Play the ball as it lies

Normally, play the ball from where it stopped and do not improve the lie, intended stance, swing area or line of play. A different Rule may allow relief from a cart path, penalty area, abnormal course condition or unplayable lie.

Start inside the teeing area

The ball must be teed between the two markers and no more than two club-lengths behind the line joining their front edges. Your feet may stand outside the teeing area, but the ball must be inside it.

An intentional swing counts

A stroke is the forward movement of the club made to strike the ball. If you intend to hit it and miss, the stroke counts. A practice swing that accidentally moves the ball is treated under different rules depending on where the ball lies.

Lost ball or out of bounds means stroke and distance

A ball is lost when it is not found within three minutes after the player or caddie begins searching. A ball is out of bounds only when all of it is outside the boundary. The standard penalty is one stroke plus returning to play from where the previous stroke was made.

If the original ball might be lost outside a penalty area or might be out of bounds, announce and play a provisional ball before going forward. That saves the walk back if the original cannot be used.

Red and yellow penalty areas have different relief options

For one penalty stroke, both red and yellow penalty areas allow stroke-and-distance relief or back-on-the-line relief. A red penalty area also allows lateral relief within two club-lengths of the estimated point where the ball last crossed the edge, no nearer the hole.

You may declare a ball unplayable almost anywhere

Except in a penalty area, the player may decide a ball is unplayable. For one penalty stroke, the usual choices are stroke and distance, back-on-the-line relief or lateral relief within two club-lengths. Special restrictions apply in a bunker.

Cart paths usually give free relief

An artificial cart path is an immovable obstruction. When it interferes with the ball, stance or intended swing in the general area, find the nearest point of complete relief, then drop within one club-length of that point, no nearer the hole. The nearest point is not always the nicest side.

Bunker rules are narrower than “never touch the sand”

Before the stroke, do not deliberately test the sand, touch the sand with the club directly in front of or behind the ball, make a practice swing that touches sand, or touch sand on the backswing. You may dig in with your feet, place equipment in the bunker and smooth sand for course care when doing so does not improve the conditions for the stroke.

Mark before lifting a ball that must be replaced

On the putting green, mark the ball before lifting it and replace it on its original spot. A ball lifted from the green may always be cleaned. Elsewhere, a lifted ball may usually be cleaned, but Rule 14.1c lists exceptions when it is lifted only to identify it, check damage, avoid interference or determine whether relief is allowed.

Play promptly and know when order matters

Ready golf is encouraged in stroke play when it is safe and responsible. In match play, playing out of turn can allow the opponent to cancel the stroke. Be ready when it is your turn, keep up with the group ahead and follow any local pace-of-play policy.