Rules of Golf (Summary)

Cinco Ranch H.S. Cougars

  1. Teeing- Ball must be teed between the markers & no more than 2 clubs back.
  2. Ball falls from tee- no penalty if no swing. Topped ball on attempted stroke = 1 stroke
  3. “Whiffed” ball- swinging & missing = 1 stroke each
  4. Ball moved when NOT on tee- if ball is addressed by club = 1 stroke & you replace ball.
  5. Improving a ball’s lie- 2 stroke penalty if you move, break or bend “growing vegetation”.

You may remove “loose impediments” if the ball does not move.

If ball moves = 1 stroke penalty if not on the green. If you move the ball on the green

while removing “loose impediments”, there is no penalty if you replace your ball.

You can NOT remove “loose impediments” in a sand trap or water hazard.

6. “Grounding your club”- You can NOT touch your club to the ground until down swing in

sand trap or water hazard = 2 stroke penalty. Grass covered border of sand trap is OK.

  1. Play the wrong ball- = 2 stroke penalty & you must play out the correct ball before next tee.

No penalty if you play the wrong ball out of a trap or hazard, if you replay correct ball.

Always mark your golf balls before the round! Be able to identify it.

  1. Ball becomes “unfit” to play- Tell your competitors that you are checking to see if it is fit.

You then mark the position and lift it to let your competitors decide if it is cut/scratched.

You can NOT clean it. A new ball or the original ball must be replaced exactly.

There is no penalty if you go through this procedure. 1 stroke penalty if not.

A ball that completely breaks can be replayed freely from the original hitting position.

  1. Ball lands on the wrong green – You can not play it from there. You must take a free one

club drop to nearest point of relief & no nearer the hole. The ball may be cleaned.

  1. Hitting another player’s golf ball with your golf ball- no penalty in stroke play if your hit

ball hits the other ballfrom off of the green. The hit ball must be replaced back to it’s

original position and the hitting ball must be played as it winds up.

If they do not replace their hit golf ball, then it is a 2 stroke penalty on them.

  1. Striking another player’s golf ball on the putting green- if your PUTT hits another ball on the green, then you occur a 2 stroke penalty. Always ask the competitor to mark their golf ball.
  2. Physically moving another player’s golf ball = 1 stroke on you & they must replace their ball.
  3. Your ball hits you or your equipment = 2 stroke penalty.

Your ball hits your opponent or your opponent’s equipment = no penalty if by accident.

  1. Ball in water hazard (any part of the ball touching the line)-

a. You may replay from original hitting position with 1 stroke penalty.

b. You may play out of the hazard without “grounding your club”.

c. You may drop from “Lateral Hazard” (red stakes) by dropping 2 club lengths from the

point that it last crossed line, no nearer to the hole, or on opposite side equal from hole.

You may drop from “Regular Hazard” (yellow stakes) by dropping “back” & keeping

the spot that it last crossed the line with a direct line to the flag/pin

If you take a “drop”, then it is a 1 stroke penalty. It is like a shot “out” of the hazard.

  1. Dropping your ball- from shoulder height & arms length. Re-drop free if it hits you/equip.

Re-drop free if it rolls more than 2 club lengths, nearer to hole, into or out of hazard.

Always use your longest club (Driver) for ANY drop to get maximum distance away.

  1. Lost ball- You are allowed a 5 minute search at the point where it may be found.

It is deemed lost when another ball is put into play even if you find it later.

It is deemed lost if you play your second shot with your “Provisional ball”.

If it is lost, you must go back to the spot that the lost ball was hit FROM, hit another

counted stroke and add 1 penalty stroke. (just as if you hit “Out of Bounds”)

There is no penalty if you are SURE your ball was lost in casual water, ground under

repair or in an animal hole.

  1. “Provisional Ball”- If a hit ball might be lost OUTSIDE of a water hazard or might be “out of

bounds”, then you MUST tell your playing partners before going to look for it that you are

playing a “Provisional Ball” if you want to hit “one that may not count”.

If your first ball is found in play or in a water hazard, then you must pick up your

“Provisional Ball” without penalty and play the original ball as you find it.

  1. Out of Bounds – (most penalized shot in golf) If your ball is hit outside WHITE stakes, the

border of the course such as roads or fences, or something else deemed by that course

(example: some courses deem their driving ranges as O.B. and others do not),

…..then you must play from the original hitting position & add 1 penalty shot to 2 hit shots.

(old saying “O.B., re-tee, hit # three”) A ball on the line is considered in-bounds.

White stakes can NOT be pulled up to hit, but red or yellow stakes can be pulled to hit.

