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The Company of Gentlemen Golfers was established in Edinburgh in 1744. This group codified the first rules of play, and the rules of golf have been evolving steadily ever since. Believe it or not, the official USGA rules, plus decisions, comprises over five hundred pages. So obviously no brief article can cover every facet. The following is a highly simplified overview of golf rules and etiquette.
In general, the idea is to hit your own golf ball the fewest number of times in order to reach a hole a couple of hundred yards away (or more). Remember, the rules of golf - like your parents' rules - may not always be fair, but they're rigid. Bend or break them at your own peril.
TEEING OFF
You should tee off between, or up to two club-lengths behind, the tee-markers. Don't tee off in front of the markers.
BALL IN MOTION INTERFERED
If you deflect or stop your ball while it's in motion, you've cost yourself two strokes. Accidents will sometimes happen, but you still pay the price. If a ball struck by you is interfered with by someone else, you must play it as it lies. If your ball is struck by another ball — oh well, that's life. The exception is if you're both on the putting green at the start, in which case "that's life" costs two strokes.
PLAYING THE BALL
Play the ball where it lies. Don't try to improve your position by bending anything fixed or growing, except when you take your stance or make your swing.
BALL AT REST MOVED
If you move your ball after it's come to rest, you've cost yourself a stroke. It all counts, baby.
BALL LOST OR OUT OF BOUNDS
If you lose your ball and can't find it after five minutes, you have to play another ball from the spot where the last shot was played. And, you guessed it, you lose one stroke.
OBSTRUCTIONS
You're allowed to move rakes, beer bottles, etc. if they're in your way. If you put them there to interfere with your partner, you owe him a beer. If an immovable obstruction, such as a water fountain, interferes with your stance or swing, you're allowed to drop the ball within one club-length of the nearest clear point that's not nearer the hole.
ON THE GREEN
An area about 10 yards in diameter of smoother, lower grass near the hole is called 'the green'. When you've been skilled or lucky enough to get your ball there, remove the flagstick from the hole, and replace it when all players have finished the hole. You can pick up and clean your ball on the green, provided you replace it exactly where it was.
And, by the way, you're expected to accomplish all this with golf clubs, (no more than 14), and nothing but golf clubs.
ETIQUETTE
The ideas behind golf etiquette are all common sense courtesies. Dress appropriately, don't make loud noises, leave the iPod at home, and don't toss cans or bottles onto the course.
Most courses are pretty busy so be sure to arrive on time. And, if you can't get through a hole or a shot in a reasonable amount of time, let those behind you play through. No taking cellphone calls in the middle of play!
Who plays first is usually decided by a coin toss, but you can always be creative. Spinning the beer bottle works for some.
Don't get in the way of someone's shot. This is not only courteous but in your own best interest. A one-pound clubhead moving at 100 miles per hour can easily turn your head into mush. And that would definitely spoil your game of golf.
Replace divots (chunks of turf and earth scooped up during a swing). And, unless you have magical powers, rake the sand trap after you're done making your bunker shot.
Don't fling your club fifty yards when you miss that two foot putt.
Now that you've heard a dozen or more "Don'ts", here's an important "Do". Do have a good time.
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