Golf is a seemingly simple sport. Get the ball in the hole with the fewest amount of strokes possible. But once you get into the fundamental nuances and rules, it becomes a lot more complicated. This guide breaks down the rules of golf so you’ll know what to expect when you hit the course.
Also, keep in mind that golf can be as strict or casual as you like. Some players are sticklers for the rules, while others play more for the fun of it and follow them much looser (I’m in the latter camp).
Golf Basics: What You Need to Know
The Object of Golf
We already mentioned the main objective of taking the fewest strokes to get the ball into each hole on the course. Golf is a game where the lowest score wins, and each stroke you take counts as a point.
Regulation golf courses have 18 holes, but there are also 9-hole courses, which many casual golfers prefer. Depending on the course length and your fitness level, you can choose to walk or rent a golf cart.
Golf is usually played with a maximum of four players per group (some will allow five). If you sign up to play with a friend, the course will most likely pair you with another two people if it’s a busy course. It’s a great way to make new friends.
The Golf Course Broken Down
The United States Golf Association (USGA) breaks the golf course down into five parts:
- General area: This covers the entirety of the golf course except for the parts listed below. The grassy areas of the course are broken down further into the fairway and the rough. The fairway has short, well-manicured grass (where you want to keep your ball when hitting it). The rough is just like it sounds–rougher, taller, choppier grass where it’s harder to hit–and easier to lose– your ball. You want to avoid this area.
- Teeing area: This is where you tee off or start your round for a particular hole. The tee box will typically have several designations of where you can tee off, like forward, middle, and back tees. The forward tees, sometimes called ladies’ tees, are the closest to the hole, while the back tees are the furthest and most challenging.
- Putting green: The putting green is a small area of the course where the hole is. The grass is shortest on the green, so your ball will move faster and more easily in this area when you hit (putt) it toward the hole.
- Bunkers: Bunkers are areas on the course filled with sand or dirt, like sandtraps (or gopher holes). If your ball lands in a bunker, it adds to the difficulty of play and can lead to taking extra strokes to get your ball out of the bunker. Those extra strokes impact your score.
- Penalty areas: Penalty areas are where you’ll earn a one-stroke penalty because you lost your ball or you can’t hit it. Here are a couple of examples: A) your ball lands in a body of water and is inaccessible, so you have to drop a new ball near that spot to continue play B) your ball lands behind a tree where you can’t hit the ball, you can move it a club length away from that spot to a position where you can hit it toward the hole.
Scoring and Terminology
Each hole is assigned a par—the number of strokes a golfer should take to complete the hole. Holes are usually rated as par 3, par 4, or par 5, depending on their length and difficulty.
Scoring in golf involves terms that indicate how well a player did compared to par: Get updates and exclusive special offers. No spam–just valuable content. join the aps squad
- Birdie: One stroke under par
- Par: The standard score
- Bogey: One stroke over par
- Eagle: Two strokes under par
- Double Bogey: Two strokes over par
General Rules of Golf
Golf has several formal rules, but for recreational players, a basic understanding of key rules can help maintain the flow of the game and ensure a fair experience for everyone.
Once you tee off, the objective is to keep your ball in the fairway and get it in the hole at or below par. If you’re a beginner, the goal is to do your best to get the ball into the hole at all!
Once all the players tee off, the player whose ball is furthest from the hole hits next. Note: more casual players take a “ready golf” approach where whoever gets to their ball first can hit next. This makes the pace of the game quicker.
Putting Green
Once you land on the green, where the hole is located, you’ll most often use your putter. Putting requires concentration and sometimes analyzing the grass so you can determine how and where to direct the ball. If the greens “break” at a certain spot, you’ll factor that into how you angle your putt.
The putting green will have either a red, white, or blue flag in the hole. Red indicates the hole is on the front end of the green, white indicates the middle, and blue indicates the rear. Some players like to take the flag out when putting. Others don’t care whether it’s in or out.
A couple of tools you might want to have with you on the green: a ball marker and a divot tool. You’ll use your ball marker when you’re on the putting green in place of your ball so you aren’t in the way of someone else’s ball. You’ll use your divot tool to fix any divots you leave on the green if your ball takes a hard land and dents the green.
Golf Etiquette
Besides the rules of golf play, there are etiquette rules as well. This often gives golf a stuffy reputation, but again, it all depends on the course and the group you’re playing with as to the strict adherence to the etiquette.
Here are a few of the main etiquette rules:
- Respect your fellow players. When others are teeing off or putting, remain quiet or speak in a very low tone if you must, as talking can break concentration. If you approach the next hole and a group is still teeing off, keep your golf cart at a distance or walk up quietly. If you’re playing music, turn it down upon approaching another group.
- Keep up the pace of play. Busy golf courses run on very tight schedules. To not hold up the group behind you, keep it moving on each hole.
- Yell “Fore!” if you hit the ball and it looks like it might land anywhere near someone else. This gives them adequate warning to protect their heads or duck for cover.
