The first ten golf rules every beginner should know

Match play or stroke play: why the penalty is different

Before we get to individual rules, here's a fundamental concept that many beginners don't know. In stroke play, you count all the strokes in a round. Stableford, another common form of play, is also a form of stroke play. In match play, you play hole by hole against an opponent.

Many infractions are penalized with the so-called general penalty. In stroke play, this means two penalty strokes, while in match play, it means loss of hole. When this article refers to two penalty strokes, this means loss of hole in match play. Penalties of one stroke, such as for a lost ball, are the same in both forms of play.

The 10 most important golf rules for beginners

1. Play the ball as it lies

This is the basic principle of golf. You must not improve the lie of your ball, your stance, your swing area, or your line of play. So don't break branches, trample grass, or press down the ground behind the ball. It is, however, allowed to place it normally and rest the club lightly on it.

Example: A branch is in your backswing. You must not break it or bend it away. However, you may remove a fallen leaf next to the ball, because loose natural objects such as leaves, twigs, or pebbles may be removed anywhere. If your ball moves in the process, it costs one penalty stroke outside the green and you must replace it.

Tip to remember: Take the course as it is. You may only remove loose objects.

2. Know your ball

If you accidentally play someone else's ball, you receive the general penalty. You must also correct the error and continue playing with your own ball before playing your next shot. Therefore: mark your balls with a pen before the round, for example with dots or initials, and tell your playing partners which mark and number you are playing.

If you are not sure whether it is your ball, you may pick it up to identify it. Mark the spot beforehand, clean the ball only as much as necessary, and then place it back exactly. An elegant solution is personalized golf balls with a logo.

3. Lost golf ball: three minutes to search and the provisional ball

From the moment you or your caddie begin searching, you have three minutes. If you do not find the ball within this time, it is considered lost. Then all that remains is "stroke and distance": one penalty stroke and a new ball from where you last played.

So that you do not have to walk back, there is the provisional ball. If your ball may have been lost outside a penalty area or out of bounds, you must immediately play a second ball from the same spot. The important thing is the announcement: You must clearly state that it is a provisional ball. Saying "I'll play another one" is not enough. Without the correct announcement, the second ball automatically becomes your ball in play, with a penalty stroke.

If you find the first ball on the course within the three minutes, you continue playing with it and pick up the provisional ball. If it is lost or out of bounds, you continue with the provisional ball, including the penalty stroke.

Tip to remember: If in doubt, play provisionally and say the word "provisional" out loud.

4. White stakes mean out of bounds

The boundaries of the course are marked with white stakes or white lines. If your ball is completely outside this boundary, it is out of bounds. The consequence is the same as for a lost ball: one penalty stroke and back to the spot of the last shot, unless a local rule allows otherwise.

Tip to remember: White stakes stay put. They are fixed; you must neither pull them out nor bend them.

5. Penalty area in golf: yellow and red markings

Ponds, streams, and other designated areas are called penalty areas, formerly water hazards. If your ball is in one, you can play it as it lies without penalty. You may rest the club on it and remove loose natural objects. Or you can take relief with one penalty stroke:

• Yellow marked: Stroke and distance, or you drop on the imaginary line from the hole through the point where your ball last crossed the boundary, as far back as you like.
• Red marked: Additionally, you may drop laterally within two club lengths of this crossing point and not closer to the hole.

Example: Your ball bounces over the red-marked bank into a stream. You determine the point where it crossed the line, measure two club lengths, and drop there. With the penalty stroke, you then play your third shot.

Tip to remember: Yellow means back, Red allows laterally as well.

6. You may declare your ball unplayable

If your ball is in the bushes or right next to a tree root, you may declare it unplayable anywhere on the course, except in a penalty area. This is entirely your decision. It costs one penalty stroke, and you have three options:

• Stroke and distance, so back to the spot of the last shot
• Drop on the line from the hole through the spot of the ball, as far back as you like
• Drop laterally within two club lengths, not closer to the hole

Tip to remember: One penalty stroke is often cheaper than three attempts from the bushes.

