About Great Barr Golf Course » Common Rules

Common Rules

Introduction

This guide includes common rules situations and your options that often arise during a game of golf. As the Rules of Golf, as published by R&A Rules Limited, are quite extensive, and match play rules may differ from stroke play rules, you are encouraged to become familiar with all the rules of the game.

Etiquette

To preserve the traditions of the game of golf, we should also practise good golf etiquette before, during and after our round of golf. Your behaviour will have an effect on everyone around you.

Slow play affects everyone playing behind you. A conscious effort to play your round at a good pace will make the game of golf more enjoyable for everyone.

Stroke Play

Winner: The competitor who plays the stipulated round or rounds in the fewest strokes is the winner.

Match Play

Winner of hole: In match play the game is played by holes. A hole is won by the side that holes its ball in the fewer strokes. In a handicap match the lower net score wins the hole.

Winner of match: A match (which consists of a stipulated round) is won by the side that is leading by a number of holes greater than the number of holes remaining to be played. The Committee may, for the purpose of setting a tie, extend the stipulated round to as many holes as are required for a match to be won.

Rules/Penalties

The rules and penalties for breaches in stroke play and match play are noted after the following symbols throughout this guide:

S Stroke play rules and/or penalties
M Match play rules and/or penalties

Unless noted, the rule is the same for both stroke and match play.

General Rules

Put an identification mark on your ball. If you cannot identify it as yours, it’s lost. If your ball becomes unfit for play during play of a hole, you may replace it, without penalty.
Count your clubs. No more than 14.
S 2 strokes for each hole at which any breach occurred: maximum penalty per round: 4 strokes.
M A deduction of one hole for each hole at which a breach occurred: maximum deduction per round: 2 holes.
Do not use an artificial device for gauging or measuring distance or conditions. Disqualification.
Don’t ask for advice from anyone except your partner or caddie or give advice to anyone other than your partner.
S 2 strokes
M Loss of hole.
During a hole you may practice swing but not play a practice stroke. Between holes you may practice chip or putt near the putting green of the last hole played or the tee of the next hole but not from a hazard.
S 2 strokes
M Loss of hole.
Play without delay.
S 2 strokes
M Loss of hole.
S M Repeated offence: disqualification.

Teeing Ground

Note: If a ball, when not in play, falls off a tee or is knocked off by the player while addressing it, it may be re-teed without penalty. But if the player’s intent was to strike the ball, then a stroke was made and the stroke counts but no penalty is incurred.

S In stroke play, the penalty for playing a ball from outside the teeing ground when starting the hole is 2 strokes. However, the ball must be played again from within the teeing ground. Failure to do so will result in disqualification.

M In match play, there is no penalty but your opponent may require you to replay the stroke.

Playing the Ball

Play the ball as it lies. Don’t touch it unless a Rule permits.
Play the course as you find it. Don’t improve your lie, the area of your intended stance or swing, or your line of play by moving, bending or breaking anything fixed or growing, except in fairly taking your stance or making your stroke. Don’t press anything down or build a stance.
If your ball lies in a bunker or a water hazard, don’t touch the ground in the bunker or the ground or water in the water hazard with your hand or club before your downswing.
S 2 strokes
M Loss of hole.
If your club strikes the ball more than once in a single stroke, count the stroke and add a penalty stroke.
S In stroke play, if you play a wrong ball you incur a 2 stroke penalty and must then play the correct ball.
M In match play, if you play a wrong ball you lose the hole.

Water Hazards

A ‘water hazard’ is any lake, sea, pond, river, ditch, or other open water course (whether or not containing water). All ground and water within the hazard is part of the water hazard.

There must be reasonable evidence the ball is in the hazard for this rule to apply. A ball touching the hazard line is in the hazard. You must not ground your club in the hazard.

You have 3 options:

Play the ball where it lies without penalty.
Use the stroke and distance option by playing your next stroke from the spot where the original ball was last played; penalty one stroke.
Drop a ball behind the hazard along a line formed by the hole and the point where the ball crossed the margin of the hazard; penalty one stroke.

Water hazards are defined by yellow stakes or lines.