- If you break it, fix it. Fix divot holes, rake your footprints after you’ve been in a sandtrap, and don’t leave trash on the course except in designated trash bins.
- If you’re using a golf cart, don’t drive it into the path of another group’s play.
Golf Formats Of Play
Besides its traditional stroke play format outlined above, there are other variations to playing golf. Here are a few:
Match Play
- Match play pits players against each other on a hole-by-hole basis. Whoever completes a hole in fewer strokes wins that hole, and the match goes to the player who wins the most holes.
- This format is excellent for head-to-head competition and helps take some pressure off individual bad holes, as only the overall hole outcome matters.
Best Ball
- In best ball, players form teams (usually of two), but each plays their own ball. The best score on each hole is counted as the team’s score.
- This format is popular in recreational and corporate events, as it allows all players to contribute without penalizing less experienced golfers.
Scramble
- A scramble involves all players on a team hitting a shot, and the team then selects the best shot. All players then play from that position, repeating the process until someone gets the ball in the hole.
- Scramble is perfect for beginners because it reduces pressure and encourages teamwork. This format is widely used in charity events and casual gatherings.
Stableford
- Stableford scoring awards points based on the number of strokes taken relative to par: more points for birdies or pars, fewer for bogeys, etc.
- This format encourages aggressive play since players are trying to accumulate points without worrying as much about high scores on individual holes.
Or you can opt for my format–no keeping score unless it’s a par or under. 🙂
Golf Equipment
Golf Clubs
To enjoy golf, you’ll need the right equipment–most important is a set of clubs. You can purchase your own or rent a set from the course (not always an option). If you’re a lefty, you’ll need a specific lefty set of clubs.
Here’s a breakdown of the most common golf clubs you’ll use
- Driver: Used only for tee shots, especially on long holes. It’s the longest club in the bag with the biggest head, and it hits the ball the farthest.
- Irons: Numbered from 3 to 9, irons are used for shots from the fairway or rough. The lower the iron number, the farther it will hit the ball (seems counterintuitive when you’re first learning). The higher the iron, the more loft or a higher launch.
- Wedges: Pitching and sand wedges are for shorter approach shots or getting out of bunkers. You’ll use your pitching wedge to either pitch or chip the ball. The short video below explains the difference between these two shots.
- Putter: Used for hitting the ball on the green. It’s the club that requires the most precision, as putting can make or break your score.
Golf Attire
Golf courses run the gamut from high-end country club courses to casual municipal courses. Those with stricter rules typically require a collared shirt. If it’s casual, wear whatever you want–I’ve seen everything from jeans to shirtless male players.
Opt for golf-specific attire, including golf pants and/or skirts, if you really want to rock the look. Golf-specific shoes are important to help you remain planted when swinging.
Ancillary Golf Items
The most important ancillary item is golf balls. Without them, you won’t get very far. Golf tees are a close second, although some people play without them. A glove worn on your non-dominant hand will protect your hand from slippage and blisters.
Some nice-to-have but not necessary ancillary items are a golf towel, a rangefinder (to determine the distance to the hole and help you choose a club), a ball marker (recommended), a push cart if you’re walking the course, and a divot repair tool. Check out our post that has some other cool golf gadgets you might want to try.
The Rest Of The Rules
There are plenty of other rules in golf, but if you can remember the ones mentioned in this guide, you’re off to a good start. If you want a more exhaustive explanation of the rules, you can find them at the USGA’s website.
Additional Golf Terminology
There is certain golf terminology you’ll hear often, so here’s a breakdown of the common ones:
- Slice: If you intend to hit the ball straight but it curves from left to right instead, this is called a slice.
- Hook: The opposite of a slice, the ball curves from right to left instead of straight.
- Shank: The worst hit a golfer can make, causing the ball to swing 90 degrees in the wrong direction (and causes some people to throw their clubs!).
- Fringe: The area of grass between the putting green and the fairway–it’s slightly longer than the putting green grass.
- Hand/Foot Wedge: Slang term for using your hand or foot to move the ball to a better position.
- Top The Ball: When you hit the top of the ball with your club instead of the center, screwing up your shot.
- Tee Time: The time you are assigned to tee off at the first hole. This is a precise time.
- Handicap: A number assigned to a golfer that represents their playing ability.
- Scratch Golfer: A golfer with a zero handicap.
- Gimme Putt: When the ball is close enough to the hole that it’s not even necessary to hit it because it’s unmissable.
- Breakfast Ball/Mulligan: Taking a second shot off the tee if your first shot was bad; not legal but acceptable in casual golf.
- Executive Course: A golf course with a mix of pars, the majority being par 3.
- The Beach: Slang term for a sandtrap.
- 19th Hole: The bar where you’ll go after the 18th hole.
- Hit The Pin: The pin refers to the flag inside the golf hole (cup).
- Sticks: Slang term for golf clubs.
Wrap Up
Golf can be a highly technical game, and very challenging. It can also be a great way to get outdoors and socialize. It is what you make it. Whether you decide to be a technical golfer or a social golfer, it’s a great sport for adult athletes.