7. Penalty-free relief: use what you are entitled to

Many beginners play from lies they would not have to play from at all. If you are hindered by a path, a sprinkler head, a puddle, an animal hole, or an area marked as ground under repair, you get penalty-free relief. You determine the nearest point where the problem no longer hinders you and drop within one club length of it, not closer to the hole.

Embedded ball: If your ball is embedded in its own ball mark after your shot and part of it is below the ground surface, you also get penalty-free relief in the general area. You drop within one club length of the spot directly behind the ball, not closer to the hole. No relief is available if the ball is embedded in the sand in an area that is not mown to fairway height. Some clubs also restrict this relief to closely mown areas by local rule.

You may simply remove movable objects such as rakes, bottles, or signs. If your ball moves in the process, you replace it without penalty. Important: If your ball is in a penalty area, this penalty-free relief is not available.

Tip to remember: If a path, sprinkler, or puddle hinders your lie, stance, or swing, penalty-free relief is usually available.

8. Golf rules in the bunker: do not test the sand with the club

If your ball is in the bunker, you must not deliberately test the sand before your shot, neither with your hand nor with the club or rake. Furthermore, the club must not touch the sand, neither directly in front of or behind the ball, nor during a practice swing, nor during the backswing. Otherwise, the general penalty applies.

However, several things are allowed: digging in your feet for a firm stance, removing leaves and other loose natural objects, removing the rake, placing the club in the sand, and leaning on a club if you would otherwise lose your balance.

If you cannot get out, you may declare the ball unplayable. With one penalty stroke, you have the same three options as in section 6 of this article (official rule 19.3a): stroke and distance, back on the line, or laterally. If you drop on the line or laterally, the ball must remain in the bunker. With a total of two penalty strokes (rule 19.3b), you may drop outside the bunker, back on the line from the hole through the spot of the ball.

Tip to remember: Do not test the sand in the bunker and do not touch it with the club either directly at the ball or during the practice or backswing. Then you will be penalized.

9. Golf rules on the green

On the green, you may mark, pick up, and clean your ball. First place a ball marker directly behind or next to the ball, then pick it up and later place it back exactly in the same spot. You may repair pitch marks, footprints, and almost all other damage, as well as brush away sand and loose soil. Aerification holes and natural unevenness are not included.

The flag may remain in the hole when putting. If you hit it, there is no penalty. If you accidentally move your ball or marker on the green, you place it back without penalty. It is not allowed to rub the surface or roll a ball to test the speed of the green.

Tip to remember: Mark first, then pick up. And repair every pitch mark, even those made by others.

10. No more than 14 clubs in the bag

You must not carry more than 14 clubs on a round. Starting with fewer is easily possible. For beginners, a half set of seven to nine clubs is usually more than enough. But if you pack an inherited set plus a spare putter, you'll quickly be over the limit.

In stroke play, an infraction costs two penalty strokes per hole where you had too many clubs, a maximum of four per round. In match play, the score is adjusted by one hole for each affected hole, a maximum of two. If you notice the error, you must immediately remove the extra clubs from play.

Tip to remember: Briefly count before the first shot.

Golf penalties: an overview

This table summarizes the most common situations. The rule numbers help you look up details in the official rules app.

Golf Etiquette: How to Be a Good Playing Partner

No one expects you to know every rule by heart. What your playing partners will notice immediately, however, is your behavior on the course.

• Safety First: Only play when no one is within range. If your ball is heading toward other people, call out “Fore!” loudly.
• Play Promptly: Be ready when it is your turn. The R&A and USGA recommend taking no more than 40 seconds for a shot and playing “Ready Golf,” meaning you should play as soon as you can do so safely. If the group behind you is faster, let them play through.
• Care for the Course: Replace divots, rake bunkers, and repair pitch marks.
• Be Considerate: Stay quiet and still when others are playing, and do not walk across their line of putt.

