Penalty Areas
What do the colored stakes represent on the golf course?
Penalty Hazards
What is the most amount of clubs you are allowed to have in your bag for a round?
A maximum of 14 clubs
Who is the scorekeeper and referee in golf?
You are your own scorekeeper and referee in golf. That's why it's important to remain honest and act with integrity.
If your ball is closer to the flag than another player's ball, who hits first?
When playing honors golf, the person the farthest away will hit first.
Can you ground your club in the bunker?
No, the only time you can touch the sand is when you are hitting your ball
What is the difference between a red hazard and a yellow hazard?
A red hazard is a lateral hazard meaning the water is typically beside you, while the yellow hazard will normally be in front of you or go across a fairway.
How many club lengths do you have to tee up your ball behind the tee markers?
You have two clubs length of space to tee your golf ball.
Are you allowed to putt your ball with the flagstick still in the hole?
Yes, you can leave the flagstick in the entire time you are on the green with no penalty.
What should you do while waiting for another player to hit?
You should stand outside their line of sight, and remain quiet and still until the player has finished hitting.
After hitting your ball out of the bunker, what is the next step you do?
Rake the bunker to erase your footprints and swing marks.
You've hit your shot into a red penalty area, and decide you want to hit it out rather than take a drop. Are you allowed to ground your club behind the ball in a red hazard?
Yes, you can ground your club and take practice swings inside the penalty area as long as the ball does not move.
What happens if you are no later than five minutes to your tee time?
You get penalized, if you are playing match play you lose the hole, or if you're playing stroke play, you get a two stroke penalty
How many club lengths do you get for a relief drop?
One club length, no closer to the hole
When arrive to your ball on the green, you noticed you made a ball mark in the ground. What are your next steps to ensure you leave the green better than you found it?
Repair the ball mark with a divot tool. If you are waiting on other players to putt, go ahead and fix other ones, regardless if they are yours or not.
Can you take practice swings in the bunker?
Yes, as long as you do not touch the sand
Where do you drop your ball if you go in an Out of Bounds Area?
Drop back where you originally hit from
Can you switch golf balls during a hole?
No, You can only switch your golf balls between holes, either right before or right after a hole.
If you have hit a golf ball and you cannot find it, how many minutes do you have to search for it before you have to re-hit?
You have three minutes to search for your ball before you must go back a re-hit from the original spot.
When you hit your ball, you notice it is headed in the direction of the group in front of you. What should your next steps be to warn them?
Yelling "Fore" allows players in front of you to know there's a golf ball headed their way and gives them time to move before it hits them.
You hit your ball into a bunker and it is plugged ( buried ) into the sand. Do you get relief and a drop from this condition?
No, you must play the ball how it lies
You hit a tee shot towards a penalty area, but aren't sure if it went out of not. Before leaving the tee, you announce a provisional ball and hit again. Penalty or no penalty?
No penalty
What are the penalties for a slow pace of play?
1st offense: warning
2nd offense: Loss of hole
3rd offense: Loss of hole
4th offense: Disqualification
Helpful tip: make sure you keep up with the group in front of you!
What happens if you accidentally hit your opponents golf ball instead of your own?
Hitting the wrong golf ball will result in a loss of hole
When reading the greens, you walk on another's player's line accidentally, do you get a penalty stroke?
No, when you step on another person's line (the imaginary line between the ball all the way to the flag) it is not a penalty stroke. Although it show good etiquette and respect to other players to not step on their line.
Can you move loose impediments in the bunker?
Yes, you can move loose impediments, like rocks or leaves, in the bunker as long as your ball does not move.