SolveYourProblem
Article Series: Golf
The Fundamentals of Playing Golf
How
To Play Golf - The Game Rules
So, you have just finished your first session with a professional
golf coach. While you have been relegated to the driving range
for sometime, as your coach taught you the basics, you are
now ready to move forward. Welcome to the fairway!
To a new golfer, the exhilaration of finally being able to
approach the golf course with a little knowledge o the sports
thrown here and there, is unmatched. Perhaps, the only thing
that can match such adrenaline is the feeling of nervousness
that comes with something new.
“Will I be able to do that swing I have been practicing for
sometime now? And what will I do after that swing? Can I just
go on and on until a hole in one? What if there are other players
near us do I let them play first?” These, and more, are the
questions that will probably be asked by first timers in the
golf course.
While you are dreaming of that perfect swing, and of becoming
another Tiger Woods someday, be prepared to know the basic
rules and etiquette that every golfer must know and must practice
in the golf course.
The basic rules in playing golf are the same internationally,
whether you are in Asia or in Europe or anywhere else in the
globe. This makes golf truly a gentleman’s game. But don’t
be fooled by the latter term, because women are gaining grounds
and making their mark in the world of golf.
Here are the basic rules in golf. There are so many rules
that you are not expected to memorize them all. However, be
prepared to know the very basic, so that you will not make
yourself a laughing stock in the golf course.
1.
Every golfer is allowed to carry a maximum of 14 clubs
in his golf bag. However, you do not have to be a big spender
and buy all 14 clubs all at once while you are still starting
and learning the rudiments of the game. You may have the most
expensive golf clubs, but if it does not suit your style, then
it’s useless. To start with, buy a half set of clubs, with
the basic necessities like five irons, two woods and a putter.
2.
Make sure you do not keep your opponents or your team waiting,
mark your tee time. Always be ready to play your shot and do
not dilly-dally in the course, as you may be delaying other
players who are waiting for their turn. In case you forgot,
play starts in the tee area, where the ball is driven into
the fairway.
3.
The general rule is that the ball is played as it lies, except when the rule allows a player to move the ball for a
better position. Better be aware that a player cannot change
balls while playing a hole. The exception is if the ball is
damaged, then it may be replaced, with the consent of a fellow
competitor or opponent.
4.
Always play your own ball and place some markings on your
ball, in case another player has an identical ball. If a player
cannot identify his ball, then it is lost. If you lose your
ball, quickly search for it in the area where you saw it land.
If you cannot find it, forget your ball and play another one.
If a ball is no longer fit for play then it may be replaced
without penalty. A player is allowed to lift his ball if it
would assist another player. If a ball interferes with your
play, then you may have the ball lifted.
5.
Asking for advice from another person other than your golf
partner or caddie is a no-no. The same rule goes for giving
advice. Always observe silence when a golfer is playing a hole.
Remember, golf is a game of concentration and the other players
would be better off without your snickers or unsolicited mumblings.
6.
Do not swear when your ball hits an obstruction. An obstruction
includes any object, whether man-made or artificial, which
hinders the flow of the game. It can either be an immovable
obstruction like sprinklers, or a movable obstruction that
can easily be moved.
The rules in playing golf are so numerous that a player who
breaks the rules is not accused of cheating. There is a presumption
that the violation was not deliberate but due to ignorance.
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SolveYourProblem.com
: 2008
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