measure two club lengths from where the ball is located and drop it there.

These guidelines provide an overview of the rules for beginners, helping you navigate the course with confidence and fairness. Remember that golf etiquette and good sportsmanship are equally important to ensure an enjoyable experience for all players.

Explore More Resources

Looking for extra tips, guides, or insights to support your golf journey? Browse through more resources designed to help you build skills, find the right gear, and feel more confident on and off the course.

Essential Golf Rules