5 Golf Rules You NEED To Know

Jeremy Ellwood explains five Rules of Golf you need to know, including those around provisional balls, unplayable lies and what you can and can't do in bunkers

5 Golf Rules You NEED To Know

Jeremy Ellwood explains the 5 Rules of Golf you need to know, including those around provisional balls, unplayable lies and what you can and can't do in bunkers.

Related: New golf rules - all you need to know

Here are the 5 golf rules you NEED to know...

1. The Scorecard

A few things on the scorecard - firstly, you don't record your own score. Your marker records your score and, at the end, if the marker had made a mistake and you don't spot it before you sign, then that is down to you as the player.

If you sign for a gross score higher than what you took on a hole, that score will stand. However, if you sign for a gross score lower than what you took, you will unfortunately be disqualified.

All you have to do on a scorecard is write the gross score on each hole. You don't have to add up your Stableford points or anything like that. ALL you have to do is record and sign for the correct gross scores for each hole.

You must get your scorecard posted in good time after the round too, and that doesn't mean after a few beers in the clubhouse!

Related: Why you SHOULD mark your golf ball

2. Unplayable ball

You, as the player, are the sole judge as to whether your ball is unplayable. You could, if you wanted, declare your ball unplayable from the middle of the fairway, but obviously you would rarely, if ever, want to do that.

If you declare your ball unplayable, you then have three options. First, you can go back to where you last played from under penalty of stroke and distance.

The second option is to drop within two club lengths of where your ball is lying but no nearer the hole, again under penalty of one stroke.

Your third option is to drop back as far as you like on a line keeping the point where your ball is currently lying between you and the flagstick, again under penalty of one stroke.

3. Provisional ball

The idea of the provisional balls is that if you hit your ball somewhere you may not find it, as long as it's not in a penalty area, you can then hit a provisional to potentially save you a long walk back.

You HAVE to make it clear that you are playing a provisional ball before you hit - you can say, "I'm going to hit another just in case," but our advice would be that it's probably best to use the words 'provisional ball' to avoid the potential for confusion.

If you find your original ball, your provisional ball is then immediately out of play. You cannot play your provisional ball, even if you find your original ball in an undesirable spot.

The point of the provisional ball is to save time. If you're in any doubt as to whether or not you'll find your original ball, hit a provisional and remember to declare it first.

Related: Golf Rules Explained - Provisional Ball

4. Definitions - Nearest point of complete relief

The nearest point of complete relief doesn't mean 'nicest' point of relief. Sometimes the nearest point of relief may be in a bush so it could sometimes be better to play from where it is lying, even if it's on a cart path.

If you are taking a drop away from an immovable obstruction or abnormal course condition, you must take complete relief. This means you cannot drop the ball in a position where you would still be standing on the condition or obstruction from which you are taking relief.

5. Various bunker rules

Some key things you can and can't do in bunkers:

You are not allowed to ground your club in the sand or take practice swings striking the sand - the only time you can hit the sand is at impact. If you do ground your club, then you will be penalised.

You may now remove loose impediments from a bunker as elsewhere on the course, taking care not to move your ball in the process.

If you wish to declare your ball unplayable in a bunker, you have a few relief options.

Three of them are as per the normal options for an unplayable ball under penalty of one stroke. If you opt to drop within two club-lengths or back on line, it must be in the same bunker.

There is now one further option for an additional penalty stroke. This extra penalty stroke then allows you to drop back on line outside the bunker.

Here is everything you need when you decide to declare your ball unplayable in a bunker.

The Rules of Golf can, at times, seem complicated and intimidating. Hopefully, this article will help you know what to do in a number of very common scenarios.

For more rules content check out the Golf Monthly website.