Three Golf Rules Worth Knowing

/ The Grateful Golfer

Knowing the rules of golf saves you strokes. The knowledge of what is acceptable in various situations can help you prevent additional strokes being assessed to your game. Most amateurs have not read the rule of golf and basically follow “guidelines” from their buddies vice following the hard and fast rules. To be fair, I follow the rules of golf most of the time. When in a friendly, I am more relaxed enforcing the rules, but in a competition, I am strict and unwavering. There are three rules that cause challenges to players, however they are simple and straight forward if we take the time to understand them.

The rules we will discuss today are: ball hits outside influence, loose impediments, and moveable obstructions. Basically, you arrive at our ball after hitting something like a fence or golf cart. When you arrive, you need to assess what you can move and what you cannot. It is not difficult to see most objects that can be moved and what cannot not. To simplify this topic, here is a quick video that will help:

Rule 11: Ball in Motion Accidentally Hits Person, Animal or Object; Deliberate Actions to 11 Affect Ball in Motion. Basically this rule states that if the player’s ball in motion hits a person, animal, equipment or anything else on the course. When this happens accidentally, there is no penalty and the player normally must accept the result, whether favourable or not, and play the ball from where it comes to rest. Rule 11 also restricts a player from deliberately taking actions to affect where any ball in motion might come to rest. (Golf Canada)

Rule 15 – 15.2: Relief from Loose Impediments and Movable Obstructions (Including Ball or Ball-Marker 15 Helping or Interfering with Play). Basically this rule states that:

  • These movable natural and artificial objects are not treated as part of the challenge of playing the course, and a player is normally allowed to remove them when they interfere with play.
  • But the player needs to be careful in moving loose impediments near their ball off the putting green, because there will be a penalty if moving them causes the ball to move. (Golf Canada Rules)

There is obviously more to these rules than the quick reference above. The rules of golf are designed make the game equitable for every player. It focuses on ensuring that the playing of each stroke is standard across all aspects of the game. Like other sports it prevents our opponent from gaining an advantage by not following the same standards set out in the rules.

The rules of golf are not overly complicated, but do require effort to understand and enforce. I read the rules of golf each year in order to refresh my knowledge. If you have not read the rules, I recommend that you do because it will help lower your golf scores. Lastly, If you are looking for a very good interactive website to the rules of golf, I recommend the R&A. They are part of the governing body and offer simple straight forward explanations and videos. R&A Rules Website

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!

8 thoughts on “Three Golf Rules Worth Knowing”

  1. One word of caution. The R&A and USGA rules have differences. If you are playing in America or Mexico, it would be best to get the rules from the USGA’s website. R&A will cover all other countries.

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      • To answer the questions that have come in. Ball size has been one rule that has and may still differ between the two bodies. R&A allowed 1.62 and USGA allowed 1.68. There may be others. I’m no expert on the history of it. But I know we still have two bodies to allow for differences of opinion in how the two top tours are run and that includes the option of rules differences. Most things they will try and keep the same. But they don’t have to. With all the recent changes, they may be word for word today. But that doesn’t mean they are for sure or that they will be tomorrow because there is a history of at least minor differences.

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      • Kevin,

        I see you point. However, at this time both governing bodies are aligned. If there are differences in the two tours, then they would be considered local rules and would not apply to the world of golf (amateurs). In 2019, the new rules of golf were adapted by both the R&A and the USGA. There have been changes since, however both governing bodies adopt the changes. I looked and could not find any differences in the rules that amateurs use. Great topic of conversation.

        Cheers Jim

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      • How the DP Tour is run vs The PGA Tour are totally different issues from the rules of golf. For the past 5 years there has been one rule book for both the USGA and R & A. It was a collaboration of the two ruling bodies and went into effect on 1/1/2019. There can always be differences from tournament to tournament that are handled via Model Local Rules. see attached picture

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