A page where some of the frequently misunderstood Rules of Golf will occasionally be posted

If you have any suggestions for a rules clarification, please contact Mike Stevenson here

The Top 20 most searched for Rules of Golf can be found here

Swing and Miss or Ball Accidentally Moved

Discussions are often heard on the course relating what constitutes an ‘Air Shot’ or what happens if the ball is accidentally moved during a practice swing. Hopefully the explanation and video below will help:

Firstly, what constitutes a “Stroke’ in golf:

From the R&A – A stroke is the forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.

But a stroke has not been made if the player:

  • Decides during the downswing not to strike the ball and avoids doing so by deliberately stopping the clubhead before it reaches the ball or, if unable to stop, by deliberately missing the ball
  • Accidentally strikes the ball when making a practice swing or while preparing to make a stroke in the teeing area or on the green

A players body language immediately after an attempt to hit the ball is normally a very good indicator of the intention to hit the ball!

Ball Accidentally Moved:

One of the more common things we might hear is ‘..the rule has changed and if you hit it accidentally there’s no penalty’, but there are 3 distinct scenarios depending if you’re on the teeing area, the general area (including bunkers and penalty areas) or on the green.

The link below will take you to a short video made by the R&A which covers each scenario:

Red Staked Penalty Areas

At NFGC we don’t have any yellow staked penalty areas (what used to be called a Water Hazard) but we do have red staked penalty areas (what used to be called a Lateral Water Hazard) on the 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th. 10th, 11th, 12th, 15th, 16th, and 17th.

When it is known or virtually certain that a ball is in a red penalty area and the player wishes to take relief, the player has three options, each for one penalty stroke. The player may:

  1. Take stroke-and-distance relief by playing a ball from a relief area based on where the previous stroke was made.
  2. Take back-on-the-line relief by dropping a ball outside the penalty area, keeping point X between the hole and the spot where the ball is dropped.
  3. Take lateral relief (red penalty area only). The reference point for taking relief is point X, and a ball must be dropped in and played from the two club-length relief area, which is no nearer the hole than point X.

It is not compulsory to take relief and thus incur a penalty stroke as there is an option to play the ball as it lies. At NFGC this opportunity might present itself in any of the marshy areas.

Immovable Obstructions Close to the Putting Green

It is common on certain types of golf courses (such as NFGC) for players to want to putt from off the putting green, but that can be problematic when there is a sprinkler head (or other immovable obstruction) on the player’s line of play. Under the Rules of Golf, you are not normally allowed free relief when an immovable obstruction such as a sprinkler head only intervenes on your line of play. However, the Committee has the option to introduce a Local Rule which will allow you to take line of play relief, but it is important to be aware that this is only allowed in limited situations. The Local Rule in question allows you to take free relief in the general area if an immovable obstruction is:

  1. on your line of play,
  2. is within two club-lengths of the edge of the putting green (in any direction), and
  3. is within two club-lengths of the ball.

Due to these requirements, this is sometime referred to as the two plus two Local Rule. If all three of these requirements are met, you may take free relief by finding the nearest point of relief, no nearer the hole, where the obstruction is no longer on your line of play and drop the ball within one club-length of that point, again no nearer the hole. You must also ensure that complete relief is taken, which means that your ball must come to rest on a spot where the obstruction is no longer on your line of play and where it does not interfere with the area of your intended stance or swing.

Free Relief from Abnormal Course Conditions

You hit a perfect drive down the middle of the fairway only to find that you have to stand in a puddle of water to play your ball, or you hit your approach to the green just a little too long and it comes to rest on a cart path. It doesn’t feel fair to have to play your shot from these positions, so what can you do?

These are two examples of conditions that are often found on a golf course that are not normally meant to be part of the challenge of the sport. These types of conditions are known collectively as abnormal course conditions and also include; holes made by animals, areas marked as ground under repair, immovable obstructions (such as artificially surfaced cart paths) and temporary water (such as puddles). As abnormal course conditions are not part of the challenge, the Rules of Golf give you the option to take free relief under Rule 16. This is one of the most frequently used Rules and one that is worth taking your time to understand.

