Golf cheat sheet

Golf

The USGA / R&A Rules of Golf, abbreviated. When in doubt, see the official rules.

Layout

The hole

Tee → fairway → green, flanked by rough, bunkers, and penalty areas (red or yellow stakes). Fewest strokes from tee to holed wins.

Free relief

Find the nearest point of complete relief (no nearer the hole), then drop from knee height within one club-length of it.

Penalty

One penalty stroke, then: replay from the previous spot, go back on the line through the crossing point, or (red only) drop within two club-lengths.

Stroke play: add every stroke and penalty over the round — lowest total wins. Match play: win holes; most holes up wins.
Clubs: 14 maximum. Carrying more is 2 strokes per hole (max 4) in stroke play.
Order: lowest score on the last hole tees off first; otherwise the ball farthest from the hole plays first. “Ready golf” is encouraged in stroke play.
Your scorecard: in stroke play you’re responsible for each hole’s number — signing for one lower than you made means disqualification.

Teeing area: a rectangle two club-lengths deep — play from between and behind the markers. The ball may be teed; you may stand outside.
As it lies: don’t press down behind the ball, move growing things, or improve your stance, swing area, or line — except where a rule specifically allows it.
Loose impediments: (stones, leaves, twigs) you may move anywhere; if your ball then moves it’s 1 stroke and replace (no penalty on the green or tee).
Ball moved: if you cause it, 1 stroke and replace (no penalty if it’s on the green, or you’re still searching). Moved by wind or water: play it from the new spot.

When: cart paths and other immovable obstructions, temporary water, ground under repair, animal holes, an embedded ball in the general area, a wrong green.
How: nearest point of complete relief that’s no nearer the hole, then a one-club-length relief area from there.
The drop: from knee height, into the relief area, and it must stay there — drop again if it rolls out, then place if the second drop also fails.

Penalty area: replay from the previous spot, drop back on the line through where the ball last crossed, or — red only — drop within two club-lengths of that point. You may also play it as it lies for free.
Out of bounds / lost: stroke and distance — one penalty, replay from the previous spot. Play a provisional if there’s any doubt.
Unplayable (your call, anywhere but a penalty area): one penalty and the same three options as a red area — plus, from a bunker, dropping outside it for two strokes.
Search: 3 minutes from when you start looking. After that the ball is lost.

Bunker: don’t test the sand, touch it right in front of or behind the ball, or touch it on your backswing. Grounding the club elsewhere, leaning on it, and clearing loose impediments are all fine now.
On the green: mark, lift, clean and replace your ball; repair almost any damage (ball marks, spike marks, old holes); the flagstick may be left in, attended, or removed.
Green quirks: if your marked and replaced ball is moved by wind, replace it. A ball played from the green that hits your ball at rest is 2 strokes (stroke play) — mark up.

Wrong ball: 2 strokes in stroke play (then play the right one) — loss of hole in match play.
Hit yourself or your gear: no penalty — play it as it lies.
Double hit: counts as one stroke, no penalty (since 2021).
Advice: you may not give or ask for it beyond your own caddie or partner; facts (yardages, where a hazard is) are fine.
Pace: aim to play a stroke in about 40 seconds; committees may set a pace policy with penalties.
Concessions (match play): you can concede a putt, a hole, or the match — once made it can’t be withdrawn.