The Rules of Golf are published by the R&A and USGA and apply to all golfers worldwide. Understanding the basic rules is essential for playing golf correctly and competing fairly. The rules are designed to ensure fair play and maintain the integrity of the game.
The objective of golf is to play the ball from the tee into the hole on the green in as few strokes as possible. You play the ball as it lies - you can't move it or improve your lie unless the rules allow it. If your ball goes out of bounds or is lost, you take a penalty stroke and replay from the original spot.
Your score for each hole is the number of strokes it takes to get the ball from the tee into the hole. Par is the number of strokes an expert golfer should take to complete a hole. A birdie is one stroke under par. An eagle is two strokes under par. A bogey is one stroke over par. A double bogey is two strokes over par.
Various infractions result in penalties. A one-stroke penalty is the most common. A two-stroke penalty is given for more serious infractions. Disqualification is the most severe penalty and results in elimination from the tournament.
Common one-stroke penalties include hitting the ball twice in one swing, playing the wrong ball, and hitting the ball out of bounds. You then replay from the correct spot with the penalty stroke added.
If your ball goes out of bounds, you take a one-stroke penalty and replay from the original spot. Out of bounds is typically marked by white stakes or a fence. If any part of your ball is out of bounds, the entire ball is considered out of bounds.
If you can't find your ball after searching for 3 minutes, it's considered lost. You take a one-stroke penalty and replay from the original spot. This is the same penalty as hitting out of bounds.
If your ball goes into a water hazard, you have options. You can take a one-stroke penalty and replay from the original spot. Or you can take a one-stroke penalty and drop a new ball behind the hazard, keeping the hazard between you and the hole.
Lateral water hazards (typically marked with red stakes) allow additional options. You can drop a new ball within two club lengths of where the ball entered the hazard.
If your ball is in an unplayable position, you can declare it unplayable and take a one-stroke penalty. You then have options: replay from the original spot, drop behind the ball keeping the ball between you and the hole, or drop within two club lengths of the original spot.
You can remove loose impediments (natural objects like leaves and twigs) from around your ball without penalty. You can move obstructions (artificial objects like rakes and bottles) without penalty. However, you can't move the ball in the process.
You can't improve your lie by moving the ball or removing grass. You can't press down behind the ball. You can't remove obstacles to improve your swing path. Violations result in penalties.
In match play, you compete hole-by-hole against an opponent. The player with the best score on each hole wins that hole. The player who wins the most holes wins the match. In stroke play, you count your total strokes for all holes and compare with other players.
Some rules are different in match play vs. stroke play. For example, in match play, you can concede a putt to your opponent. In stroke play, you must complete every hole.
Following the rules is about honesty and integrity. Don't cheat or bend the rules. If you're unsure about a rule, ask the rules official. The rules are designed to ensure fair play for everyone.
For more information about golf, explore our golf tips section or check out tournament information.