As a lot of members are relatively new to the game, I would like to take this opportunity to mention some things relating to the etiquette and rules of the game.  This is not an attempt to lecture people, but an attempt to explain some aspects of the game that should help us all to enjoy our outings more fully.

 

Etiquette

The Rules of Golf start with a section on etiquette, which is a measure of its importance.  This is primarily about consideration for other players.  A player should not distract another by talking, moving or standing in their way (physically or visually).  There is also a bit about speed of play, which is discussed below.  The other main part of etiquette relates to care of the course and the important advice is to repair all marks that you make (or those made by others) that you are able to.  This covers replacing divots, repairing plug and spike marks, smoothing out bunkers and taking care not to damage the greens with equipment (bags, shoes, caddy cars, flagstick, etc.).

 

Speed of play

One of the things which societies are criticised for is their slow play ‑ this detracts from everybody's enjoyment and can even result in a society being refused by a host club.  As a general rule, a 3‑ball should complete their round in about 3½ hours (i.e. an average of 12 minutes per hole).  There are a number of things that you can do to ensure that your game is as speedy as possible:​

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• Move quickly between shots ‑ you don't have to hit your ball on the run, but you can make sure that you don't lose time in getting to it,​

• Watch your ball (and your partners') ‑ if it goes into the rough, take note of some feature (tree, house, etc.) to give you a line to search on,

• If it looks like it might take some time to find a ball, call the players behind through ‑ you're allowed 5 minutes to find it, but should call players through immediately it looks like a search is involved.  Once you call players through, stand aside, remove any equipment that might obstruct them and let them play through even if you find the ball in the meantime,​

• If you lose a hole on the players in front, call the players behind through,

• When approaching a green, note where the next tee is and leave your bag where you can easily collect it on the way to the next tee,

• If you're marking a card, do it on the next tee while your partners are playing, not on the green,​

• Unless you're in someone's way, go to your ball directly and don't parade from ball to ball,

• Remember that players in front of you have priority ‑ if you would be in their way by playing your shot, let them play first,

• Most competitions are Stableford.  The most you will have is 2 shots on a hole, so if you have played 3 shots more than par and haven't holed out, pick up your ball,

• Although golf is a sociable game, don't hold meetings on the course!

 

Rules

There isn't space to go through all the rules (The Rules of Golf are over 100 pages long!), but I thought that I would mention some of the most important ones :

 

Losing your ball or hitting it out of bounds: (Rule 27)

If you lose the ball outside a hazard or 'course damage' (see below) or have hit it out of bounds, you must play a ball, under penalty of 1 stroke, as nearly as possible from where the original ball was played.  For example, if I hit a drive out of bounds, I have to play my third shot from the tee (and can tee it up)

 

Water Hazards

There are two types of water hazards, normal and 'lateral'.  These are defined by yellow stakes/lines and red stakes/lines respectively (which are part of the hazard) and they extend vertically up and down.  (note: a water hazard may have a 'normal' part and a 'lateral' part).

 

If a ball lies in, touches or is lost in a water hazard, the player may, under penalty of 1 stroke, either a) play the next shot from as near as possible to the spot where the original ball was last played, or b) drop a ball behind the hazard, keeping the point where the original ball last crossed the margin of the hazard directly between the hole and where the new ball is dropped, as far back as the player requires.

 

With a lateral water hazard (one which the committee considers it impracticable to drop behind), you have the extra option of dropping a ball, within two clublengths of  either a) the point where the ball crossed the margin of the hazard, or b) a point on the opposite margin equidistant to the hole.  (note: the dropped ball must come to rest not nearer the hole than where it crossed the margin).

 

The rule also says that "in order to treat the ball as lost in in the hazard, there must be reasonable evidence that the ball lodged in it."  Usually, if all players agree that it's in there, that is sufficient.

 

'Course Damage': (Rule 25)

This is my term for what the rules describe as "casual water" (temporary accumulation of water outside a water hazard), "ground under repair" (GUR) (marked by the local club and including such marks, or material piled for removal or a hole in a green even if not marked) or "a hole, cast or runway made by a burrowing animal, a reptile or a bird".

 

It is considered to be interference when the ball lies in or touches any of these or they interfere with a player's stance or intended swing (or are in the way on a putting green).

 

You may claim relief, off a putting green, by determining the point on the course, nearest to where the ball lies, which a) is not nearer the hole, b) avoids interference by the condition, and c) is not in a hazard or on a putting green.  Once that point is found, you can drop within one club length "of the point thus determined on ground which fulfils (a),(b) and (c) above."  Usually, you find the point, mark it with a tee, and then drop within one club length of the tee.

 

In a hazard (bunker or water), you can drop in the hazard without penalty as near as possible to where the ball lay or, for a penalty stroke, outside the hazard keeping the spot where it lay directly between you and the hole.  In a water hazard, you can't claim relief from a hole, etc.

 

On a putting green, lift the ball and place it, not nearer the hole or in a hazard, in the nearest position to where it was without penalty.

 

If a ball is lost in such conditions, subject to there being reasonable evidence that it's in there, you can treat it as above (except that you obviously can't play it as it lies!)

 

Unplayable lie: (Rule 28)

You can declare a ball unplayable at any place on the course except if it's touching or in a water hazard.  You are the sole judge of whether it's unplayable.  If it is, you have 3 options, all for a one stroke penalty:‑

                a) Drop within 2 clublengths of where it lay, not nearer the hole,

                b) Drop behind, keeping the spot where it lay directly between you and the hole, as far as you like, or

                c) Play your next shot from as near as possible to where you last played the original ball from.

 

If you were in a bunker and want to use a) or b) above, you must stay within the bunker.

 

Obstructions: (Rule 24)

An obstruction is any artificial object except a) objects defining out of bounds, b) any part of an immovable artificial object which is out of bounds, or c) any construction declared by the local club to be "an integral part of the course".  There are two types to be considered ‑ movable and immovable.

               

Movable Obstructions:  if the ball isn't in or on it, move the obstruction and replace the ball without penalty if it moves.  If it's in or on it, move the obstruction and then drop the ball without penalty, not nearer the hole, as near as possible to where it lay (on a putting green, it should be placed rather than dropped).

 

Immovable Obstructions:  Interference occurs when a ball lies in or on the obstruction or so close to it that the obstruction interferes with the player's stance or swing.  On a putting green, the obstruction can be on the line of the putt.

 

Relief from immovable obstructions: There's no relief in a water hazard.  If it's on a putting green, place it not nearer the hole nor in a hazard without penalty.  In other places, find the point nearest to where it lies (without crossing over, under or through the obstruction unless you're in/on it) which a) is not nearer the hole, b) avoids interference and c) is not in a hazard or on a putting green.  Drop, without penalty, within one club length of this point. (if in a bunker, it must be dropped in the bunker)

 

Finally, read the local score card and notice board for any local rules.  I hope that the above helps and that the points discussed add to your knowledge and enjoyment of the game.

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