We’ve all been there before, you hit your shot straight into the lake and have to lay back, or go back to the original spot of the ball with a 1-shot penalty. While this is the most common penalty, it is only one of many that can come into play during any round of golf. Here’s a rundown on some of the most common penalties.
1. Out of bounds – This is another common occurrence out on the course. When you hit your golf ball out of bounds you lose stroke and distance. You must take a 1-stroke penalty and also go back and hit another ball from where you hit the original. If you think your ball may be out of bounds, you can hit a provisional before you begin looking for the original one. This helps speed up play.
2. Unplayable lie – If you find yourself facing an unplayable lie, you are allowed to declare that. You’ll be assessed a 1-stroke penalty and then be able to drop your ball within 2 club lengths of the original; not nearer the hole.
3. Hitting out of turn – You may not know this one, but there is no penalty in stroke play for hitting out of turn. Now, in match play, it is a different story. The competitor has the option of making you re-hit your ball for not paying attention.
4. Too many clubs in your bag – Anyone remember this happening to Ian Woosnam at the British Open a few years ago? You’re allowed 14 clubs in your bag and in stroke play it’s a 2-shot penalty for each hole you play, up to a 4-stroke limit. In match play it’s a loss of hole up to a 2 hole limit.
5. Signing an incorrect scorecard – If you sign a card that has scores that were lower than you actually played, it’s a disqualification. If it shows higher scores than you actually played then the scorecard stands as signed.
6. Golf ball rolls after you address it – This will cost you 1-stroke and you’ll need to replace it where it originally was. When you ground your club and address the ball, make sure it isn’t going to move.
7. Grounding your club in a hazard – You are not allowed to ground your club in any hazard or it’s a 2-stroke penalty. In match play it’s loss of hole.
8. Ball moves after removing loose impediment – If you remove a loose impediment next to your ball while playing through the green, it’s a 1-stroke penalty and you’ll have to place your ball in its original spot.
9. Putting with the flagstick in the hole – If you putt with the flagstick in and you hit it with your putt while it’s unattended, it’s a 2-stroke penalty. You’ll play the ball where it lies. In match play it’s a loss of the hole.
Of course, these are just some of the more common rules of golf. There are many more, and I would encourage every golfer to pick up a copy and look over all the rules so they are familiar with them on the course. It can avoid most disputes.
