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Golf rules for beginners

Golf / Popular

Learn the rules that actually come up: penalties, drops, out of bounds and scoring.

What coaches agree on

  • You get three minutes to search for a lost ball — after that it is officially lost and you play on under penalty.
  • Taking relief — for an unplayable lie, a ball in a penalty area, or a lost ball — usually costs one penalty stroke, and any drop must be made from knee height and never nearer the hole than your reference point.
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  • Always mark the exact spot before you lift your ball, whether you're identifying it, cleaning it on the green, or taking a drop, so you can put it back exactly where it was.

Common mistakes

  • Trying to improve a bad lie — nudging the ball, brushing away sand or mud once you're off the green, or moving a branch or obstacle out of your way — is a natural instinct, but it draws a penalty; the course has to be played exactly as you find it.