The rules in one table
Takeaway: Most penalties a beginner meets are one stroke; breaches of the core rules usually cost two in stroke play.
The Rules of Golf are written jointly by the R&A and the USGA. The full book is long, but almost every situation in a casual round is covered by the rows below.
| # | Situation | What the rule says | Penalty if you get it wrong (stroke play) | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Every shot | Play the course as you find it and the ball as it lies | Depends on the breach | 1.1 |
| 2 | Tee shot | Tee the ball within the teeing area: between the markers and up to two club-lengths behind them | 2 strokes, then replay from inside | 6.1 |
| 3 | Your bag | No more than 14 clubs | 2 strokes per hole of breach, max 4 | 4.1b |
| 4 | Searching | A ball is lost if not found within 3 minutes | Then it is lost: stroke and distance | 18.2a |
| 5 | Lost or out of bounds | Play again from where you last played | 1 stroke | 18.2 |
| 6 | Might be lost | Hit a provisional ball and say so first | None for the provisional itself | 18.3 |
| 7 | Water / red or yellow stakes | Play it as it lies, or take relief with 1 stroke | 1 stroke for relief | 17 |
| 8 | Bad lie anywhere | You may declare the ball unplayable | 1 stroke (2 for the extra bunker option) | 19 |
| 9 | Cart path, casual water, GUR | Free relief from abnormal course conditions | No penalty | 16.1 |
| 10 | Bunker | Don't touch the sand near your ball, or with a practice or backswing | 2 strokes | 12.2b |
| 11 | Putting green | Mark, lift and clean your ball; repair damage; flagstick can stay in | None if done properly | 13 |
| 12 | Pace | Play promptly; recommended no more than 40 seconds per stroke | Committee may penalise unreasonable delay | 5.6 |
Rule 1: play it as it lies
Takeaway: If you are not sure whether you can move something, assume you can't, then check.
The game rests on playing the ball where it comes to rest and the course as you find it. You may not improve your lie, stance or line by pressing down grass or bending branches (Rule 8.1). You can remove loose impediments like leaves and twigs (as long as the ball does not move) and movable obstructions like rakes and bottles.
Free relief vs penalty relief
Takeaway: Man-made or temporary problems usually give free relief; natural hazards cost a stroke.
| Free relief (no penalty) | Penalty relief (1 stroke) |
|---|---|
| Cart paths and sprinkler heads (immovable obstructions) | Ball in a penalty area (red or yellow) |
| Temporary water on the ground, ground under repair, animal holes | Ball unplayable in a bush or against a tree |
| Ball embedded in its own pitch mark in the general area | Ball lost or out of bounds (stroke and distance) |
Free relief is in Rule 16; penalty relief options are in Rules 17, 18 and 19. How to drop correctly is in our golf drop guide, and the difference between white and red stakes is in out of bounds vs penalty area.
The 14-club rule
You can start with fewer than 14 clubs and add up to the limit during the round, as long as you don't delay play. Tour players almost always fill all 14 slots, as the bags in our Tour Bag Index show. Most beginners carry far fewer; see how many clubs are in a golf bag for what to put in yours.
Order of play and "ready golf"
Takeaway: In stroke play there is no penalty for playing out of turn, and ready golf is encouraged.
The player farthest from the hole normally plays first. On the tee, the player with the lowest score on the previous hole has the "honour". In stroke play the Rules encourage "ready golf": play when you are ready and it is safe. In match play, order matters, because your opponent can make you replay a shot hit out of turn.
Match play vs stroke play: same rules, different penalties
In stroke play the general penalty is two strokes. In match play it is loss of the hole. Handicaps work in both formats; see how a golf handicap works. That is why a small mistake can feel very different depending on the format.
Beginner rules checklist (print this)
- Put an identifying mark on your ball before you tee off (playing a wrong ball costs two strokes under Rule 6.3c)
- Count your clubs: 14 or fewer
- Know the tee colour you are playing and stay on it
- Start a 3-minute timer when you begin searching
- Hit a provisional if your ball might be lost or out of bounds, and say "provisional"
- Read the local rules on the card (some courses allow a two-stroke alternative to stroke and distance)
- Rake bunkers, repair pitch marks, replace divots
- Leave alignment sticks in the bag: setting an object down to help you line up during a round breaches Rule 10.2b(3). They are for practice (see alignment stick drills)
Common beginner mistakes
- Teeing up ahead of the markers. Two-stroke penalty in stroke play.
- Grounding the club behind the ball in a bunker. Two strokes; hover it instead.
- Walking back to the tee after a lost ball instead of hitting a provisional first. Legal, but slow.
- Taking free relief from a tree root or bush. Those are part of the course; relief costs a stroke under Rule 19.
- Believing old rules. Since 2019 you may leave the flagstick in, ground your club in a penalty area and drop from knee height.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most important golf rules for beginners?
Play the ball as it lies, tee off inside the teeing area, carry no more than 14 clubs, take stroke and distance for a lost or out-of-bounds ball, and know your penalty-area and unplayable-ball options.
Can you leave the flagstick in when putting?
Yes. Since 2019 there is no penalty if your ball hits a flagstick left in the hole (Rule 13.2a).
How long can you look for a lost golf ball?
Three minutes from when you or your caddie start searching.
Are the Rules of Golf changing in 2027?
No new edition. The 2023 Rules stay in force until the next edition takes effect on 1 January 2028; only Model Local Rules and clarifications change in between.
What is the general penalty in golf?
Two strokes in stroke play, or loss of the hole in match play.