Warrior Custom Golf

Another Overview on the Proper Rules For Golf

Not only do you need useful golf tips to improve your game, you need useful golf knowledge, as well. This article provides another overview on the proper rules for golf, with everything ranging from the moving the ball, ball in motion deflected or stopped, lifting and dropping the ball, cleaning the ball, ball interfering with or assisting play, loose impediments, obstructions, water hazards, ball lost or out of bounds, ball unplayable, and more. Transform your game and your mind for the better. Your playing partners will be so enthralled with your newfound knowledge, they'll think you spent your vacation fund on private lessons.

Moving the Ball

If your or your playing partners move either of your golf balls, whether it on purpose or by accident, add a penalty stroke to your score, replace the ball, and play your shot. On the other hand, if someone or something moves your ball other than you or one of your partners, there is no penalty, but you must replace the ball. However, if your ball is moved by the elements, such as wind or water, you must the play the ball as it lies. Thank Mother Nature for that one. If you move a loose impediment lying within one club-length of your ball and the ball moves, add a penalty stroke, replace the ball, and play on. If this happens on the putting green, there is no penalty.

Ball in Motion Deflected or Stopped

If the ball hits an outside instrument, such as a bird or a rake, it's called a "rub of the green." In this case, there is no penalty but you must play it as it lies. If the ball hits a playing partner, a caddie, or someone's golf equipment, there is no penalty. Just replace the ball and replay your shot. If you ball happens to hit another ball and moves it, you must play your ball as it lies. The owner of the ball that was hit must replace the ball.

Lifting and Dropping the Ball

If you lift your ball under a rule and the rule requires the ball must be replaced, you must put a ball marker behind the ball before you lift the ball. When you are lucky enough to have to drop your ball, stand erect and hold your arm out completely straight and release the ball. If the dropped ball just so happens to hit the ground and roll into a hazard, come out of a hazard, come to rest more than two club-lengths from where it first hit a part of the course, closer to the hole, or if you are dropping away from an immovable obstruction or ground under repair back into the obstruction, you are granted a re-drop. If the same exact thing happens to you again, place the ball where it struck the ground.

Cleaning the Ball

When your ball gets dirty, you may clean it when you are allowed to lift it. On the green, a ball may be cleaned when lifted except when it has been lifted to determined if it is unfit for play or in order to identify the ball, as this interferes with the flow of play. We don't want those impatient executives playing behind you to get unhappy, now do we?

Ball Interfering with or Assisting Play

If another ball happens to interfere with your swing or is in your putting line, you may ask the owner of the ball to kindly move it. When you ball is near the hole and might serve as a backstop for another player's putt, you may (and should, in my humble opinion) remove your ball. Why give your playing partners an unearned advantage, right?

Loose Impediments

Loose impediments are natural objects that are not growing or fixed, such as leaves, branches, and bugs. You may remove these loose impediments expect when your ball and the loose impediments in question lie in a bunker or water hazard.

Obstructions

Obstructions are man-made objects. Obstructions such as bottles, cans, and rakes are moveable. Obstructions such as sprinkler heads, shelter houses, and cart paths are immoveable. Moveable obstructions anywhere out on the golf course may be removed. If the ball moves while removing these objects, you must replace the ball without a penalty. You may drop your ball away from an immovable obstruction if it is interfering with your swing or your stance. In this case, find the nearest point not closer to the hole where you can play without interference with your swing or stance. Make sure you drop the ball within one club-length of that point. Keep in mind you shouldn't pick up the ball from the obstruction until you have established the nearest point of relief.

Casual Water, Ground under Repair, and Animal Holes

Casual water is any temporary puddle of water caused by rain or over watering. Ground under repair is any damaged area on the golf course. If the ball or your stance is in casual water, ground under repair, or an animal hole, you may either play the ball as it lies or find the nearest place not closer to the hole which gives relief and drop the ball within one club-length of that place. When the ball is in casual water and you cannot find it, determine where the ball entered the area and drop a ball with a club length of the point of entrance without penalty. If your ball just happens to land on the wrong green, find the nearest place off the green not closer to the hole and drop the ball within a club-length of that place.

Water Hazards

Water hazard margins are identified by yellow stakes or lines and lateral water hazard margins are identified by red stakes or lines, for your convenience. If your ball lands in a water or lateral water hazard, you may play it as it lies. If you cannot find it or if you don't wish to play it, add a penalty stroke and drop and play another one from where last played, or you can drop a ball behind the water as far back as you'd like. If you do wish to drop behind the hazard, drop the ball so that there is a straight line between the hole, where the ball last crossed the hazard margin, and where you drop the ball. If your ball is in a lateral water hazard, you may drop the ball within two club-lengths of where the ball last crossed the hazard margin, but not any closer to the hole.

Ball Lost or Out of Bounds

As much as I know you want to find your ball, a ball is lost for good if it is not found within five minutes after initial search. A ball is considered out of bounds when all of it lies beyond the inside line of objects such as white stakes or the fence or wall that marks the playing area. If your ball is lost or out of bounds, you must add a penalty stroke to your score and play another ball from the place of your last shot. If you think your ball may be lost or out of bounds, you may play another ball called a provisional ball from the spot where your first ball was played. Just remember that you must tell your playing partners that you are playing a provisional ball and you must play it before you look for your first ball. If you can't find your first ball or if it's out of bounds, you must count the number of strokes you have taken with your first ball and the provisional ball, add a penalty stoke to your score, and play out the rest of the hole with the provisional ball. If you happen to find the first ball in bounds, continue to play with it and go ahead and pick up the provisional ball.

Ball Unplayable

If your ball is under a tree or in some other bad situation and you decide you can't play it, you must add a penalty stroke. After adding the penalty stroke, you can do one of three things. The first thing you can do is go back to where you played your last shot and play your next shot from there. The second thing you can do is measure two club-lengths from the unplayable lie, perform a drop, and play your shot from there. The third thing you can do is keep the unplayable lie between the dropped ball and the hole, go back as far as you'd like on a straight line, and perform a drop and play your ball.

Warrior Custom Golf has been in business since 1999 and has been providing the community with superior quality golf clubs. With our innovative technology, our hybrid clubs will maximize your game. It is our mission to provide you with the best equipment to improve your score. Please visit us at http://www.warriorcustomgolf.com/ for all of your golf equipment needs.