Reglas Golf: Lo necesario en 2025

WarningThis article quickly summarizes how to act in the most common situations according to the Rules of Golf, but in no way replaces the book with the original golf rules, which should be consulted at all times and whenever any doubt arises.

At the end of this article, I'll provide a link to the book in PDF format, along with resources that will specifically help you pass the theoretical test to obtain your handicap.

The good news is that there is only 25 rules of golf (2025).

Not long ago there were 34 rules, and the R&A and the USGA (The entities that cooperate globally to establish and update the regulations) made an effort to update and simplify them.

So let's get down to business. What do I need to have the knowledge to go out into the field?

Preliminary clarification: The content that follows speaks a lot about the action «drop«.» «Dropping» in golf means to release the ball from knee height so that it falls to the ground and remains in play within a permitted area. It is done when you need relief from a situation, such as when your ball is in the water, in a hazard, or in an unplayable position.

Basically, instead of playing the ball from where it is (because it is impossible or it would take you a lot of strokes to get it out), you can release it in a better area, but almost always with one penalty stroke.

Golf Rules: Structure

So that you can quickly see how the rules are structured and they make sense and have a place in your head (you do NOT have to memorize this section), I will first tell you how they are organized:

In the Rules of Golf, the sections within the 25 main rules are called «Rules Sections» or simply «subsections», but they are officially structured as follows:

Rules: The top 25 rules (e.g. Rule 1 – The game, player conduct and rules).
Subrules: They break down each rule into specific situations and scenarios (e.g., Rule 14.3 – Dropping Ball in Relief Area).
Clauses: Within the subrules, there are subsections identified with letters (for example, Rule 14.3a – Original Ball or Another Ball May Be Used).
Definitions: Glossary that clarifies key terms used in the rules of golf.
Committee Procedures: Guidelines for tournament officials on the application of the rules.
Model Local Rules of Golf: Optional rules that courses or tournaments may implement.

The rules of golf summarized

⛳ 1. Basic rules

Play the ball as it is → You cannot improve your position. (Rule 9.1: «Ball played as it rests»)
Do not touch the field intentionally to test conditions before playing. (Rule 8.1a: "Actions that are not permitted")
Hit the ball with a single stroke → No pushing or double contact. (Rule 10.1a: "The ball must be struck with the club head and not pushed, scraped or scooped.")

🏌️‍♂️ 2. How to play a hole correctly

You have 3 minutes to find your ball if it is lost. (Rule 18.2a(1): «When a Ball is Lost or Out of Bounds»)
If a ball goes out of bounds or is lost, you must replay the stroke from the original spot with one penalty stroke. (Rule 18.2b: "What to do when a ball is lost or out of bounds"
If the ball is unplayable, you can drop with a one-hit penalty. (Rule 19.2: «Options for an unplayable ball in the general area or on the green»
If the ball lands in a penalty area (water, hazard, etc.), you can play it as is or drop it with penalty. (Rule 17.1d: «Options for a ball in a penalty area»)

📏 3. How to drop correctly

You must release the ball from knee height. (Rule 14.3b(2): «The Ball Must Be Dropped Directly From Knee Height Without Touching the Player or Equipment»)
The ball must fall within the relief area and stay there. (Rule 14.3c: "The dropped ball must come to rest in the relief area.")
If the ball rolls outside the permitted area, you repeat the drop without penalty. (Rule 14.3c(2): "What to do if the dropped ball moves outside the relief area")

You have more details on how to know what your relief area is and how to drop in it in This article.

⚖️ 4. Common penalties

Hitting out of bounds or lost ball = 1 penalty stroke and you repeat from the original stroke. (Rule 18.2b: «What to Do When the Ball is Lost or Out of Boundss»)
Drop incorrectly = 1 penalty stroke. (Rule 14.7a: «Place from Where the Ball Must Be Played«)
Playing the wrong ball = 2 penalty strokes. (Rule 6.3c: «Penalty for playing an incorrect ball»)
Accidentally moving the ball on the green = There is no penalty, but you must replace it in its place. (Rule 13.1d: «When the Ball or Ball-Marker Moves on the Green»)
Playing from the wrong place = 2 penalty strokes. (Rule 14.7: «Playing from the wrong place»)

🏌️ 5. Rules of golf on the green

Can repair pinholes and nail marks on the green. (Rule 13.1: «Actions permitted or required on the putting green»)
There is no penalty for accidentally move the ball on the green. (Rule 13.1d: «When the Ball or Ball-Marker Moves on the Green»)
If one moving ball hits another ball at rest on the putting green, the player who made the stroke is not penalized, but The ball that was at rest must be replaced to its original position before impact. The ball in motion is played as it lies. (Rule 11.1a: «There is no penalty for any player»)
- ⚠️ Exception: In stroke play, if the player's ball in motion strikes a ball at rest on the putting green and both balls were on the putting green before the stroke, the player incurs the general penalty (two strokes).
You must play from where the ball stops, unless you are allowed to drop. (Rule 9.1: «The ball must be played as it lies»)
If your ball hits the flag on a putt, There is no penalty. (Rule 13.2a(2): «There is no penalty if the ball hits the flagstick left in the hole.)

🎯 6. Rhythm of play and etiquette

Play in no more than 40 seconds by blow. (Rule 5.6b: «Good Pace of Play»)
Keep a good pace of play, allowing faster groups to pass if necessary. (Rule 5.6a: «Unreasonable Delay of Game»)
Respect the countryside (repairs pitch marks, replaces pieces of grass and dirt that come loose from the ground when a player hits the ball with a club or divots, rakes the bunkers). (Rule 1.2a: «Expected conduct of all players»)

Golf Rules for Players and Resources for the Written Handicap Test:

Here are the resources that will help you pass the written test:

The written test, multiple choice, may vary in format depending on your regional federation but is based on the content of the page where the questions are explained. Rules for the Player as published by the R&A.
From the same, there is a app that you can easily consult from your mobile in your language, here is the link to the version in iOS (App Store) and the version for Android (Google Play). In the "Learn" section of the app, you can take practice test questions about the rules.
I also put here the access to the video «A Quick Guide to the Rules of Golf «, also produced by the R&A, which visually complements the aforementioned content. The content of this video is in English, but you can watch it with Spanish subtitles.

Finally, to access the official book of the Royal Spanish Golf Federation that contains the text with the Official Golf Regulations, use this link.

P.S. If all this information has been useful to you, please leave me a comment below so I know if I did it right ; )

Golf Rules: What you need in 2025

Golf Rules: Structure