I reckon that most golfers know most of the rules of the game but only a select few know (and understand) all of them. I’d go as far to say that many golfers think they know more than they actually do! That’s why it’s recommended that you always carry a copy of the rules in your golf bag, so you can find out the correct decision or prove to your opponent that you’re right and he’s wrong!
The R&A’s website has a useful section on the Rules of Golf. Here are some of their quiz questions to get your grey matter working (these are “easy” questions!):
1 A player stands outside the teeing area to make a stroke at a ball in the teeing area. What is the ruling?
A – There is no penalty.
B – The player is disqualified.
C – The player gets the general penalty.
2 A round may be more than 18 holes.
A – False
B – True
3 In a match, a player’s shot from the fairway accidentally strikes her opponent’s golf bag. What is the ruling?
A – There is no penalty and the ball is played as it lies.
B – The player gets one penalty stroke.
C – The player loses the hole.
4 The nearest point of complete relief may be nearer the hole than the ball’s original spot.
A – False
B – True
5 A player’s ball lies on a towel in the general area. When the player takes free relief, she may drop a ball up to one club-length from the point under where the ball lay on the towel, no nearer the hole.
A – False
B – True
6 When dropping a ball under a Rule, a player drops the ball in the right way twice and both times the ball comes to rest just outside the relief area, no nearer the hole. What is the ruling?
A – The player must continue dropping until a ball comes to rest in the relief area.
B – The player must place a ball on the spot where the ball dropped the second time, first touched the ground.
C – The player must place a ball anywhere in the relief area.
7 A player drops a ball in the right way in the relief area when taking a drop under a Rule. The ball hits the ground first but then accidentally hits his foot before coming to rest in the relief area. The player must drop the ball again.
A – False
B – True
8 A player may ground the club lightly in front of or behind the ball but is not allowed to press the club into the ground.
A – False
B – True
9 The front edge of the teeing area is defined by the line between the centre points of two tee-markers set by the Committee.
A – False
B – True
10 In stroke play, a player’s ball is half buried in the rough. Without saying anything to any other players in the group and without marking its position, the player touches the ball and rotates it. By so doing she identifies the ball as hers. What is the ruling?
A – The player gets one penalty stroke.
B – The player gets two penalty strokes.
C – There is no penalty.
Here are the ANSWERS
Question 1
Correct answer A
Explanation: The player may stand outside the teeing area in making the stroke at a ball in the teeing area. See Rule 6.2b.
Question 2
Correct answer A
Explanation:
See definition of Round.
Question 3
Correct answer A
Explanation: If a player’s ball in motion accidentally hits any person or outside influence (such as a golf bag), the ball must be played as it lies and there is no penalty to either player. See Rule 11.1.
Question 4
Correct answer A
Explanation:
See the definition of Nearest Point of Complete Relief.
Question 5
Correct answer B
Explanation:
See Rule 15.2a.
Question 6
Correct answer B
Explanation:
If a ball has been dropped in the right way twice and both times comes to rest outside the relief area, the player must complete taking relief by placing a ball on the spot where the ball dropped the second time, first touched the ground (Rule 14.3c).
Question 7
Correct answer A
Explanation:
A player has completed taking relief when a ball dropped in the right way comes to rest in the relief area. It does not matter whether the ball, after hitting the ground, touches any person, equipment or other outside influence before coming to rest. If the ball comes to rest in the relief area, the relief procedure is complete and the ball must be played as it lies.
Question 8
Correct answer B
Explanation: See Rule 8.1b.
Question 9
Correct answer A
Explanation:
The front edge of the teeing area is defined by the line between the forwardmost points of two tee-markers set by the Committee.
Question 10
Correct answer A
Explanation:
If a ball might be a player’s ball but cannot be identified as it lies, the player may lift or rotate the ball to identify it, but the spot of the ball must first be marked and the ball must not be cleaned more than needed to identify it. (Rule 7.3). The player does not need to advise anyone that she is going to lift the ball.
Well, how did you do?
9 – 10: excellent – think about training to become a rules official!
6 – 8: good, but you need to tighten up in some areas
3 – 5: it’s time you got the rule book out
0 – 2: who have you been playing with all this time!?!?!