Competition rules

[Mattyj3nks]

Hi all,

Im playing my first round in a competition on Saturday morning as i recently joined a club for the first time and need to get a few scorecards in to get a proper handicap.

Im really nervous as im used to just playing the course on my own or with mates who never really play.

Im just unsure of some rules and down want to get myself in trouble.....
-if i play a shot which goes out of bounds do i just drop from where i hit that shot and play the shot again with a penalty stroke?
- if i play a shot which remains in bounds but in the bushes and i can see the ball do i just drop a ball where the ball entered and play from there with a dropped shot?

I believe that if i play a shot which looks like it went into bushes or other hazards then i should drop from where i played that shot and hit a provisional just encase i cant find the ball when i get to it - is this correct?


I feel stupid for asking these questions but would put my mind at ease if i can clear this up as im playing with 3 others who i have never met before and just dont want to embarrass myself.

Any other useful rules you might want to point out would be very much appreciated.

Thanks
Matt

 

[sandmagnet]

Matt don't be embarrassed for a start! There is a rules section on here that 99.9% every question you have is on there.explain your situation to the other 3 on the tee or in the bar before hand and I will think they will help also! We all start somewhere:thup:

 

[ExRabbit]

My best advice to you is to not lose any sleep over it and tell the people you are playing with that you haven't played under competition rules before and that you would appreciate any advice and pointers they can give you. Always ask if you are unsure - your fellow players would rather you did this than have you having to walk back and replay etc.

Have fun and gl!

 

[Slab]

There's a quick guide to the rules of golf you can download free here This'll cover the popular basics for you

It'll only take 20 minutes to read through a couple of times and you can print it to keep in your bag if you get stuck

It is useful to let others know its your first comp and almost without exception other players will be understanding and helpful (do remember that being helpful doesn't mean they are telling you the correct way to do things, just what they think is the correct way)

Read the guide and if you find yourself in a situation that requires a ruling then asking 'what are my options here' works pretty well regardless of how long you've been playing
(I'm talking about asking about rulings on how to proceed here, not what options for what club or type of shot to hit or other advice, which is a no no)

Most of all relax and enjoy it

 

[Smiffy]

I believe that if i play a shot which looks like it went into bushes or other hazards then i should drop from where i played that shot and hit a provisional just encase i cant find the ball when i get to it - is this correct?

As others have mentioned above, your playing partners will put you right on most things if you explain that you are a new player.
One thing to point out on the above, and not trying to confuse you...... if you hit a shot and it DEFINITELY goes in a water hazard, DO NOT AUTOMATICALLY DROP FROM WHERE YOU PLAYED AND HIT ANOTHER BALL.
Although this is one of the options available to you, it is not always the best.

 

[Spuddy]

-if i play a shot which goes out of bounds do i just drop from where i hit that shot and play the shot again with a penalty stroke?

Yes. If it's you tee shot that goes out of bounds then you are allowed to tee it up again, otherwise drop it as close as possible to the original spot. Rule 27-1b

- if i play a shot which remains in bounds but in the bushes and i can see the ball do i just drop a ball where the ball entered and play from there with a dropped shot?

No, you have 3 options. You can either go back and play your shot again as above (stroke and distance), drop a ball within 2 club lengths of the original ball position (not 2 club lengths of the entry point...) that is no closer the hole, and finally you can drop a ball no closer the hole on the line that intercepts the hole and original ball (there's no limit to how far back you go, provided you drop on this line). Rule 28.

I believe that if i play a shot which looks like it went into bushes or other hazards then i should drop from where i played that shot and hit a provisional just encase i cant find the ball when i get to it - is this correct?

Be careful with the wording as a bush isn't a hazard. The only 'hazards' are bunkers or water hazards.
If you think it may be lost in the bushes/trees/long rough or 'may' be out of bounds etc then yes you can play a provisional. If your ball may have gone into a water hazard then you can only play a provisional if it may also be lost outside of the hazard or out of bounds.
rule 27-2


Get yourself a rule book or if you have a smartphone then I would thoroughly recommend downloading the R&A rules app. It has a brief guide to the most commonly used rules as well as a search engine so you can find what you need quickly. It's perfectly fine to use it on the course. If there is water on your course then I'd also recommend having a read over the various relief options available depending on the colour of stakes.

