| 2018 Helpful Standards for Rules of Golf |
| When Can't You Clean Your Ball |
| Determining if Embedded
Interfering or Assisting play When ID' ing When Determining If Unfit for Play When Determining if Ball is in a Burrowing Animal Hole |
| When is there No Penalty for Ball Moving? (Must replace) |
| Measuring Distance from Hole
Searching for In Hazard, Casual Water, and G.U.R. Act of Marking Ball Repairing Ball Mark or Hole Plug In Removal of Obstruction Removal of Loose Impediment on Putting Green Lifting Ball Under Applicable Rule |
| Drop or Place Ball |
| Ball Dropped if Spot Not Determinable
Ball Placed if Spot is Determinable Ball Placed when play resumed after suspension Ball Mostly Placed on Green (Except) A. Relief from Unplayable Lie B. Relief from Casual Water C. Dropping under Lateral Water Hazard Rule |
| Must Redrop Ball When |
| Rolls into Hazard
Rolls out of Hazard Roles and Comes to Rest out of Bounds Rolls onto Putting Green Rolls into Condition Taking Relief From Rolls and Comes to Rest more then 2 Club Lengths from where ball lands on ground Rolls and Comes to Rest nearer to hole then original position Rolls and Comes to Rest Closer to hole then where ball lasted crossed margin of hazard When ball dropped lands outside relief area When Striking Yourself, Side or Equipment Special Note: Ball is in play when Leaves Hand |
| When your ball strikes another competitor |
| Play the ball as it lies; there is no penalty, except when the competitor is attending the flagstick with your authorization (2 strokes) |
| Margins |
| Both Upwards & Downwards: Water Hazards & Out of Bounds
Just Downward: Bunker, G.U.R. & Casual Water |
| Stakes |
| Water Hazards Stakes are Moveable Obstructions (if movable) and can be moved whether your ball is in or out of the hazard.
Out of Bounds Stakes are not moveable. (2 stroke penalty) |
| Standard Penalty |
| Stroke Play - 2 Strokes
Match Play - Loss of Hole |
| Must Rectify or D.Q. |
| Rule 3-2 Failure to Hole Out
Rule 11-4 Playing Outside of Tee Ground Rule 11-5 Playing From Wrong Teeing Ground Rule 15-3 Playing Wrong Ball Rule 20-7 Playing from Wrong Place (if serious breach) Rule 29-3 Partners Playing in Wrong Order |
| One Stroke Penalty |
| Rule 5-3 Ball Unfit for Play
Rule 12-2 ID'ng Ball Rule 14-4 Striking Ball More Than Once Rule 16-2 Ball Overhanging Edge of Hole Rule 18-2a Ball Moved by Player, Partner, Caddie or Equipment (must replace) Rule 18-2b Ball Moving After Address (must replace) Rule 18-2c Ball Moving After Moving Loose Impediment (must replace) Rule 20-1 Lifting the Ball Rule 20-2 Dropping and Redropping Rule 21 Cleaning Ball when not allowed to Rule 25 When taking relief from an Abnormal Ground Conditions in a bunker Rule 26 Water Hazard Rule 26-2 Ball played from within Water Hazard Rule 27 Lost Ball or Out of Bounds Rule 28 Ball Unplayable |
| Not a Loose Impediment (Natural Object) |
| Frost
Dew |
No Second Ball Allowed in Match Play |
| Moving Loose Impediment in Bunker |
| Two Strokes / Lose Hole (Match Play) |
