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As your game improves you will not need to use the rookiegolf rules. You can now move on to playing real golf by the correct rules. Playing by the correct rules allows you to judge how good you are getting and to obtain a handicap. Then with a handicap you can play in competitions and judge your game against the professionals. To get a handicap you need to be a member of a club. Talk to the pro who has been giving you lessons, or to the Junior Organiser, and find out about junior membership. Now is the time to think about getting your own equipment. Remember to look at our Equipment section and follow the advice there. You don’t want to waste money. The Handicap System is quite difficult to understand, so don’t worry about it. Your Junior Organiser or the golf pro will explain it to you. Most people start off with a handicap figure of about 36. This means when you are playing in a competition you take 36 strokes from your score at the end of the game. The idea in golf is to get your handicap as low as possible. Only a few players manage to get their handicaps down to single figures (nine or less). You don’t need to worry about getting your handicap down quickly. You can still have fun and enjoy the game on a high handicap. The official rules of golf will still be difficult for you to learn, but you must know the basics if you are to improve your game further. "The rookie golfers that you see in this section have been drawn by Mike Payne, international cartoonist, specially for rookiegolf.com. If you would like to see more of Mike's amazing work he has his own web site at www.payne.co.uk. Take a look at his latest golf cartoons."
Here’s a tip for you from rookiegolf
These are the most important rules for you to know to start with: Who plays first? Toss a coin to decide what order you play from the first tee. Once you have played your first shots then the simple rule is whoever is furthest from the hole plays next. Whoever hits the lowest score on each hole plays first from the next tee down to the highest score playing last. If players hit the same score then they keep the order from the previous hole.
Don’t
improve your lie. We suggested that when you begin playing you should
improve the lie of your ball to speed up play. You are now too good
to have to do this. Once you have hit your ball from the tee you
must “play the ball as it lies”. You cannot do anything to improve
the lie of the ball or your swing, including breaking off anything
growing or fixed. When you are playing during the winter months
the course may use “preferred lies” allowing you to mark where your
balls lies if you are on the fairway, clean your ball and replace
it within 6 inches of its original lie. You cannot do this if you
are not on the fairway. Usually the only place you can pick up your
ball is on the green. At all times of the year when your ball is
on the green you may mark where the ball lies, clean it and return
it to its original position.
Taking a drop. There will be times when it is not possible to play your ball. For example, when it lies in a bush, behind a tree, or in ground being repaired. If this happens you will have to “take a drop”. There are two kinds of drops – a free drop and a penalty drop. 1. A free drop means you can pick up the ball and drop it in a new position without taking a penalty shot. Free drops will be given when your ball lands in ground under repair. If the course hasn’t marked out an area for you to drop the ball (it will be marked “drop zone”) then mark where the ball finished and drop the ball within 1 club’s length from the “ground under repair area” If anyone questions why you are doing this then you can show them that you have marked where the ball finished and you are taking a free drop. 2. If you have to take a penalty drop because you cannot play your ball, you may drop your ball within two club lengths of the hazard it finished in, without moving it closer to the hole. You must add a shot to your score for doing this.
In a hazard?There are two hazards in the rules of golf – bunkers and water. If
your ball lands in a bunker you are not allowed to let your club
touch the sand until you actually hit the ball. When your ball is
in a hazard you may only remove man made objects such as cigarette
stubs or crisp packets. If your ball has landed just inside a water
hazard, which will be marked by a yellow or red stake, you may play
the ball without taking a penalty drop but, as with a bunker, you
cannot ground your club. More often than not if you hit your ball into a water hazard you will not be able to play it and must take a penalty drop. If your ball is in a regular water hazard which is marked with yellow stakes you must drop your ball any distance you want behind the hazard in a direct line between the hole and the point the ball entered the hazard. Add a penalty shot to your score. If your ball lands in a lateral water hazard, marked with red stakes there are a number of options you can choose but the most usual is to drop the ball within two club lengths of the point it entered the hazard, but no closer to the hole. Again you must add a penalty shot to your score.
Out of bounds. If you hit your ball out of bounds, marked by white stakes or boundary fences, you must always play again from your original position and add a penalty shot. This is known as a stroke and distance penalty. If you hit your tee shot out of bounds you must play again from the tee – this is known as playing three from the tee as you have played your original shot added one penalty shot and are now taking your third shot. If you should lose your ball you must take the same stroke and distance penalty. It’s a good idea to get your own copy of the official R & A rules book now. You should be able to get hold of one from your golf club. If not, they will be able to tell you where you can get a copy.
A few more important points for you: Try not to wear metal spikes as these can damage the greens. Some courses will not let you play in metal spikes. Never wear spikes in the clubhouse. Always shake hands and thank your fellow players – whether you win, lose or draw. Always remember the most important rule of golf – HAVE FUN!
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MOVING
ON – TO THE NEXT TEE
Whose
ball? Always mark your golf ball in a way that you will remember.
You will always know which ball is yours and never hit your opponents
by mistake.
