What changes the result
The rules behind the moments commentators get excited about. They build on the beginner rules.
I · Intermediate · 16 rules · Step 2 of 4Scoring and forms of play
- What is a handicap in golf?A handicap is a number of strokes taken off a player's score so that players of different ability can compete fairly.
- What happens if a golfer signs for the wrong score?In stroke play another person, the marker, writes down the player's score for each hole.
- What is the difference between foursomes and four-ball?Both are games for partners playing as a side.
Starting and playing a hole
- Where do you have to tee off from in golf?Each hole starts from the teeing area: a rectangle two club-lengths deep, with its front and sides set by two tee-markers.
- Who plays first in golf?On the tee the player with the honour goes first: the winner of the last hole in match play, the lowest scorer on it in stroke play.
The ball in play
- How long can you look for a golf ball?A player has three minutes to find the ball, counted from when the player or caddie starts to search.
- What happens if your golf ball moves before you hit it?If a ball at rest is moved by wind, water or gravity, it is played from where it stops, with no penalty.
- What is the penalty for hitting the wrong ball in golf?A player must finish each hole with the ball played from the tee, unless it is lost, out of bounds or a Rule allows a change.
- When can you pick up your golf ball?Before lifting a ball that must go back on the same spot, the player marks the spot with a ball-marker or a club.
Lost balls, out of bounds and penalty relief
- What does stroke and distance mean in golf?Stroke and distance means adding one penalty stroke and playing again from where the previous stroke was made.
- What is a provisional ball in golf?If a ball might be lost outside a penalty area, or might be out of bounds, the player may play a provisional ball from the same spot to save a walk back.
- What can you do if your golf ball is unplayable?A player may treat the ball as an unplayable ball anywhere on the course except in a penalty area, and only the player can decide it.