Lateral Water Hazards

A ‘lateral water hazard’ is a water hazard or part of a water hazard so situated that it is not possible or is impracticable to drop a ball behind the water hazard.

You have 5 options:

Play the ball where it lies without penalty.
Use the stroke and distance option by playing your next stroke from the spot where the original ball was last played; penalty one stroke.
Drop a ball behind the hazard along a line formed by the hole and the point where the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard; penalty one stroke.
Drop within 2 club-lengths of the point where the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard, one stroke penalty.
Drop within 2 club-lengths of a point on the opposite side of the hazard equidistant from the hole. One stroke penalty.

Lateral water hazards are defined by red stakes or lines.

Putting Green

Don’t touch the line of your putt, unless a Rule permits. You may repair ball marks and old hole plugs on the line but not other damage such as spike marks.
S 2 strokes. M Loss of hole.
You may lift, and if desired clean, your ball on the putting green. Always replace it on the exact spot.
S 2 strokes M Loss of hole.
Don’t test the surface by scraping it or rolling a ball.
S 2 strokes. M Loss of hole.
Your ball played from the putting green is not permitted to strike the flagstick.
S 2 strokes. M Loss of hole.
You may remove loose impediments from your line of putt provided nothing is pressed down.
S 2 strokes. M Loss of hole.
S Always hole out in individual stroke play. There is no such thing as a ‘gimmee’. The penalty is disqualification if the mistake is not corrected before making a stroke from the next teeing ground or leaving the putting green of the last hole of the round.
M In match play, your opponent may concede your next stroke.

Abnormal Ground Conditions

Except in a water hazard, if your ball lies in casual water, ground under repair or a hole or cast made by a burrowing animal, a reptile or bird, or the condition interferes with your stance or swing, you may drop without penalty within one club-length of the nearest point of relief not nearer the hole, except:
- In a bunker, drop within one club-length of the nearest point of relief in the bunker not nearer the hole (or if complete relief is impossible, drop in the nearest position in the bunker that affords maximum relief and is not nearer the hole) or under penalty of one stroke, drop any distance behind the bunker keeping the point where the ball lay between you and the hole or,
- On the putting green, place at the nearer point of relief or, if complete relief is not possible, at the nearest position that affords maximum relief and is not nearer the hole
If your ball is lost in such condition (except in a water hazard) take the same relief based on the point where the ball last crossed the outermost limits of the area.

The determination of the nearest point of relief is essentially the same as for obstructions.

Loose Impediments

Loose impediments are natural objects (such as stones and leaves) that are not fixed or growing, not solidly embedded and not adhering to the ball.
You may move them unless the loose impediment and your ball lie in or touch the same hazard. You may not move a loose impediment that lies in or touches the same hazard as your ball.
S 2 strokes M Loss of hole.
Except on the putting green, if you move a loose impediment and this causes your ball to move, the ball must be replaced and you incur a penalty stroke.

Lost Ball or Ball Out of Bounds; Provisional Ball

‘Out of bounds’ is defined as ground that is beyond the boundaries of the course or any part of the course so marked by the Committee. When defined by white lines, the line itself is out of bounds. When defined by a fence or stakes, the inside edges of the fence posts or stakes at ground level define the out of bounds line.

If your ball is out of bounds, you must play another ball at the spot from which the original was last played, penalty one stroke.
If your ball may be lost outside a water hazard or out of bounds, you may play a provisional ball before you go forward to look for the original, provided you announce your intention to do so. If your original ball turns out to be in a water hazard or is found outside a water hazard, you must abandon the provisional ball.
If your ball is lost outside a water hazard or is out of bounds, add a penalty stroke and play the provisional ball or, if you did not play a provisional ball, replay the shot adding a penalty stroke.
The provisional ball becomes the ball in play when a stroke is made with the provisional ball from a point where the original ball is likely to be or from a point nearer the hole than that place

A ball is out of bounds when the entire ball is out of bounds. You may stand out of bounds to play a ball that is in bounds.

Out of bounds areas are defined by white stakes or lines or in some cases a fence, wall or ditch.

