Golf rules, for watching
Start with how a match works. Then the rules you see every few minutes, then the ones that change results.
Settling an argument? Search all 40 rules
- How do you win at golf?
- How does match play work in golf?
- What is a birdie in golf?
- What is a handicap in golf?
- What happens if a golfer signs for the wrong score?
- How does Stableford scoring work?
- What is the difference between foursomes and four-ball?
- What are the parts of a golf course called in the Rules?
- Where do you have to tee off from in golf?
- Who plays first in golf?
- What counts as a stroke in golf?
- Can you move things that are in the way of your shot in golf?
- When is a golf ball officially in the hole?
- How long can you look for a golf ball?
- What happens if your golf ball moves before you hit it?
- What happens if your golf ball hits someone or something?
- What is the penalty for hitting the wrong ball in golf?
- When can you pick up your golf ball?
- What happens when a golf ball goes out of bounds?
- What is the rule for a lost ball in golf?
- What does stroke and distance mean in golf?
- What is a provisional ball in golf?
- What do you do when your golf ball goes in the water?
- What can you do if your golf ball is unplayable?
- How do you drop a golf ball correctly?
- When do you get a free drop in golf?
- Can you move leaves, stones and rakes in golf?
- Do you get relief for a plugged ball in golf?
- What is the penalty for playing from the wrong place in golf?
- What are you not allowed to do in a bunker?
- What can you do on the putting green in golf?
- Can you putt with the flag in?
- How many clubs can you carry in golf?
- Are rangefinders allowed in golf?
- Can you ask another golfer which club they used?
- Is there a time limit for a shot in golf?
- What happens when play is suspended in golf?
- What are the penalties in golf?
- What is the etiquette of golf, and is it in the Rules?
- Who decides a rules question in golf?
Where these rules come from
| Tag | Document |
|---|---|
| G plus rule number | The R&A and USGA Rules of Golf, effective January 2023: Rules 1 to 25 and the Definitions, read in full. "G Definitions (term)" points to the Definitions section; "(Purpose)" and "(note)" point to a Rule's purpose statement and its cross-reference to Committee Procedures |
| R | "Why the rule exists", or a point reasoned from the rule, not stated in it |
| C | Common usage or general knowledge, not a rule |
All checked on 14 October 2026. Not covered: the Equipment Rules (club, ball, glove and tee specifications), the Committee Procedures and Model Local Rules (only their numbers are cited, where the Rules of Golf name them), the Clarifications in the Official Guide, the World Handicap System, and tour or championship policies on pace of play and conduct. Rule 25 (players with disabilities) is cited in the "Where it differs" tables but has no page of its own. The diagrams were read from their captions, not as images.
Not covered: the Equipment Rules (club, ball, glove and tee specifications), the Committee Procedures and Model Local Rules (only their numbers are cited, where the Rules of Golf name them), the Clarifications in the Official Guide, the World Handicap System, and tour or championship policies on pace of play and conduct. Rule 25 (players with disabilities) is cited in the "Where it differs" tables but has no page of its own. The diagrams were read from their captions, not as images.