Casual Golf Rules

When it's safe and you're ready, go ahead and play—even if you're not farthest from the hole. This keeps groups moving. Give a quick heads-up to partners if you're stepping in out of turn. Be courteous: don't rush or distract others. Be safe: never hit when someone is in range. Be quick: bring a few clubs, read the putt while others play.

Set a simple max like Double Bogey (Par + 2). If you reach that number, pick up and mark the max. -For example, setting the max score on a hole can be par + 2, so a double body is the most you can get on a hole. During the round when keeping score you'll mark for that hole that you got the MAX score, so that in the event of a tie-breaker if it came down to it, the player with less maxed out scores on a hole would win.

A gimme putt is a short putt that is conceded by the opponent, meaning that it is considered to be made without the player needing to actually hit it. While the player does not need to make the putt, it is still considered a stroke for scoring purposes. This is because the Rules of Golf define a stroke as "the forward movement of the club made to strike the ball," and a gimme putt is still considered a forward movement of the club, even if it is not actually hitting the ball. It's important to note that gimmies are typically only conceded in informal or recreational rounds of golf, and may not be allowed in competitive play. There are many ways to measure, for example "inside the leather" would be putting the putter head in the hole, and if the ball is inside the leather grip (anywhere from the putter head to the bottom part of the grip) would be considered a gimme. Others would play the full putter length, usually 34 to 36 inches. If you want to be absolutely certain and "fair" across the board, you can designate a players putter as the measuring device, or be overly-anal about it and bring a tape measure, but don't be that guy...just eyeball it with a putter and move on.

There is a new alternative rule to Stroke and Distance. To first clarify, stroke and distance would be a player hitting a shot, say off hole 2 at Mesquite and the ball goes OB to the left into the houses or into a backyard. Under Stroke and Distance, you're taking a penalty stroke (if you're off the tee, you hit 1, take a penalty stroke, that's 2, and then hit another tee shot, meaning you're hitting 3 off the tee. Now for the new "local" rule for non-sanctioned, non-handicapped play. Under this new local rule, which I'd suggest we use when playing casual rounds, say Lane tees off and hits a house, later to be posted on Next Door. Instead of re-teeing, he'd now have the option to take a penalty stroke and drop the ball somewhere near where the ball was estimated to go out of bounds, so he'd still be hitting 3, but he'd be able to advance up to the spot the group would believe the ball would have last been in bounds. Keep in mind, this is NOT the spot where the ball came to rest, so if it hits off a roof and projects forward 200 more yards, then lands in someone's backyard, remaining out of bounds, the ball should be played from where the ball was last IN BOUNDS and crossed over the line for the out of bounds.

We've all had them, a smoked tee ball that resembles PGA glory, only to wander around the fairway, losing hope and holding back the tears. If a player can vouch that the ball was, in fact, headed for the fairway and likely would have been playable, in bounds, the player may ask for a tour drop. The ball would be placed somewhere in a playable area (rough or fairway) and played with NO penalty stroke. Again, if the round is being played in a tournament, for bragging rights, or for handicap, a tour drop should NOT be used. A tour drop must also have at least 1 witness who can vouch (not the buddy system, a legitimate witness who can point to the area where the ball likely came to rest). This is also why it's common courtesy to watch other players' shots, so if no one is paying attention, feel free to razz them for being dicks, and when they ask for a tour drop, casually say you had something in your eye and didn't see where their ball went, looks like they're hitting 3.

Emphasis on SCORECARD-LENGTH from where the ball came to rest. When the course is muddy, soggy, etc, a player may take a preferred lie and move the ball one scorecard length (roughly 6 actual inches) left or right or back from the ball's position, fairway to fairway, rough to rough, etc. You can't just move the ball from the edge of the rough to the fairway because you want to. Lift, clean, and place can be used anywhere as long as the ball is placed back in its near original position. This prevents mud balls and having to play from divots, etc. This does NOT include a foot wedge, or a club length placement.

This one is probably going to hurt some. If you hit a ball into a bush, technically, it's an unplayable lie, and you'd use 1 of 3 options. 1) Stroke and Distance-you take a penalty stroke, go back to where you last hit the ball, and hit again. Remember, the penalty stroke is IN ADDITION to the stroke that got you into this mess to begin with. Hit a bush off the tee and can't play from the bush? That's 1 stroke off the tee, a penalty stroke for teeing again, then the 2nd tee shot, meaning you're hitting your 3rd shot. There's always the option of ponying up and hitting from the bush. 2) 2nd option is dropping the ball 2 club lengths from it's resting spot, NO closer to the hole. You're still counting the stroke it took to get in trouble, plus a penalty for taking a drop, and hitting your 3rd or whatever shot. 3) Back on the line drop. You may take the ball and place it anywhere between where you hit it and where it came to rest, again...you're still taking a stroke penalty for this drop.

If an immovable object (cart path, sprinkler head) interferes with your stance or swing, take FREE RELIEF by finding your nearest point of complete relief and dropping within ONE club-length, no nearer the hole.

White markers define out of bounds, only allowing stroke and distance penalty. If you hit into a white area, your only option is to rehit from where you hit the ball before going out of bounds. So if you're hitting your 2nd shot and go out of bounds, you take that shot, plus a penalty stroke, so now you'd be hitting 4 from that same spot. Yellow markers define a penalty/hazard area. You may choose to NOT take relief and play the ball as it lies with NO penalty stroke. You may ground the club and take practice swings, as well as move loose objects from your line. If you choose to take relief in a yellow marked hazard, you may ONLY take back on the line relief, meaning you can only take relief in a straight line back towards where you originally hit the ball, or you may opt for stroke and distance and hit from the original spot. Using either back on the line or stroke and distance will incur a penalty stroke. Red Hazard area is exactly the same as yellow with the addition to having the option to take lateral relief, meaning you may move the ball laterally back inside the course of play, no closer to the hole, and still taking a penalty stroke. Of course you have the option to hit from the hazard area with no penalty. There are also green stakes that represent an environmentally sensitive area, meaning you have NO option to play it as it lies and you MUST take relief either laterally, back on the line, or stroke and distance. Typically courses will use a main color to indicate what kind of relief you can take, with a green painted top. For example a white stake with a green top would mean stroke and distance only, red with a green top would mean you have the option play stroke and distance, back on the line, or a lateral relief but NOT the option to play it where it lies. Basically if it's a green stake, you're taking a penalty stroke. Black and White markers in the fairway can signify a blind hole, or distance markers as well. Blue markers can mean ground under repair, free lateral or rear relief.

Inside a bunker, you may NOT ground your club, and you may NOT take practice swings that touch the sand. The only time your club can touch the sand is during your actual swing to put the ball in play. You should always enter the bunker from the low point so as not to disturb as much of the bunker as possible. Once you've made your stroke, rake the bunker and leave the rake outside the bunker.