Deep Drivers Golf Club

Common Penalties in the Rules of Golf

The most common infractions and their penalties under the Rules of Golf.

1. In any hazard the club must not be grounded until it hits the ball (sand or grass traps) If this is done a one stroke penalty is added.
2. Once the ball is hit from the tee, the ball cannot be lifted off the ground or moved for better lie. This is a violation and a one stroke penalty.
3. Provisional ball rule - golfers that suspect they lost a ball off the tee should hit a provisional ball before searching for the first ball. If the ball is lost, the golfer then can play the provisional ball from where it lands. Lost ball is a two (2) stroke penalty. Hitting a provisional ball counts three (3) strokes from the tee.
4. Unplayable lies: Ball may be placed one club length no closer to the green in either direction by dropping the ball with your hand. One stroke penalty.
5. Ball must be teed off between the black/white/blue/red markers and not in front. The ball can be placed back behind the markers up to a maximum distance of two club lengths. Violation this rule is a two stroke penalty.
6. More Clubs in Bag than Allowed (Rule 4-4) Fourteen clubs is the maximum allowed. Penalty for exceeding 14 in match play is loss of hole for each hole on which the breach occurred, up to a maximum of two holes. In stroke play, penalty is two strokes for each hole on which the breach occurred, up to a maximum of four strokes.
7. Wrong Score Recorded on Scorecard (Rule 6-6d) Penalty for signing scorecard that includes scores lower than actually recorded is disqualification. There is no penalty for signing a scorecard that incorrectly inflates a player's score, but the higher score stands.
8. Playing out of Turn (Rule 10) There is no penalty for playing out of turn. Other than the scorn of other members of your group. In match play, a competitor has the option of making you re-do your shot in the correct order of play.
9. Grounding the Club in a Hazard (Rule 13-4) Grounding the club in a hazard is illegal. Anyone who does it must assess themselves (or have assessed) a 2-stroke penalty (or loss of hole in match play).
10. Hitting an Unattended Flagstick with a Putt (Rule 17-3) The flagstick is in the hole, unattended, and your putt strikes it. That's a 2-stroke penalty in stroke play (ball subsequently played as it lies) and loss of hole in match play.
11. Ball Moves after Address (Rule 18-2b) If your ball moves once you've taken your address, it's a 1-stroke penalty. The ball is replaced on its original spot.
12. Ball Moves after Loose Impediment is Removed (Rule 18-2c) Players can remove loose impediments without penalty as long as the ball and the loose impediment are not both in a hazard. Through the green, if the ball moves when any loose impediment within one club length of the ball is removed, it's a 1-stroke penalty. The ball is replaced at the original spot.
13. Ball in Water Hazard (Rule 26-1) If you find your ball in a water hazard, you can always try to play it without penalty. Otherwise, it's a stroke-plus-distance penalty.
    Option 1: Take a 1-stroke penalty and return to the spot of the original shot to re-play.
    Option 2: Take a 1-stroke penalty and drop a ball behind the water hazard (going back as far as you want), keeping the point at which the original shot crossed into the hazard directly between your drop and the hole. For a lateral water hazard, drop within two club lengths of the spot where the ball crossed the margin of the hazard (no nearer the hole), or on the opposite side of the hazard at an equidistant spot.
14. Ball Lost or Out of Bounds (Rule 27-1) Stroke plus distance. Take a 1-stroke penalty and return to the spot of the original shot to re-play. A provisional ball may be played before searching for the original ball begins.
15. Ball Unplayable (Rule 28) You can declare a ball unplayable anywhere except in a water hazard, and you are the sole judge as to whether your ball is unplayable. Declaring a ball unplayable results in 1-stroke penalty and a drop. Drop as close as possible to the spot of the old ball; within two club lengths and not nearer the hole; or at any point behind the spot of the original ball, as long as that spot remains in between the hole and the location of the dropped ball.

Rule 26: Water Hazards

1. Water hazard margins are identified by yellow stakes or lines. Lateral water hazard margins are identified by red stakes or lines.


2. If your ball is in a water hazard or a lateral water hazard, you may play it as it lies. If you cannot find it or do not wish to play it, add a penalty stroke and do one of the following:
   a. drop and play another ball from where you last played;
   b. drop a ball behind the water hazard as far back as you wish on a straight line from the hole, keeping where your ball last crossed the hazard margin between the hole and where you drop the ball;
   c. if it’s a lateral water hazard, you may also drop a ball within two club-lengths of where the ball last crossed the hazard margin, no nearer to the hole.

Rule 27: Ball Lost or Out of Bounds

1. A ball is lost if it is not found within five minutes after you first begin to search or you have put another ball into play.
2. A ball is out of bounds when all of it lies beyond the inside line of objects such as white stakes, or a fence or wall that marks the boundary of the course.
3. If your ball is lost or out of bounds, you must add a penalty stroke to your score and play another ball from where you played your last shot (known as “stroke and distance”).
4. If you think your ball may be lost or out of bounds, you may play a provisional ball from the place where your first ball was played. You must tell your opponent or fellow-competitor that you are playing a provisional ball and play it before you leave the area to look for the first ball. If you cannot find your first ball or if it is out of bounds, you must count all the strokes with the first ball and provisional ball, add a penalty stroke and play out the hole with the provisional ball. If you find your first ball in bounds, you must continue play with it and pick up the provisional ball.

Rule 28: Ball Unplayable

• If your ball is under a bush or in some other bad situation and you decide you cannot play it, add a penalty stroke and do one of the following:
  a. Go back to where you played the last shot and play a ball from there;
  b. Go back on a straight line as far as you wish, keeping where the unplayable ball lay between the hole and where you drop the ball;
  c. Measure two club-lengths from where the unplayable ball lay, drop a ball and play from there.

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