  1. “Plugged Ball”- If your ball is stuck or “plugged” into the ground OUTSIDE of a hazard,

then you may mark, lift, clean and drop without a penalty stroke 1 club no nearer to hole.

  1. Cart path- If your ball or your stance is on the cart path, then you get to drop free to the

nearest point of relief from the cart path. You do not have to drop & can play it as it lies.

Remember to use your driver as the club length for maximum distance.

  1. “Artificial Obstructions”- movable artificial obstructions can be moved (loose impediments).

“Immovable obstructions” (bench, fountain, irrigation box, ball washer, etc.) that are too

close for swing or stance, you are allowed a free drop, 1 club length from the nearest

point of relief, no nearer to the hole.

  1. “Unplayable ball”- (from “natural obstructions” such as trees or bushes)
  2. You may go back to original last position you hit from, add penalty and hit next shot.
  3. Drop 2 club lengths no nearer hole and add penalty drop.
  4. Drop backwards in line with flag at any distance back, add penalty and hit next shot.

If you have an “unplayable lie” in a sand trap, then your ball must still be dropped in sand.

  1. “Ball is totally covered up”- by sand or leaves in hazard can be moved to see part of the ball

without penalty. Replace ball if moved without penalty. If ball is visible at all, then you can

not touch the sand with hand or club at all. No loose impediments can be moved in hazards if

you can see part of the ball. Remember: you can play the wrong ball out of a hazard as long

as you recognize it afterwards and then play the correct ball.

  1. “Casual Water”- (NOT inside water hazard lines) Move your ball to the nearest point of

relief not nearer to the hole and drop it within 1 club length without a penalty.

This also includes your stance.

In sand trap bunker, it must be dropped in sand nearest point of relief without penalty

There is no such thing as “casual water” in a water hazard.

  1. “Ground Under Repair”- (Same as above in # 23)) Often marked by white lined circle.
  2. “Deep tire tracks”- (Same as above in # 23)
  3. “Animal Holes/Diggings”-(Same as above in # 23)
  4. “Local Rules & Drops”- some courses offer FREE drops from flower beds, gravel beds or from small newly planted trees. Falcon Point gives drop from pampas bushes with one stroke.
  5. “Interference on the green”- If ball or the line of the putt is interfered by casual water or an animal hole, then you can mark & move the ball to the nearest point of relief no closer to hole.
  6. “Marks on green”- ball marks can be and ALWAYS should be fixed before putting.

No spike marks can be fixed if on the putting line prior to putting or it is a 2 stroke penalty.

  1. “Touching ground on line of your putt”- Only permitted to pick up loose impediments or to

fix ball marks. Violation = 2 stroke penalty.

  1. “Conceding a stroke”- can NOT be done in stroke play, but can be done in match play.
  2. “Mark, lift & clean your ball” is permitted on the putting green.
  3. “Feet position on a putt”- both feet must be totally on one side of the ball & it’s direction line
  4. “Ball against the flag stick” – ball is not holed until it falls to the bottom of the cup.

If flag stick is removed & it fall then the ball is deemed to be holed out.

If flag stick is removed & it does NOT fall, then ball must be putted out.

  1. “Putted ball from on green hits flag stick” - = 2 stroke penalty even if flag stick is laying flat

If ball is hit from off the green & it hits the flag stick then there is no penalty.

Note: if the flag stick is being tended and it hits the stick or person attending = 2 strokes

NEVER putt from on the green without a flag stick attendant or without it pulled away.

  1. “Advice”- 2 stroke penalty for giving or asking for advice on club choice or swing method.

It is OK for “public information” such as hazards, rules or pin positions.

It is better to not offer or give any type of advice, for the U.I.L. rules differ from USGA

Advice can be given on the turn between nines.

  1. “Throwing of clubs”“Profanity” – will result in immediate disqualification!
  2. “Signing of Scorecards”- Make sure you mark your scorecard totally correct.

As a “marker” of your fellow competitor, it is your job to keep up with their score.

You are playing the game according to the rules of golf and with honesty.

Make sure both cards are totally correct before you sign yours and your competitor.

Cheating will not be tolerated in practice or tournaments.

Get your card to your coach as soon as you and your competitor verify it correctly.

Be brave and bold if a competitor is not playing honestly.

CINCORANCHHIGH SCHOOL “Etiquette”-

  1. We will always play by the rules.
  2. We will always conduct ourselves as gentlemen and ladies.
  3. We will dress alike as a TEAM and look sharp.
  4. We will be humble winners and respectful of our opponents in defeat.
  5. We will always respect the course or lose our playing privileges.
  6. rake bunkers
  7. fix ball marks & divots
  8. no sunflower seeds on the greens
  9. pick up trash
  10. treat all golf course personnel with respect at all times.