Provisional Ball (Rule 18.3)

The provisional ball Rule can help you to save time and effort. If, after playing a shot, you think your ball may be lost (outside a penalty area) or out of bounds you should play a provisional ball.  A good example is a ball hit into the trees to the left of the 6th, 9th or 18th.

If your ball is hit or believed to be hit into a red staked penalty area, there is no option to play a provisional ball as there is a  separate rule to deal with that eventuality shown in red text below.

A good example of this at NFGC is the red staked marsh area to the left of the 11th and the same area which is to the left of the 12th.  If your ball lands within the area bounded by red stakes you do not have the option to play a provisional ball as it is obvious that your ball is in a penalty area.  Your options in this case are:

  1. Play the ball as it lies
  2. Take stroke and distance relief, effectively 3 off the tee.  You can tee your ball up again and you can use a different ball
  3. Take a penalty drop (1 stroke), 2 club lengths, not nearer the hole from the point where your ball last crossed the boundary of the penalty area
  4. Go back as far as you like along an imaginary line drawn between your ball and the pin under penalty of one stroke

If you are in a situation where you are allowed to play a provisional ball then before playing the provisional ball, you must announce to someone that you are going to play a provisional ball.  It’s not enough to say “I’ll play another” or “I’m going to reload.” You need to be more specific than that and use the word “provisional” or otherwise clearly indicate that you are playing the ball provisionally under Rule 18.3.

If there is no one nearby to hear your announcement, you may still play the provisional ball and then inform someone of this as soon as it is possible to do so.  Failure to make this announcement before playing from where the previous stroke was made, means the second ball played is in play under penalty of stroke and distance (Rule 18.1) (and is not a provisional ball).

If you have played a provisional ball and the original ball is lost or out of bounds, you must continue with the provisional ball, under penalty of one stroke.  But if your original ball is found in bounds within three minutes of starting to search for it, you must continue with that ball and stop playing the provisional ball.  To find out more about when your provisional ball becomes the ball in play, watch the video below:

Lost Ball (Rule 18.2)

When you hit your ball deep into the woods it is worth knowing that you cannot make your original ball lost by declaration. Stating “that ball is lost” is meaningless as it’s not what you say that matters, it’s what you do.  A ball is only considered lost if:

  • It is not found in three minutes after you have begun to search for it; or
  • You have put another ball into play under penalty of stroke-and-distance; or
  • You make a stroke at a provisional ball from a spot nearer the hole than where the original ball is estimated to be.

You can ask your playing partners not to search for your ball but they don’t have to comply.

If your ball is lost (or out of bounds), your only option is to take stroke-and-distance relief by adding one penalty stroke and playing a ball from where the previous stroke was made. 

There can be a local rule which allows a player who is out of bounds to take a drop level with where the ball went OOB under penalty of 2 strokes.  That local rule has not been adopted by NFGC.  See the video below:

R&A Rules Quiz

Question 1 of 6 In match play, a player plays a shot that rebounds off the face of a bunker wall and hits the player on the arm. What is the ruling?

A – There is no penalty and the ball must be played as it lies.

B – The player gets one penalty stroke and the ball must be played as it lies.

C – The player loses the hole.

Question 2 of 6 If you make your stroke on the putting green with the flagstick unattended in the hole, what is the penalty if your ball strikes the flagstick?

A – There is no penalty.

B – One penalty stroke .

C – Two penalty strokes.

Question 3 of 6 If you play a ball from outside the teeing area when starting a hole in match play, which one of the following is true?

A – You lose the hole.

B – There is no penalty but your opponent may cancel the stroke in which case you must play again from inside the teeing area.

C – You get two penalty strokes and your opponent may cancel the stroke, in which case you must play again from inside the teeing area.

Question 4 of 6 A player moves their ball at rest when searching for it. What is the ruling?

A – One penalty stroke and play it as it lies.

B – No penalty and replace the ball.

C – One penalty stroke and replace the ball.

Question 5 of 6 If a penalty area is marked with red lines and / or stakes, how many relief options do you have?

A – 2

B – 3

C – 4

Question 6 of 6 Which of the following facts is not true when applying the Rules?

A – Players are responsible for applying the Rules to themselves.

B – Players are expected to recognise when they have breached a Rule.

C – A player is responsible for considering their own knowledge only.