There are hundreds of pages of golf rules set down by the U.S. Golf Association (USGA) and explanations on the various procedures of the game. It can be confusing at times, especially when it comes to obscure rules.
Golfers don’t always have the time to check on every rule when they’re busy trying to improve their game. Very few people can know every word or phrase in the rulebook, so golfers might need a little help when heading into their next tournament or competition.
Here are seven obscure golf rules all players should know:
1. Dew-wiping — Early golfers often deal with morning dew, but wiping it off with hands or a towel is a violation punishable by two strokes, Bleacher Report notes. Players should remove dew, as well as frost or water, on the tee box before they hit the ball.
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2. Flagstick attending — If someone is standing near the flagstick and close enough to touch the stick, he is considered to be attending it while a golfer makes a stroke from off the green. If the ball hits the flagstick, the golfer is penalized two strokes.
3. Influencing movement of a ball — A penalty may arise if a player takes action to affect play or movement of a ball. For example, if a player moves a flagstick after a competitor hits a putt so the ball won’t hit the stick, it results in a two-stroke penalty, according to Alluvit.
4. Grounding your club in a hazard — This is against the rules, but there is an exception when a ball comes to rest on a bridge in the middle of a water hazard. Players are allowed to ground their club on the bridge, even though it is inside the hazard. There is no penalty for taking practice swings.
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5. Hitting an opponent — You won’t be penalized, but typical golf etiquette allows for an apology, Proclubs points out. If the other player is out of the way and is hit but the ball comes to rest out of bounds, you can replay the shot.
6. Not marking a ball — If two players hit the same ball brand and they both land in the same bunker, it is difficult to identify each ball if there are no identifying marks. The balls are considered lost and both players are penalized a stroke. They need to replay their shots.
7. Losing a ball — There is a one-stroke penalty for losing a ball or hitting a ball out of bounds. A player has five minutes to look for a lost ball, according to The New York Times. Then the player must take another shot from the original spot.
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