The Rules of Golf are a set of rules and regulations established to ensure fairness and safety in the game. For those who are just starting to participate in this sport, learning the rules and regulations is extremely important.
When you first start playing golf, you not only learn about the terms but also know the rules of the game. This will help you avoid breaking the rules and quickly become a professional golfer. Take a look at the basic golf rules for beginners below!
Basic golf rules include:
- Golf course.
- Goals when playing and golf equipment.
- How to calculate points.
- Rule.
1.Golf course
Normally, a basic golf course will have about 18 holes and can vary depending on the terrain and golf course area. Each golf course will have about 3 types of holes for standard 3, standard 4 and standard 5 clubs. According to professional players, each type of club will be suitable for different types of terrain, including:
- Area name: Terrain type
- Tee Box: The tee is located on flat terrain.
- Fairways: The best part of the fairway with the short, smooth grass.
- Rough: The green is located at the edge of the fairway and beyond the fairway.
- Med Rough: The grass area is longer and harder than the Rough, located away from the ball.
- Weed Rough: The grass area is of average length and hardness, located outside the line of the ball.
- Unplayable: The area is not allowed to hit the ball. If the golfer violates, he will be fined 1 stroke.
- OB (Out of Bounds): If a golfer hits the ball into this area, there will be a penalty of 2 strokes.
2.Goals and golf tools to know
Goals when playing golf
When you first play golf, you don’t just “play for fun” or for entertainment, but you need to know what your goal is. Accordingly, golf is a sport in which you need to use a golf club to put the ball from the Tee Box position into the hole in the Green area with as few shots as possible.
When playing, you can play individually or in groups of about 3 – 4 people. Additionally, if you are serious about this sport, you can participate in some individual competitions or team tournaments.
So, what is the goal when playing golf? It’s simple, just hit the ball into the golf hole accurately. On the surface, this sport seems gentle, but in reality, to put the ball in the hole with the fewest shots, you need to calculate and consider carefully, especially the angle of attack, area of attack, type of club, wind direction, etc. The fewer shots you make, the more advantageous you will be in competition because when considering the results, those with the fewest shots will win
Tools for playing golf
When playing golf, your equipment will be strictly controlled in terms of style, size, club style, etc. According to regulations, golfers are only allowed to bring 14 clubs into the competition field, and must also Bring gloves and use tees and small pegs to improve your shot on any hole.
Players can only bring 14 golf clubs onto the courseThere are about 3 fairly basic types of golf clubs that you are allowed to bring onto the course, which are:
- Fairway Wood: This type of club helps you hit the ball the farthest.
- Iron set: This type of club helps you hit the ball at an average level.
- Putter: This type of club helps you make soft shots.
3.Golf rules at a complete course – 18 hole golf.
Regarding the rules of the game, you will hit the ball from your starting point (Tee Box area) to hit the Green area. For each time you touch the ball, you will be given 1 point until you complete all 18 holes in the course. On courts with 18 balls, you can play 1 round of 18 balls, half – 9 balls or 2 rounds of 36 balls. When completing the game, whoever has the least total score will win.
In addition, when playing golf, you also need to firmly grasp the following important regulations:
- Play the golf ball at the golf club length to the hole, where the tee point in the Tee area needs to be on the ground.
- Absolutely do not change the position of the ball once it has been kicked or do not move anything fixed on the field. If you violate, you will be punished with a cane.
- If the ball falls into the water, you will be replaced with another ball and placed at the back point of the water area.
- If you lose the ball, you must return to the original point of hitting the ball and throw it to the ground, then do it again from the beginning.
- Do not exchange clubs when the golf club is broken.
- The golfer’s ball furthest from the hole will be played first.
4.How to calculate scores when playing 18 holes of golf
With 18-hole golf, the golfer will calculate the score based on the total number of shots the golfer takes to get the ball into the hole. These points will be expressed as Par. With a handicap of 0, you only need to complete a certain number of holes. In particular, 1 shot is a tee shot and 2 shots to the surrounding area will be counted as “Green”.
Thus, the golfer who completes each golf hole in the course with fewer tee shots will win that hole. If it continues like that, whoever wins the most holes will win overall.
In addition, you also need to pay attention to standard clubs. That is the specified number of strokes in the hole that you need to put the ball in and is counted from the tee shot to the last stroke.
For example: If a hole has a standard stroke of 4, the golfer must find every way to put the ball into the hole with only 4 strokes (4 shots). If you do this, you will score Par. If under 1 stroke, your score will be -1, under 2 strokes will be -2. On the contrary, if it takes 5 strokes to get the ball into the hole, you will have a score of +1.
When the hole scores are added together after completing 18 holes, the golfer with the lowest score wins.
5. 12 basic golf rules that golfers need to understand
- Rules for counting golf clubs in a golf bag
When competing, you will be allowed to bring a maximum of 14 clubs onto the field. Therefore, check your bag carefully to avoid violating regulations. - Golf rules when the ball falls off the Tee
When the ball falls from this position, you just need to pick it up to tee. Try to serve the ball beautifully! Don’t worry, you won’t get any penalty strokes! - Law of advice
You can give advice to other new players when you have some experience at the time of practice. However, if you are competing, this action is against the rules and you will be fined 2 strokes. And of course, you are not allowed to ask for advice from anyone other than your caddy or teammates.
But don’t worry too much because you will be allowed to ask about other information such as trap locations, flag locations,… as long as it is not advice from others.
The law does not allow removing objects that grow naturally on the field
If your ball is caught under a tree, you are not allowed to move it or break it to get an easy shot. At this point, you are only allowed to create a posture suitable for the shot! If you accidentally violate it, you will be fined 2 strokes!
- Bunker rules in golf rules
New players often commit two of the biggest fouls in the green: club touching the sand before hitting and breaking or removing obstacles from the bunker. You will be fined 2 strokes if you commit either of these violations. - Ball rules in the bunker area
If the golfer’s ball falls into a bunker – a difficult area, you will be allowed to move the ball. - Rules for compacting putting clubs onto the green area
There are many new golfers who use a tamping putter to compress the protruding areas on the green or wear spiked shoes on this area. This action is against the regulations and if violated, you will be fined 2 strokes. - Law of time to find the ball
You will have 3 minutes to find the ball when playing on the field. If the ball is not found after more than 3 minutes, it will be counted as losing the ball. - Regulations on golf playing order
In the Matchplay format, this rule will appear. If anyone breaks this rule, the opponent will have the right to cancel that shot and request the ball to be played again in the correct order. - The rules do not identify golf balls
If the ball is buried so deeply that the golfer cannot distinguish which ball belongs to him, he will be allowed to raise the ball. At that time, you need to notify your opponent and mark the position of the ball and then lift the ball, then review it with the condition that your opponent marks your ball. In addition, you can observe the appropriate lifting and replacement of the ball. - Golf rules require only one type of ball to be used when playing golf
When you first play golf, if you use the Titleist Pro V1 ball from the beginning, you must use it throughout the match. If you violate, you will be fined 2 strokes/hole with a maximum penalty of 2 holes. - The moving ball is stopped or changed direction
During competition, if the golf ball is suddenly changed direction or stopped by a golfer or caddy, that golfer will be penalized one stroke (if competing in a stroke play match). If the ball is stopped or changed direction by other balls, you will not be penalized, but you are required to play the ball where it is lying. Additionally, if both balls are on the Green, you will be penalized two strokes.
Above are the basic rules of golf that anyone new to this sport must know, in addition to the terminology. Understanding the rules of the game will help players master golf and be able to participate in professional tournaments.
