The good news is that there is only 25 rules of golf (2025).
Well, each rule is a little different, but it is useful to understand the spirit of each one and it is worth delving into it a little.
Not long ago there were 34 rules, and the R&A and the USGA (the bodies that cooperate worldwide to establish and update the regulations) made an effort to update and simplify them.
But let's get down to business. What do I need to have the knowledge to go out into the field?
Note: The content that follows talks a lot about the action «drop«. «Dropping» in golf means release the ball from knee height so that it falls to the ground and remains in play within an allowed 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.
Rule of golf: 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 subsections 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 a ball).
- Clauses: Within the subrules, there are subsections identified with letters (for example, Rule 14.3a – When to drop a ball).
- Definitions: Glossary clarifying 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: The Most Important Thing
⛳ 1. Fundamental Rules of Golf
- Play the ball as it is → You cannot improve your position. (Rule 9.1: «The ball must be played as it lies»)
- Do not touch the field intentionally to test conditions before playing. (Rule 8.1a: «Actions that are not allowed»)
- 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): «The time allowed to search for a ball is 3 minutes»)
- 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: "Procedure for a lost or out-of-bounds ball")
- 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»)
- 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: «Dropping procedure: the ball must be released from knee height»)
- 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 14.3d: "What to do if the dropped ball moves outside the relief area")
⚖️ 4. Common penalties
- Hitting out of bounds or lost ball = 1 penalty stroke and you repeat from the original stroke. (Rule 18.2b: "Procedure for a lost or out-of-bounds ball")
- Drop incorrectly = 1 penalty stroke. (Rule 14.7a: «Playing from the wrong place»)
- 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: «Actions permitted or required on the putting green»)
- Playing from the wrong place = 2 penalty strokes. (Rule 14.7a: «Playing from the wrong place»)
🏌️ 5. Rules of golf on the green
- Can repair pinholes and nail marks on the green. (Rule 13.1c: «Actions permitted or required on the putting green»)
- There is no penalty for accidentally move the ball on the green. (Rule 13.1d: «Actions permitted or required on the putting 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): «No penalty if the ball in motion hits the flagstick»)
🎯 6. Rhythm of play and etiquette
- Play in no more than 40 seconds by blow. (Rule 5.6b: «To play promptly»)
- Keep a good pace of play, allowing faster groups to pass if necessary. (Rule 5.6a: «Pace of play»)
- 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»)
