| Common Issues |
| 3-3a When in doubt play two balls. You must announce your intention and declare which ball you want to count before you play |
| 6-6 golfer must check score for each hole before signing card. If a lower score is signed for than was actually deserved, the played is disqualified. |
| 7-7 except for putting or chipping on or near the green just played or the tee box, no practice strokes are allowed. (including hitting driving range balls back over the fence)- 2 stroke penalty |
| 8-1 no player may give or receive advice during play( you may not ask what club someone hit or how to hit a certain shot, etc.)- 2 stroke penalty |
| 11-4 teeing ground is 2 clublengths deep. Teeing outside teeing ground (usually teeing up the ball in front of the markers)- two stroke penalty and must retee |
| 13-2 player may not improve lie by changing position of ball or vegetation( growing or fixed), pressing down soil behind ball, setting ball up on tuft of grass, etc...- two stroke penalty |
| 13-4 a player may not ground club in a hazard (water or sand)- two stroke penalty (Changing in 2019) |
| 15-3 playing a wrong ball (except from a hazard) is a 2 stroke penalty and the player must then continue with the correct ball. |
| 16-1 Player may repair ball marks and old hole plugs, but may not repair other damage (spike marks)- two stroke penalty (Changing in 2019) |
| 17-3 a player's ball may not strike the flagstick, whether attended or not, when the ball has been played from the putting green- two stroke penalty and the ball is played as it lies (Changing in 2019) |
| 18-1 ball at rest moved by an outside agency (dog, bird, coach) it shall be replaced with no penalty |
| 18-2 if a player's ball moves after he/she addresses it (takes stance and grounds club) or moves a loose impediment within 1 club length of the ball- one stroke penalty and replace ball. If a player fails to replace ball, it is a two stroke penalty instead. |
| Hazards and Relief |
| 24-2 Cart path or immovable obstructions - See Nearest point of relief not closer to the hole, mark that spot, drop within one clublength. No Penalty |
| 25-2 Ground Under Repair- Seek nearest point of relief not closer to to the hole, mark that spot, drop within one clublength. NO Penalty |
| 26-1 Water Hazard (YELLOW stakes)- 3 options
1. play from hazard w/out grounding the club 2. play from spot where the original ball was played, counting the stroke and add one penalty stroke( stroke and distance) 3. drop behind water hazard ( keeping the point where the ball entered the hazard between you and the hole.) No limit on how far back you can go-one stroke limit |
| 26-1 Lateral Water Hazard (RED stakes)- 5 options
same three options as water hazard plus two more. 4. drop within two club lengths of the point where the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard, not closer to the hole-1 stroke penalty 5. drop on the other side of the hazard, equal distance from the hole- 1 stroke |
| 27-1 OUT OF BOUNDS (WHITE stakes) Penalty=stroke and distance Example= a hooked tee shot goes beyond the white stakes marking out of bounds. You must count the first, add a penalty shot, and retee. You are now hitting your third shot. |
| 27-1 Lost Ball- anywhere but in a hazard, the same rule as Out of Bounds applies. Stroke and distance. |
| 27-2 Provisional Ball- If you think your shot might be lost or O.B. (not in a hazard) you may announce and play a provisional before you leave the area. If original is found, the provisional may not be played. |
| 28 Unplayable- player may declare anywhere except a water hazard- three options
1. play from last spot( stroke and distance) 2. drop within 2 club lengths, no closer- one penalty stroke 3. drop on a line behind the ball, keeping the spot where the ball lay between you and the hole. No limit on how far back you are allowed to drop. -one penalty stroke |
