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- Play the ball as it lies.
- The player farthest from the hole hits first.
- If a ball at rest is moved by the player there is a one-stroke penalty, and the ball must be returned to its original position.
- Be prepared to hit your shot when it is your turn to play.
- You are not allowed to clean mud from the ball lying on the fairway or in the rough.
- A ball embedded in the ground in its own pitch mark in a closely mown area can be marked, removed, and replaced.
- Before hitting any shot, note the proximity of other golfers, including in the group ahead. Be prepared to alert other golfers about any errant shot.
- After five minutes of searching, the ball is lost. (Definition of "Lost Ball")
- After you have addressed your ball, if you cause the ball to move, it must be returned to its original position and one penalty stroke is incurred. (Rule 18-2b)
- Allow faster groups to play through, including if searching for a ball holds up play.
- Do not take a divot from the fairway on a practice swing.
- Position equipment (golf bag, golf cart) out of the line of play of all golfers.
- Do not alter the golf course, such as breaking a tree limb, in order to facilitate a shot.
- Players may ask other players for information about the distance froma fixed object to the hole, but must not ask for advice, such as information about the club another player used to make a shot or how to play a specific shot. (Rule 8)
- A ball can be declared unplayable at any time and anywhere on the course, except in water hazards. Three options are available once the ball is declared unplayable (all three options incur one penalty stroke):
- The play may drop the ball within two club lengths, no closer to the hole, from the original position of the ball.
- The player may drop the ball on a line extending backward from the hole through where the ball lay.
- The player may drop the ball at the point of the last stroke. (Rule 28)
- A ball that lands on the wrong putting green must be removed and cannot be played from that putting green. The ball shall be dropped within one club length of the nearest point of relief no nearer the hole from the putting green surface. (Rule 25-3)
- A ball struck twice in the act of the hitting the ball results in one penalty stroke. (Rule 14-4)
- A player who discovers that a wrong ball has been hit must return to where the ball was hit to play the correct ball. Two penalty strokes are incurred, but the strokes made with the wrong ball do not count. If the correct ball cannot be located, then a new ball must be dropped at the point of the last stroke. One penalty stroke is added to the score with the drop. (Rule 15-3)
- If an outside agency (animal, bird, spectator) is struck by a shot, there is no penalty. The ball must be played as it lies. (Rule 19-1)
- A loose impediment such as a twig or stone can be removed.
- If an outside agency moves a player's ball (for example, a bird picks up a ball and later drops the ball at another position), the ball must be returned to its original position. If an outside agency removes a ball that then cannot be found, a new ball is substituted at the point where the original ball was removed. (Rule 18-1)
- When a ball struck from the teeing ground, the fairway, a bunker, or a hazard hits another ball there is no penalty stroke. The ball that was moved is replaced to its original position. However, if both balls were on the putting green and a putted ball strikes another ball, two penalty strokes are incurred by the player who made the putt. (Rules 18-5 and 19-5a)
- No relief is allowed for a ball that comes to rest in a divot made by another player, or ground without grass.
- If the ball when it strikes you or your equipment, which can include a golf bag or electric cart, then two penalty strokes are incurred.
- If a ball cannot be hit due to an immovable obstruction such as a sprinkler system box, then a free drop is allowed no closer to the hole at the nearest point where relief is available.
- If a ball cannot be found after a search of five minutes, then the ball is lost. Through the green the next shot is from the position of the last shot after a drop, or the ball may be hit from a tee if the last shot was from the teeing ground. (Rule 27-1)
- If a ball is suspected to be lost after a shot, then a player should play a provisional ball. The player must announce that the new ball is a provisional and then drop the ball at the point where the first shot was hit. If the last position was the teeing ground, then the player can tee up the ball again. The player must play the provisional ball prior to looking for a lost ball. (Rule 27-2)
- A ball coming to rest on a sprinkler head can be moved. A player is not required to stand on a sprinkler head to make a shot.
- Relief is allowed from immovable obstructions such as paved roads or cart paths. (Rule 24-2)
- If a ball is dropped with the following results, it must be dropped again if it rolls:
- Into a hazard.
- Out of a hazard.
- Onto a putting green.
- Out of bounds.
- Into a position that does not allow complete relief from an obstruction, abnormal ground condition, or the wrong putting green.
- Farther than two club lengths away from where the ball struck the course.
- Nearer to the hole.
- Onto the player or equipment. (Rule 20-2)
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