Just to cover a point that was raised by someone else. You can ask your competitors if they know a rule etc however you are not allowed to ask them how you should proceed if there are various options available. For example, if your ball is unplayable, you can ask them what the options are but you cannot ask (and they are not allowed to offer) which of them they think might be the best one in the circumstances.

Finally You are responsible for your own game so be wary if you ask someone your playing with if they know a rule. There are many myths out there which even the most experienced players believe so in the long run you will be better off if you build up your own knowledge from reading the rules rather than relying solely on others.

 

[backwoodsman]

Matty,

As the others have said, tell your fellow competitors and they will help you out. A good idea is to remember any points you asked about, then check up on them afterwards. Your FCs will be helpful, but not always right. The rules forum on here is a good place to check. Get yourself a guide to the rules to start with - Slab has given a link - but then get a copy of the R&A rules booklet. They are free and you should be able to get on from your club.

As to your specific questions, see below.

Hi all,

Im playing my first round in a competition on Saturday morning as i recently joined a club for the first time and need to get a few scorecards in to get a proper handicap.

Im really nervous as im used to just playing the course on my own or with mates who never really play.

Im just unsure of some rules and down want to get myself in trouble.....
-if i play a shot which goes out of bounds do i just drop from where i hit that shot and play the shot again with a penalty stroke? if you know for sure that your ball went OOB then yes, just replay the shot under penalty of one stroke. If you only think it may have gone OOB then announce a provisional ball and play another. If you find the original in bounds you must continue with it. If it is OOB use the provional adding the penalty shot. Eg if it was a tee shot then original shot = 1, provisional shot = 2, add penalty shot = 3.
- if i play a shot which remains in bounds but in the bushes and i can see the ball do i just drop a ball where the ball entered and play from there with a dropped shot? No. You can try playing it but possibly not wise. Or you can declare it unplayable and get three options. 1. Drop within 2 club lengths of where the ball lies (but not nearer hole) but remember this often might not get you out of the bush. 2. Take line from the flag to your ball then continue backwards as far as you like. You can drop anywhere on that line. And add the penalty. 3. Go back to where you last played and play again. Its all in rule 28 if you want to look it up

I believe that if i play a shot which looks like it went into bushes or other hazards then i should drop from where i played that shot and hit a provisional just encase i cant find the ball when i get to it - is this correct? If you change the word "hazard" to something like "trouble" then effectively, yes. (Remember that hazard has special meaning in golf). If you think you might not find your ball, you may play a provisional from where you last played. All in rule 27. But if you think you won't find it because it is in a water hazard you dont - you use a diffent rule (26).


I feel stupid for asking these questions but would put my mind at ease if i can clear this up as im playing with 3 others who i have never met before and just dont want to embarrass myself.

Any other useful rules you might want to point out would be very much appreciated.

Thanks
Matt

Darn, typing on this rotten tablet takes too long...

 

[Spuddy]

Matty,

As the others have said, tell your fellow competitors and they will help you out. A good idea is to remember any points you asked about, then check up on them afterwards. Your FCs will be helpful, but not always right. The rules forum on here is a good place to check. Get yourself a guide to the rules to start with - Slab has given a link - but then get a copy of the R&A rules booklet. They are free and you should be able to get on from your club.

As to your specific questions, see below.




Darn, typing on this rotten tablet takes too long...

I did mine on a phone while feeding a crying baby

 

[MashieNiblick]

Finally You are responsible for your own game so be wary if you ask someone your playing with if they know a rule. There are many myths out there which even the most experienced players believe so in the long run you will be better off if you build up your own knowledge from reading the rules rather than relying solely on others.

Matty,

As the others have said, tell your fellow competitors and they will help you out. A good idea is to remember any points you asked about, then check up on them afterwards. Your FCs will be helpful, but not always right. The rules forum on here is a good place to check. Get yourself a guide to the rules to start with - Slab has given a link - but then get a copy of the R&A rules booklet. They are free and you should be able to get on from your club.

Agree the above . One of the biggest sources of myths is new players assuming experienced players know the Rules. Now and again you will be assured in good faith that something is right when it isn't. Even now I after 40 years I always check everything I'm not sure about after the round, even though another player has told me it's right.

Should be able to pick up a free Rule book from the pro shop.

Have fun.