Golf Rules Explained
“Is it a penalty if…?” Here are 50 common on-course situations under the modern Rules of Golf — with the penalty, the relief steps, and the rule for each, in plain English.
Penalty areas
Water, red and yellow stakes, and how to take relief.
- Is it a penalty if your ball lands in a water (penalty) area?One stroke
- How do you take relief from a red (lateral) penalty area?One stroke
- Can you ground your club in a penalty area?None
- What’s the difference between red and yellow stakes?One stroke
- What if your ball is lost in a penalty area?One stroke
Off the tee & lost balls
Out of bounds, lost balls, and provisionals.
- Is it a penalty if your ball goes out of bounds?Stroke and distance
- What’s the penalty for a lost ball?Stroke and distance
- When and how do you play a provisional ball?None
- Is it a penalty if your ball falls off the tee?None
- Is it a penalty to tee up outside the markers?Two strokes
- Does a whiff (swing and miss) count as a stroke?None
- What if you can’t find your ball in leaves or deep rough?Stroke and distance
Bunkers
Grounding your club, sand, and escaping the trap.
- Is it a penalty to ground your club in a bunker?Two strokes
- Is it a penalty to touch the sand on your backswing in a bunker?Two strokes
- What are your options for an unplayable ball in a bunker?One stroke
- Can you remove loose impediments in a bunker?None
- Can you rake a bunker before you play your shot?Two strokes
On the green
The flagstick, marking, and putting rules.
- Is it a penalty if your ball hits the flagstick?None
- What’s the penalty if your putt hits another ball on the green?Two strokes
- Is it a penalty if your ball moves on the green after you marked it?None
- Can you repair spike marks on the green?None
- What do you do if your ball is on the wrong green?None
- Is it a penalty to stand astride the line of your putt?None
Free relief
Cart paths, casual water, and dropping correctly.
- Do you get free relief from a cart path?None
- Do you get relief from casual (temporary) water?None
- How do you take relief from ground under repair?None
- How do you take relief from an immovable obstruction?None
- Do you get relief for an embedded (plugged) ball?None
- Do you get relief from an animal hole?None
- Do you get relief from a sprinkler head?None
- Do you get relief from a staked or young tree?One stroke
- Can you move an obstruction like a rake or bottle?None
- How do you take a drop correctly?None
General play
Wrong ball, moved ball, advice, and equipment.
- Can you lift your ball to identify it?None
- Is it a penalty if you hit the ball twice in one stroke (double hit)?None
- Can you remove loose impediments like leaves and stones?None
- Is it a penalty to improve your lie or swing path?Two strokes
- What’s the penalty for playing the wrong ball?Two strokes
- What if your ball is moved by an animal, another player, or the wind?None
- Is it a penalty if you accidentally move your ball while searching?None
- What do you do if your ball is stuck up in a tree?One stroke
- What are your options for an unplayable lie?One stroke
- Is it a penalty if your ball hits your own bag or equipment?None
- Is it a penalty to ask another player for advice?Two strokes
- What’s the penalty for carrying more than 14 clubs?Two strokes
- Is it a penalty if your ball hits another player or caddie?None
- Is it a penalty to play out of turn?None
- What happens if you sign for the wrong score?Disqualification
- Is it a penalty if your practice swing moves the ball?One stroke
- Is it a penalty if your ball moves when you address it?None
Get better at golf, one email at a time
Join the newsletter for new beginner guides, honest gear reviews, and tips that actually lower your scores. No spam, ever.