What You Really Need for Your First Round

For your first few rounds, you need less than many people think:

• Clubs: A half set or a Complete Golf Set for Beginners is enough. What matters more than the number of clubs is that the length and shaft are right for you.
• Balls: It is better to pack too many golf balls than too few, along with a pen for marking them.
• Small Items: Tees, ball markers, and a pitch fork for pitch marks. A glove helps ensure a secure grip.
• Rules Handy: A compact golf rulebook fits in any bag and is helpful if a question arises on the course.
• Clothing and Shoes: Many clubs have a dress code. Check it on the club’s website before your round.
• Scorecard and Course Rules: Read the back of the scorecard before teeing off. It contains the course rules that apply additionally at this course.

In Switzerland, you need the course qualification of Swiss Golf to play on many courses. It consists of a theory test on rules and etiquette, a test on the practice range, and a test on the course. The rules in this article are good preparation for that.

Depending on the course, you may also need a Swiss Golf Card. You can obtain one by joining a club affiliated with Swiss Golf or through one of the public golf organizations ASGI or Migros GolfCard. It is also used to recognize your first handicap index. You can find out exactly what requirements a course has directly from the club.

What to Do if You Are Unsure

• Ask. Experienced golfers are usually happy to help beginners. Clarify the question before playing your next shot.
• Look it up. The official rules app from the R&A and USGA explains every situation with graphics and can be searched on the course.
• Check the rulebook. Without a phone or with poor reception, a rulebook in your bag is the quickest help. Our golf rulebook “Compact Golf Rules” contains the current rules from the 2023 edition, is water-resistant, shows every rule case with an illustration, and is organized by playing situations such as teeing off, bunkers, or penalty areas. This way, you can find the right rule right where you are standing.
• Play a second ball in a match play game. If you are unsure in a match play tournament, you may finish the hole with two balls. State beforehand which ball counts if the rules allow it, and report the situation to the tournament official before handing in the scorecard. This option is not available in stroke play.
• Withdraw in Stableford. If you cannot earn any more points at a hole, you may pick up the ball. This saves time and nerves.

However, practice provides the most confidence. If you want to practice with your own clubs regardless of the weather, you can book indoor golf on the TrackMan in Aarburg. Rental clubs are not available there, so your own clubs are a prerequisite.

Frequently Asked Questions About Golf Rules for Beginners

How long do I have to search for my ball in golf?

Three minutes, calculated from the moment you or your caddie begin the search. After that, the ball is considered lost, and you continue with one penalty stroke from the spot of the last shot.

What do I do if my ball is in the water?

Water is usually marked as a penalty area. You can play the ball as it lies without penalty, or take relief with one penalty stroke. With yellow marking, you go back or drop on the line behind the intersection. With red marking, you may also drop laterally within two club lengths.

What is a provisional ball?

A second ball that you play when your first ball may have been lost or out of bounds outside a penalty area. You must clearly declare it provisional beforehand. If you find the first ball on the course in time, you continue playing with it.

Am I allowed to touch the sand in the bunker?

Yes, with your feet when placing them. But you must not touch the sand with your club either directly in front of or behind the ball, nor during a practice swing or backswing. Intentionally testing the sand is also prohibited.

Can the flag stay in the hole when putting?

Yes. You decide before the shot whether the flag stays in the hole. If you hit it with the ball, there is no penalty.

How many clubs do I need as a beginner?

A maximum of 14 clubs is allowed. Seven to nine are enough to start with, typically a wood or hybrid, several irons, a wedge, and a putter. What matters is that the clubs fit your size and swing.

Do the same rules apply on every golf course?

The golf rules of the R&A and USGA apply worldwide. However, every club can supplement them with course rules, for example for lost balls or special zones on the course. These are found on the scorecard or on the notice board.

The right clubs make getting started easier

You learn the rules with every round. When it comes to equipment, however, it pays to choose correctly from the start. Clubs that are too long, too heavy, or too stiff make learning unnecessarily difficult. During golf fitting in Aarburg, we measure your swings with the TrackMan and adjust the length, shaft, and loft to your swing.