13 Rules for Beginners in Golf: National Club Golfer
Are you about to play your first round and don’t know where to start? National Club Golfer breaks down thirteen rules and etiquette tips every beginner golfer should know: from the tee to the green, covering lost balls, the flag, the order of play, and the number of clubs in your bag.
To be continued
What the lesson shows
National Club Golfer starts with the tee: you play from colored tee markers, and the ball must be behind the front line of those markers. It’s the only place you can tee the ball up, whether with a wood or an iron; everywhere else, you play the ball as it lies. Ball can’t be found: you apply stroke and distance: you go back and play from the spot of your previous shot with a one-stroke penalty; from the tee, you are then playing your third shot. While you’re on the green, you set your bag between the flag and the next tee, never in the way of the group behind. The flagstick can stay in, be removed, or be attended, as long as it’s removed before the ball gets there. On the tee, the honor goes to the best score on the previous hole, but “ready golf” is now preferred; after that, the player farthest from the hole normally plays first.
On the green, you repair your ball marks with a divot tool or a tee, and you can mark, lift, and clean your ball, which isn’t allowed on the fringe. Your bag must not contain more than 14 clubs, or face penalties during competition. Ball on the green of another hole: free relief is mandatory, at the nearest point off the green, dropping from knee height; on another fairway, however, you play it. Finally, groups are limited to four players, and a slow group lets faster players behind it play through.
The Exercise, Step by Step
- Count your clubs before you tee off: 14 at most.
- Tee the ball behind the front line of the tee markers.
- Play as soon as you’re ready, safely.
- Place your bag between the green and the next tee.
- On the green, repair your ball mark, then mark your ball.
- Agree with your partners on the flag.
- If the group behind is waiting, let them play through.
Key Takeaways
Mistakes to Avoid
- Place the ball in front of the tee marks.
- Marking and lifting your ball on the fringe.
- Playing your ball from the green of another hole.
- Leaving your bag in front of the green or on the wrong side.
Driving Range Mode
Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.
- Count your clubs before each round
- Divot repair tool and ball marker always in your pocket
- Practice a knee-high drop at the driving range to get the hang of it
Your Questions
What should you do if you can't find your ball?
According to National Club Golfer, the "stroke and distance" rule applies: you return to the spot of your previous shot and take a penalty stroke. From the tee, you are therefore playing your third shot.
Where can you place your ball on a tee?
Only on the teeing area of the hole being played, with any club.
What should you do if the ball comes to rest on the green of another hole?
Take free relief: lift the ball and drop it from knee height at the nearest point off that green. On another fairway, play it as it lies.
How many clubs can you carry in your bag?
A maximum of fourteen. You can have fewer, but exceeding that number results in penalty strokes in competition.
Learn More
Video posted on YouTube by its creator. Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons without hosting them.