Golf Rules Quiz

Spike Marks and Animal Damage

• Spike marks may exist in a bunker; ensure not to move the ball when addressing them.
• If any damage occurs from a person or a ball, be cautious in handling your ball to avoid penalty.

Moving the Ball on the Putting Green

• Accidental movement of your own ball on the putting green incurs no penalty; simply replace it.
• After lifting and replacing your ball, that spot is owned by the ball; it must be replaced if it moves afterwards, regardless of the cause (wind, gravity, etc.).

Flagstick and Line of Play

• Hitting an unattended flagstick in the hole carries no penalty.
• Players can touch their line of play freely on the putting green.

Actions and Penalties

• Do not touch the sand near your ball with your club, during backswing, or practice swings to avoid penalties.
• Only measure relief areas through club-lengths from points specified in the rules.

Relief from Penalty Areas

• One penalty stroke permits relief from a yellow penalty area (two options) or a red penalty area (three options).

Relief Options Explained

• Stroke-and-Distance: Play from where the last stroke was made.
• Back-On-the-Line: Drop the ball on a line from the hole through where the ball last crossed the penalty area.
• Lateral Relief: For red penalty areas, drop within a two club-length area from the last crossing, not closer to the hole.

Search Time Regulation

• Players have three minutes to search for a lost ball before it's considered lost, applicable to all materials including yardage books.
• Check if Model Local Rule G-11 or G-12 restricts the use of green-reading materials.

Changing Balls

• Changing balls is allowed when taking relief, providing the ball is positioned correctly after taking the shot.

Alignment Assistance

• Caddies or partners cannot stand on or close to a line behind the ball during stance preparation or before the stroke is made.