Grady Golf
⌂ LEARNING LAB04 / 19
04 · GOLF RULES & RESPECT

The rules that actually matter.

The four-minute rulebook
Rules of GOLF : How To PLAY GOLF : Golf Rules For Beginners EXPLAINED
MR.ANIMATE · 4:16
The whole game explained in four animated minutes — what you're actually trying to do, how scoring works, and the handful of rules that cover ninety percent of situations. No lecture, no jargon, just clean animation. Watch it before your first range session so the game makes sense; rewatch it before your first course visit.

THE QUICK WALKTHROUGH

Golf has a lot of rules — some obvious, some that feel written by a lawyer who never swung a club. Here's the deal: the official rules worth knowing, plus the beginner-friendly versions that keep the game fun and won't get you kicked off the course.

The walkthrough is three collapsible reference sections — each a tappable accordion, collapsed by default; the section's video(s) link at its head.

THE RULES

Each rule: the official version, then the beginner-friendly version.

Rule Official Beginner-friendly
Starting a hole Tee up between the markers, never in front — hitting outside the area can be a penalty. Put the ball anywhere between the markers and swing. No one's watching that closely.
Lost ball You get 3 minutes to find it; if you don't, return to where you hit and take a penalty stroke. Drop a new ball near where you lost it and keep going.
Play it as it lies Play from wherever it lands — no moving, fluffing, or re-teeing. In mud, a divot, or a terrible spot? Move it to a better lie. Golf is hard enough.
Order of play Player farthest from the hole hits first; on the tee, the best score on the last hole goes first. Play "ready golf" — if you're ready and it's safe, hit. Keeps things moving.
Fix the course Fix ball marks, replace divots, and rake bunkers before you leave. Fix a green mark with a tee; rake a bunker enough that it's not a disaster for the next person.
Bunkers Don't ground your club in the sand before the shot; play it as it lies. Nudge it for a better shot if you must, then smooth the sand. Stuck after a few? Pick up and move on.
Putting Never walk in someone's putting line; mark your ball if it's in someone's way. Just be aware of where others are aiming and don't step in their path.
Keep up the pace Be ready to hit on your turn; if you're slow and a group's waiting, let them play through. Hit and keep moving; if you're really holding a group up, wave them through.
14 clubs max You're allowed 14 clubs; more means penalty strokes in official play. You probably don't have 14 yet — no one's counting. Bring what you've got.
Scoring Count every stroke; an unplayable drop adds one penalty stroke. Keep a loose count; if you lose track, estimate and move on.
ETIQUETTE — how not to be "that guy"
  • Keep up the pace. Slow play is the number-one cause of on-course rage. Be ready on your turn, take practice swings before it's your go, and wave faster groups through.
  • Respect the green. Never walk through someone's putting line; when someone's putting, stand still and stay quiet.
  • Know where to stand. Never directly behind someone swinging, and don't cast a shadow over their ball on the green.
  • Wait before you hit. Never play into the group ahead — wait until they're well clear and out of range. Getting hit by a golf ball genuinely hurts.
  • Yell "FORE!" If your ball is heading toward another player or group, shout it loud and right away. It's a safety warning, not just tradition.
  • Manage your bag. Leave it near the exit of the green so you can move straight to the next hole — not 30 yards back across the green.
  • Silence is golden. No talking during a swing, no jingling clubs, and definitely no opening a bag of chips mid-backswing.
COMMON TERMS — enough to follow along
Term Meaning
Par The expected number of strokes for a hole.
Birdie One stroke under par.
Bogey One stroke over par.
Mulligan A do-over — not allowed in official play, but common among friends.
Fairway The short grass leading to the green.
Rough The longer grass around the fairway.
Bunker A sand-trap hazard.
Green The smooth grass area where the hole is.

MORE TO WATCH

STEP BY STEP

FINAL THOUGHTS

It seems like a million rules, but once you've got the basics it comes down to two things: be considerate, and keep the game moving. And if you hit a wild one — yell "FORE." Seriously.

Be considerate. Keep it moving.

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