Obstructions / General

An obstruction is anything artificial (i.e. man-made). Objects defining out of bounds such as fence posts or stakes and immovable objects out of bounds are not obstructions.
Movable obstructions may be moved no matter where they are located. If your ball moves, replace it without penalty.
If an immovable obstruction interferes with the lie of the ball, your stance or swing, the relief procedure is exactly the same as that for abnormal ground conditions. However, if your ball lies in a bunker, your two options are to take complete relief in the bunker or, under penalty of one stroke, drop the ball behind the bunker keeping the point where the ball lay between your and the hole. If the ball is on the putting green you must take complete relief.
Note: If complete relief is not available in a bunker or on a putting green, the player is not entitled to take maximum available relief.
If your ball is lost in an immovable obstruction (except in a water hazard) take the same relief based on the point where the ball last crossed the outermost limits of the obstruction.

Obstruction / Cart Paths

An artificially surfaced cart path is an immovable obstruction. You are entitled to relief, without penalty, if your stance is on the path, if the path interferes with your area of intended swing, or if your ball has come to rest on the path.

Find the nearest point of relief that does not interfere with your stance or the area of your intended swing.
Drop your ball within one club-length of the nearest point of relief, no nearer to the hole.
You have the option of playing the ball where it came to rest.

Ball at Rest Moved

A ball is deemed to have ‘moved’ if it leaves its position and comes to rest in any other place.

If your ball is moved by you, your partner or your caddie, except as permitted by the rules, or it moves after you have addressed it, add a penalty stroke and replace your ball.
If your ball is moved by someone else or another ball, replace it without a penalty to you.
M If your opponent or his caddie accidentally moves your ball while searching for it, there is no penalty. If it is moved by the opponent or his caddie other than during a search, the opponent incurs a penalty stroke. In both cases the ball must be replaced.

Interference

You may lift your ball or have any other ball lifted if you think it might assist any other player.

You may have any other ball lifted if it might interfere with your play.

Ball in Motion Deflected or Stopped

If your ball in motion is deflected or stopped by you, your partner, or either of your caddies or equipment:
S 2 strokes and play ball as it lies. M Loss of hole.
If your ball in motion is deflected or stopped by someone else, play your ball as it lies without penalty, except;
- In stroke play, if it is deflected after a stroke on the putting green, you must replay the stroke.
- In match play, if an opponent or his caddie accidentally deflects your ball, you may play it as it lies or replay it.
If your ball in motion is deflected or stopped by another ball at rest, play your ball as it lies:
S Without penalty, unless both balls were on the putting green prior to the stroke, in which case there is a 2 stroke penalty. M Without penalty.

Ball Unplayable

You may deem your ball unplayable at any place on the course except when the ball is in a water hazard. You are the sole judge as to whether your ball is unplayable.

You have 3 options (One stroke penalty for each option)

Play a ball at the spot from which the original was last played.
Drop a ball behind the point where the ball lay, keeping that point directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind that point the ball may be dropped.
Drop a ball within two club-lengths of the spot where the ball lay, but not nearer the hole.

Note: If your ball is in a bunker, and you elect to use option 2 or 3, a ball must be dropped in the bunker.

Lifting, Dropping and Placing

If a ball to be lifted is to be replaced, its position must be marked.
When dropping, stand erect, hold the ball at shoulder height and arm’s length and drop it. A ball to be dropped in a hazard must be dropped and stay in the hazard.
If a dropped ball strikes the player or his partner, caddie or equipment, it must be re-dropped without penalty.
A dropped ball must be re-dropped if it rolls into a hazard, out of a hazard, onto a putting green, out of bounds or to a position where there is interference by the condition from which relief was taken (in case of immovable obstructions, embedded ball and abnormal ground conditions) or comes to rest more than two club-lengths from where it first struck a part of the course or nearer the hole than the nearest point of relief or other reference point under Rule 26-1. If the ball when re-dropped rolls into any position listed above, place it where it first struck a part of the course when re-dropped.
If the original lie of a ball to be replaced has been altered, place it in the nearest similar lie within one club-length, not nearer the hole, except in a bunker recreate the original lie and place it in that lie.

More rules can be found at The R&A Website.