2023RulesPoster.pdf

15 RULES EVERY GOLFER SHOULD KNOW The Rules of Golf as approved by the USGA and R&A Rules Limited, effective January, 2023. BALL MOVED PUTTING GREEN...

15 RULES EVERY GOLFER SHOULD KNOW The Rules of Golf as approved by the USGA and R&A Rules Limited, effective January, 2023. BALL MOVED PUTTING GREEN BUNKERS AND PENALTY AREAS 1 Ball Moved 3 Repairing 6 Relaxed During Search Damage Restrictions If you move any player's You can repair almost in Bunkers ball (even your own) any damage on the You can touch or while searching for it, putting green, including: move loose there is no penalty, just impediments in a replace the ball. Spike marks bunker, but be careful Animal damage you don't move your ball Any damage from a person when doing so or you'll get or a ball one penalty stroke. 2 Ball Moved on You cannot touch the sand with your club next to Putting Green 4 Touching your ball, or during the backswing for your stroke. You also cannot touch the sand anywhere to test If you accidentally move Line of Play its condition or when making a practice swing. any player's ball (even You are allowed to your own) on the 7 touch your line of play putting green, there is no penalty, just replace for any reason (including Actions on the putting green). the ball. Allowed in Once you have lifted and replaced your Penalty ball on the putting green, your ball owns that spot. If it then moves, you will always 5 Flagstick Areas You are allowed to: replace your ball no matter what caused the movement, including wind or gravity. If your ball hits an unattended flagstick Ground your club in the hole, there is Take practice swings no penalty. Touch water Remove loose impediments Take penalty area relief TAKING RELIEF PLAYING A BALL EQUIPMENT 8 Dropping and 11 Accidental 14 Club Measuring Deflections Damage Relief Area There is no penalty if If your club is your ball in motion is damaged during a Drop your ball from accidentally deflected, round (except in knee height so that it including by: cases of abuse) you lands in and comes to rest may replace it, repair in the relief area, except You it or continue to use it. when taking back-on-the-line Your equipment relief where the ball must be Check to see if Model Local Rule Your partner dropped on the line. Your caddie G-9 is in effect, which limits replacement to cases A double hit where the club is broken or significantly damaged. Your relief area is either one or two club-lengths, 15 measured from the reference point (based on the Rule Generally, your ball Yardage you are taking relief under). will be played from where it comes Books 9 Penalty Area to rest. There are limits on the size and Relief scale of For one penalty stroke, 2 green-reading you have two relief 3 materials that you options from a yellow are allowed to use. penalty area and three 1 relief options from a red penalty area. 12 Search Time This applies to all materials, including yardage books, but only when you use them to read the green when you're playing from it. Once you start 1 Stroke-and-Distance (red or yellow) searching for your ball, Check to see if Model Local Rule G-11 or G-12 are in Play from the relief area based on where your you have three minutes effect, both of which further restrict the use of previous stroke was made. to find it before it is lost. green-reading materials. 2 Back-On-the-Line (red or yellow) Drop a ball on a line that goes from the hole through the point where your ball last crossed the edge of the penalty area and it must come to rest within one club-length of where it first hits the line. 3 Lateral Relief (red only) Drop a ball within a two club-length relief area measured 13 Help with ALLOWED NOT ALLOWED from where your ball last crossed the edge of the penalty area, and no closer to the hole than that point. Alignment Your caddie or partner is not allowed to stand 10 Changing Balls on or close to a line behind your ball (the Allowed When restricted area) while Taking Relief you are taking your stance and until your You can use your stroke is made. The USGA Rules of Golf App original ball or another Available for FREE on ball when taking either iOS and Android devices free relief or penalty relief. For more information on the Rules of Golf, please visit usga.org/rules. © 2023 United States Golf Association. All rights reserved.