Links Magazine, in partnership with the USGA, has developed the ’10 Golden Rules’ for ‘weekend golfers’.
Details can be found at http://www.usga.org/about_usga/A-Simpler-Game/
These rules can, in my view, be modified a little, with benefit, and would then read as follows:
The 11 GOLDEN RULES of GOLF
1. Play the ball as it lies.
2. Do not move, bend, or break anything growing or fixed, except in fairly taking your stance or swing. Do not press anything down.
3. You may remove natural objects not fixed or growing provided that you would not move your ball in the process. No penalty.
4. Movable man-made objects may be moved and if the ball moves in the process it must be replaced. For immovable objects, you may take relief by dropping away from them within one club-length of the nearest point of relief, not nearer the hole. In a hazard, you must drop in the hazard. No penalty.
5. You may take relief from casual water, ground under repair, burrowing animal holes or casts, anywhere except in a water hazard. On the putting green, place at the nearest point of relief, not nearer the hole; otherwise drop within one club-length of the nearest point of relief, not nearer the hole. In a bunker, you must drop in the bunker. No penalty.
6. In a water hazard or bunker, do not touch the water or ground with your hand or club before the stroke. The stroke is the forward movement of the club with the intention of striking the ball.
7. If you hit your ball into a water hazard (marked yellow) and cannot find or play it, either drop behind the point where the ball last crossed the hazard margin or at the place where you played the previous shot. If this was on the tee, you may tee the ball. One penalty stroke. If you hit into a lateral hazard (marked red), you may also drop within two club-lengths of the point where the ball last crossed the hazard margin. One penalty stroke.
8. When you hit your ball out of bounds or cannot find it after 5 minutes of searching, add a penalty stroke, go back and drop a ball at the place where you played the shot. If this was on the tee, you may tee the ball. If you think you have hit your ball out of bounds or that it might be lost it, play another ball (called a ‘provisional’ ball) before going to search for it. If your ball cannot be found, add two penalty strokes and play the provisional ball.
9. When you have a lie from which you cannot play the ball (called an ‘unplayable lie’), you may drop a ball at the place where you played the previous shot, adding a penalty stroke. If this was on the tee, you may tee the ball. Alternatively, drop within two club-lengths, not nearer the hole, or any distance behind the unplayable spot, keeping it between you and the hole. If the ball is in a bunker, you must drop in the bunker, under either of the alternative options. If you cannot play your ball that is in a water hazard, see Golden Rule #7.
10. You may repair ball marks and old hole plugs on the putting green that are on the line of your putt.
11. If you are faced with a situation not covered by these rules, do what you think is fair and reasonable within the spirit of the game.
These Golden Rules are important for two reasons:
They provide an opportunity for social, beginning and junior golfers to play a structured and disciplined game while gaining a feel for the concepts of the rules: think of it as studying basic algebra before tackling calculus; and
They provide the basis from which a set of sensible and explicable rules can be developed for club competition golf by adding complexity only where it is absolutely necessary, as opposed to trying to reduce the complexity and inconsistencies of the minefield which is the current Rules.
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