Golf has so many rules and regulations, built over hundreds of years, that a manual was created and is updated regularly, courtesy of the United States Golf Association.

Below are a few basic rules that concern the golf ball when in play:

1. Once the ball makes its way to the putting green, the rules state that you are allowed to mark the its position. The benefits of marking the ball’s spot is so that you can pick it up and clean it thoroughly so as to avoid interfering with your next shot. Second, if your ball is in the same target line of another player’s ball located farther away, picking the ball up will reduce the chance of ruining that player’s putt.

2. Another rule concerning the ball when it hits the putting green is that you must remove the flagstick to avoid a penalty.

3. You must always play your ball from the correct putting green. There may be times when you hit a shot and the ball lands on another hole’s green that is not your own. If this happens, you must pick up the ball and drop it at the nearest location of relief.

Senior Golfers often carry a torn and tattered copy of the rules in their bags. But once in a while, it’s good to get a newer, revised version and retire the older ones to the collectible category on ebay.

I will from time to time print from the latest edition the rules of the game. If you have a question about a particular rule, the first resource AFTER your copy of the rules, is the Professional Golf Instructors at your club.

The latest edition of the Rule Book (USGA) was published Jan 1, 2004 – the next edition will be released on Jan 1, 2008.

You can order one, or get a specific question answered here:

The United States Golf Association
P.O. Box 708
Far Hills, N.J. 07931
908-234-2300
Fax: 908-234-9687

But, what do you do if you’re out on the course and a problem arises. It’s really quite simple…

You pull out your iPhone (TMApple Corp.) and look up the question and get the answer here:

USGA Rules

OR, just use the phone feature and call your Pro!

Tags: buzz_b_berkeley

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