On this page our expert for golf rules, Gernot Pausch, has compiled some rule examples especially for golf beginners.
[su_accordion] [su_spoiler title=”When is a ball considered holed?
“] A ball is holed when it has come to rest within the perimeter of the hole and is completely below the level of the edge of the hole.[/su_spoiler] [su_spoiler title=”
When did the player take a shot?
“] Strike is a forward movement of the club with the intention to hit the ball and move it.[/su_spoiler] [su_spoiler title=”
What happens if the ball is inadvertently moved at the tee on a practice swing?
“] The player did not make a shot in the sense of the rule because he made a forward movement with the club during a practice swing but he had no intention to hit after the ball. The ball may be put back on the tee and played without penalty because the ball was not yet in play.[/su_spoiler] [su_spoiler title=”
When is a ball out?
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A ball is out when it is completely out of bounds The out is indicated by white posts or white lines on the ground (including walls, fences, railings, etc.) and the objects used to mark the out are not obstacles because they are considered to be fixed. Therefore, poles must not be removed in case of obstruction. Otherwise the player will receive 2 penalty shots.
A player is allowed to stand out to play a ball that is not out of bounds.[/su_spoiler]
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When is a ball in the ground in repair?
“] A ball is in repair in the ground if it lies in it or touches it with any part. Ground in repair should be marked with blue poles or white circles. Poles marking the ground in repair are obstacles and may be removed if the ball is obstructed. (Unless a court rule prohibits this.) The player may claim unpunished relief within one club length outside the ground in repair.[/su_spoiler] [su_spoiler title=”
When is a ball considered moved?
“] A ball is considered to have moved when it leaves its position and comes to rest elsewhere. A ball that swings back and forth is therefore a wobbling ball and is therefore not yet considered to be moved.[/su_spoiler] [su_spoiler title=”
Who is an applicant?
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Applicant is a player in the counting game and a competitor is any person with whom the applicant is playing together.
The usual expression among golfers flight partners for the competitor is wrong, as it is not a partner in the sense of the rules.
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What is meant by fake ball?
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A false ball is any ball other than the player’s ball in play or provisional ball or a referee ball according to rule 3-3 A ball found accidentally and mistakenly mistaken for your own ball is the most common example of playing a false ball.
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What is covered by golf course terrain?
“] However, the entire area of the course is excluded: The tee and green of the hole to be played and all obstacles on the course, i.e. bunkers and water.[/su_spoiler] [su_spoiler title=”
How long do they let you look for a ball?
“]If you do not find your ball within 5 minutes after the search has started and identify it as your own, the ball is considered lost.
You must put a new ball with 1 penalty shot as close as possible to the place where you played the last ball.[/su_spoiler] [su_spoiler title=”
My stationary ball was moved. What is to be done?
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a) by the player himself, put the ball back, 1 penalty shot
b) by another ball, put the ball back, unpunished
c) by doing something that is not part of the game, putting the ball back, unpunished
d) By wind weather or rain or by itself, this is called a game chance. The ball must be played normally as it lies.
[/su_spoiler] [su_spoiler title=”Does an air strike need counting?
“] If you had the intention to hit the ball but actually did not hit it, you must count this shot. If this air shot was on the tee, it must be counted in the same way and you have put the ball into play, which means you may not touch the ball now.[/su_spoiler] [su_spoiler title=”
When does one speak of an obstacle?
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An obstacle is anything artificial that has been made by human hand. (e.g. poles, huts, machines and paths on the golf course, etc.) except for objects used to mark the end of the course, such as walls, fences, poles and railings; and any equipment declared by the course director to be part of the course.
From an obstruction one may take unpunished relief.
There are also movable obstacles and these are if they can be moved without excessive effort, without undue delay of the game and without damaging anything, otherwise it is an immovable obstacle. A bench can be a movable and also an immovable obstacle.
A movable obstacle may be removed with impunity and the ball must be played as it lies. It often happens that when an obstacle is removed, the ball is moved, so it must be put back with impunity.
[/su_spoiler] [su_spoiler title=”When does one speak of an obstacle?
“] Many golfers believe that all that prevents them from continuing to play a ball are obstacles. Note: An “obstacle” is any bunker or water hazard.
What is meant by loose, obstructive natural substances?
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Loose obstructive natural materials are natural objects including stones, leaves, branches, twigs, etc. as well as excrements, worms, insects and piles of animals, provided that these objects are not attached, growing or firmly embedded and do not adhere to the ball. For example: earth etc.
Attention: Sand and loose soil can be found on the green, but nowhere else on the course.
[/su_spoiler] [su_spoiler title=”Dew and frost are not considered to be loose hindering natural substances.
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The player is allowed to remove loose obstructive natural substances with impunity in case of obstruction, but not in the obstacle. (Bunker, water)
Attention: If the ball moves when removing a loose obstructive natural substance, it must be put back with 1 penalty stroke added. If your ball is lying on a banana peel or on a pile of excrement, for example, any removal will have consequences.
In this case, it is better to play the ball as it lies or declare it unplayable.
Who has the honour on the first tee and further in the game?
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The honour on the first tee is not given by the club president, but in a competition the starting list decides the honour on the first tee. In private rounds
it is naturalised that the player with the lowest handicap will have the honour. In the rule book you can read which player is to be drawn. (I hardly see it in practice) At the further tees the player with the best result at the previous hole has the honour. If the result is the same there, the previous hole decides.[/su_spoiler]
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What is meant by putting line?
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The putting line is also generally interpreted as the straight line between the ball and the hole.
The putting line is the line that the player believes should take his ball after a shot played on the green. The putting line does not extend beyond the hole.
The putting line is only available for shots on the green.
[/su_spoiler] [su_spoiler title=”May a player enter a putting line?
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It happens quite often that a player or a competitor enters the putting line.
There is no penalty if you do it by mistake and nothing has been improved on the putting line. However, it would be a violation of the rules if the player or his competitor had done it intentionally. In order to prove this to the management, this incident would have to occur several times during the round.
[/su_spoiler] [su_spoiler title=”What is a playing line?
“] The “line of play” is the direction that the player intends his ball to take after a stroke, plus an appropriate distance on either side of the intended direction The line of play extends vertically upwards from the ground, but not beyond the hole.[/su_spoiler] [/su_accordion]