Etiquette and Rules

Etiquette 1. Don't move, talk or stand close a player making a stroke. 2. Don't step on another player's line of putt. 3. Always play without delay and keep up with the group in front. 4. Don't play until the group in front is out of the way. 5. Shout a warning if your ball may hit someone. 6. Invite faster groups to play through.

Etiquette 7. Repair divot holes and ball-marks. Smooth footprints in bunkers. 8. Don't drop clubs on the putting green or lean on your putter. 9. Replace the flagstick carefully in an upright position. 10. In the case of a serious breach of etiquette, the Committee has the authority to disqualify a player. 11. Leave the course in the condition in which you would like to find it. - Mike Dickey

Count your clubs. You are allowed a maximum of 14 clubs. (4-4)

6-7. Pace of Play Plan your shot while walking to your ball or while others are playing. Be ready to play when it is your turn. Walk briskly between shots Walk directly to your golf ball; don’t follow others unless assisting in a search Don’t step off yardage for every single golf shot, develop an “eye” for distance. Be efficient with pre-shot routine. Take only one practice swing. Play a provisional ball if you think the original might be lost outside a water hazard or out of bounds. These pace of play hints are contained in the USGA brochure “Spirit of the Game.” Don’t skip these, spend some time going over how player’s might increase their pace.

Rule 11. Teeing Ground Tee off within two club-lengths behind the front and outside edges of the tee-markers. Stance may be outside the teeing ground. Ball may be placed on the ground, on an irregularity of surface or on a tee, sand or other substance in order to raise it off the ground.

Order of Play In stroke play, the ball farthest from the hole is played first. The competitor with the lowest score on a hole tees off first on the next hole. There is generally no penalty for playing out of turn. (10-2)

Rule 16. Putting Green Don’t touch the line of your putt unless a Rule permits (Rule 16-1a). You may repair ball marks and old hole plugs on the line (Rule 16-1c). “Line of Putt” is sacred ground. A may touch the line of putt in 7 instances (Rule 16-1a): 1-removing loose impediments with hand or club, 2-in addressing the ball, 3- in measuring, 4-in lifting the ball, 5-in pressing down a ball marker 6-in repairing old hole plug or ball marks 7-in removing movable obstructions 2. You may lift, and if desired, clean your ball on the putting green. Always replace it on the exact spot. (16-1b)

17-3. Ball Striking Flagstick or Attendant The player’s ball shall not strike: c. The flagstick in the hole, unattended, when the ball has been played from the putting green. Player (Buzz Taylor) plays stroke from putting green and ball strikes unattended flagstick. In match play, player loses hole. In stroke play, competitor is penalized two strokes and ball is played as it lies. Penalty: 2-strokes

Loose Impediments Loose impediments are natural objects (such as stones and leaves) not fixed or growing, not solidly embedded and not adhering to the ball (Rule 23). 2. You may move them unless the loose impediment and your ball lie in or touch the same hazard. (23-1) 3. If you have moved a loose impediment and this causes your ball to move, the ball must be replaced and you incur a penalty stroke (unless your ball was on the putting green). (18-2a)

24. Obstructions Obstructions are artificial (i.e., man-made) objects. There are two types of obstructions: --MOVABLE --IMMOVABLE Movable Obstruction -- may be moved without unreasonable effort, without unduly delaying play and without damaging course property, unless it has been declared to be immovable by the Committee. Examples above: bench, trash container, cooler, water dispenser and stand, cups Immovable Obstruction -- Example above: hole sign secured in ground, not readily movable.

24-2. Immovable Obstruction b. RELIEF The nearest point of relief is almost always a different spot for a left handed player than for a right handed player The “point on the course nearest” will almost always be different for a right-handed player than for a left-handed player.

Moveable Obstructions 2. Movable obstructions (e.g., a rake) positioned anywhere may be moved without penalty. If your ball moves, replace it without penalty. (24-1)

13-2. Don’t Improve lie, Area of Intended Stance or Swing or Line of Play A player shall not improve the lie, the area of intended stance or swing, line of play or a reasonable extension of that line beyond the hole by moving, bending or breaking anything fixed or growing except in fairly taking the stance or making a swing. Player moving and bending branch to improve the area of his stance and area of intended swing.

Relief -- Through the Green Abnormal Ground Conditions The player shall lift the ball and drop it within one club-length of the nearest point of relief on a part of the course that (a) is not nearer the hole, (b) avoids interference, (c) is not in a hazard or on a putting green.

Ball is Unplayable

Ball Unplayable -- Three Options 1. Stroke and Distance 2.Drop a ball within two club-lengths of the spot where the ball lay, but not nearer to hole. 2 3. Drop a ball, keeping that point directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped. 3 Tee 1

6-5. Playing Proper Ball Put an identification mark on your ball. If you can’t identify it as yours, it’s lost. (Rule 27). There are no restrictions on the type of identifying mark the player may use -- dots, stripes, happy face, line, etc.

Lost or Out of Bounds “That one might be out, I’d better hit a provisional ball” If your ball may be lost outside a water hazard or out of bounds, you may play a provisional ball before you go forward to look for the original, provided you announce your intention to do so. Must announce and must use the word provisional. Make it very clear to the others in your group what are you doing.

Rule 27 Out of Bounds The ball is OB when the entire ball is at rest OB. The OB line is determined by the inside edge of the stakes or fence posts O.B.

Lost or Out of Bounds If your ball is lost outside a water hazard or is out of bounds, add one penalty stroke and play the provisional ball or, if you did not play a provisional ball, replay the shot (Rule 27-1).

Water Hazard (3 options) 1. Play the ball as it lies -- no penalty. OR, Under penalty of one stroke: 2. Play a ball at the spot from which the original was last played. 3. Drop behind the hazard keeping the point at which the original ball last crossed the margin of the hazard between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped. 1 Water hazard, marked with yellow lines and/or stakes. The point of reference for the third option (Rule 26-1b) is where the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard. 3 2

Lateral Water Hazard 5 options - Same 3 plus 2 1. Play the ball as it lies--no penalty. OR, Under penalty of one stroke: 2. Play a ball under the stroke and distance procedure. 3. Drop behind the hazard keeping the point between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped. 4. Drop 2 club-lengths from the point of entry into the hazard. 5. Drop 2 club-lengths from point on the opposite margin, equidistant from the hole. 1 5 4 3 What makes a lateral water hazard? --Nearly impossible to keep the point where the ball last crossed the margin between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped. 2

Relief Procedures -- Summary Immovable Obstructions & Abnormal Ground Conditions Through the Green, find the nearest point of relief and drop within one club length Water Hazards Water hazard (yellow) -- 3 options Lateral water hazard (red) -- 5 options Ball Lost outside Water Hazard or Out of Bounds Stroke and Distance Ball Unplayable Three options Highlight the detail of each item: Rules 24 & 25, nearest point, no nearer the hole, not in a hazard or on a putting green. Rule 26 -- water hazard (yellow) list 3 options --lateral water hazard (red) list 5 options Rule 27, player is required to proceed under “stroke and distance” penalty Rule 28 -- review the 3 options

Rule 3-3 Doubt as to Procedure In stroke play only, when during play of a hole a competitor is doubtful of his rights, he may, without penalty, play a second ball.

Player Responsibilities--Summary Know the “Conditions of Competition” (Local Rules) Arrive at first tee by starting time or be DQ’d In stroke play settle doubtful points before returning card In stroke play sign card and ensure marker has signed In stroke play if any hole score is lower than taken, DQ’d