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GOLF Link is the only system that will see every golf club member's handicap stored and calculated nationally. Access to the system will be gained via the Internet using the golfer's personal GOLF Link number.

The national, all-encompassing handicapping network called GOLF Link is now operational at over 900 clubs across Australia including the Cobden Golf Club.

General Rules of Golf

Before commencing your round:


(i) Read the Local Rules on the score card or the notice board.
(ii) Put an identification mark on your ball. Many golfers play the same brand of ball and if you can't identify your ball, it is considered lost.
(iii) Count your clubs. You are allowed a maximum of 14 clubs.

During the round, don't ask for "advice" from anyone except your partner or caddie. Don't give advice to anyone except your partner. During a hole you may not play any practice shots.

Tee Shot

Play your tee shot from between, and not in front of, the tee markers. You may play your tee shot from up to two club-lengths behind the front line of the tee markers.

Teeing off outside this area - In match play there is no penalty but your opponent may require you to replay your stroke; in stroke play you incur a two-stroke penalty and must then play from within the proper area.

Playing the Ball

Play the ball as it lies. Don't improve your lie, the area of your intended stance or swing or your line of play by moving, bending or breaking anything fixed or growing except in fairly taking your stance or making your swing. Don't press anything down or build a stance.

If your ball is in a bunker or a water hazard, don't touch the ground in either type of hazard, or touch water in the water hazard, with your hand or club before your downswing.
The ball must be fairly struck at, not pushed or spooned.

Playing a wrong ball (except in a hazard) - In match play you lose the hole; in stroke play you incur a two-stroke penalty and you must then correct the mistake by playing the correct ball or by proceeding under the Rules.

On the Putting Green

You may repair ball marks and old hole plugs on the line of your putt but not any other damage, such as spike marks.

You may mark, lift and clean your ball on the putting green. Always replace it on the exact spot.

When making a stroke on the putting green you should ensure that the flagstick is removed or attended.

Ball played from putting green strikes the flagstick - in match play you lose the hole; in stroke play you incur a two stroke penalty.

Ball at Rest Moved

If your accidentally cause your ball to move, lift it when not permitted or it moves after you have addressed it, add a penalty stroke and replace your ball.

Failure to replace the ball - in match play you lose the hole; in stroke play you incur a total penalty of two strokes.

If your ball at rest is moved by someone else or another ball, replace it without penalty to you.

Ball in Motion Deflected or Stopped

Ball struck by you is deflected or stopped by you, your partner or your caddie - In match play you lose the hole; in stroke play you incur a two-stroke penalty and the ball is played as it lies.

Ball struck by you is deflected or stopped by someone else - Play your ball as it lies without penalty, except (a) in match play, if an opponent or his caddie deflects the ball you have an option to replay the stroke or (b) in stroke play, if the ball is deflected after a stroke from on the putting green, you must replay the stroke.

Ball struck by you is deflected or stopped by another ball at rest - No penalty and the ball is played as it lies except in stroke play you incur a two-stroke penalty if your ball and the other ball were on the putting green before you played.

Lifting, Dropping and Placing the Ball

Before lifting a ball that has to be replaced (e.g. when the ball is lifted on the putting green to clean it), the position of the ball must be marked. When the ball is being lifted in order to drop or place it in another position (e.g. dropping within two club lengths under the unplayable ball Rule , etc.), it is not mandatory to mark its position although it is recommended that you do.

When dropping, stand upright, hold the ball at shoulder height and arm's length and drop it. If a dropped ball strikes you or your partner, caddie or equipment, it must be re-dropped without penalty.

A dropped ball must be re-dropped if it rolls into a hazard, out of a hazard, onto a putting green, out of bounds or to a position where there is interference from a condition from which free relief has been taken (e.g. an immovable obstruction).

A re-drop is also necessary if the dropped ball comes to rest more than two club lengths from where it was dropped or nearer the hole than its original position, the nearest point of relief or where the ball last crossed the margin of a water hazard. If the ball when re-dropped rolls into any of these positions, place it where it first struck the course when re-dropped.


Ball Assisting or Interfering with Play

You may lift your ball or have any other ball lifted if you think it might assist any other player.

You may have any ball lifted if it might interfere with your play.

Loose Impediments and Obstructions

You may move a loose impediment unless it and your ball are in a hazard. However, if you have removed a loose impediment and this causes your ball to move, the ball must be replaced and (unless your ball was on the putting green) you incur a penalty stroke.

Movable obstructions (e.g. rakes, tin cans etc.) positioned anywhere may be moved without penalty. If the ball moves it must be replaced without penalty.

Check the Local Rules on the score card for guidance on immovable obstructions (e.g. surfaced roads and paths, etc).

Free relief (except in a water hazard) - If an immovable obstruction (e.g. a sprinkler head) physically interferes with the lie of the ball, your stance or swing, you may drop the ball within one club-length of the nearest point of relief not nearer the hole. If the ball is on the putting green, it is placed at the nearest point of relief. There is no relief for intervention on your line of play unless your ball and the obstruction are on the putting green.

Also when the ball is in the bunker, the player may take relief from the obstruction behind the bunker under penalty of one stroke.

Abnormal Ground Conditions

Free Relief (except in a water hazard) - If your ball is in a position where you have interference from an abnormal ground condition (i.e. casual water, ground under repair or a hole or cast made by a burrowing animal, etc.), you may drop without penalty within one club-length of the nearest point of relief not nearer the hole. If the ball is on the putting green, it is replaced at the nearest point of relief. There is no relief for intervention on your line of play unless your ball and the abnormal ground condition are on the putting green.

If a ball is in a bunker and you cannot take complete relief, you may drop the ball at the nearest position in the bunker not nearer the hole that gives maximum available relief. Also when the ball is in a bunker, the player may take relief behind the bunker under penalty of one stroke.

Water Hazards

Check the Local Rules on the score card to establish whether the sea, lake, river, ditch, etc. is a 'water hazard' or a 'lateral water hazard'.

Ball in water hazard (yellow stakes and/or lines) - Play the ball as it lies or, under penalty of one stroke, (a) play again from where you hit the ball into the hazard.
(b) drop any distance behind the water hazard keeping a straight line between the hole, the point where the ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard and the spot on which the ball is dropped.

Ball in lateral water hazard (red stakes and/or lines) - In addition to the options for a ball in a water hazard (see above), under penalty of one stroke, you may drop within two club-lengths of, and not nearer the hole the hole than,
(a) the point where the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard, or
(b) a point on the opposite side of the hazard equidistant from the hole.

Ball Lost or Out of Bounds

Check the Local Rules on the score card to identify the boundaries of the course.

If your ball is lost outside a water hazard or out of bounds you must play another ball from the spot where the last shot was played under penalty of one stroke i.e. stroke and distance. You are allowed 5 minutes to search for a ball, after which if it is not found or identified it is lost.

If, after playing a shot, you think your ball may be lost outside a water hazard or out of bounds you should play a 'provisional ball'. You must state that it is a provisional ball and play it before you go forward to search for the original ball. If it transpires that the original ball is lost or out of bounds, you must continue with the provisional ball under penalty of one stroke. If the original ball is not lost or out of bounds, you must continue play of the hole with it and the provisional ball must be abandoned.

Ball Unplayable

If you believe your ball is unplayable and it lies outside a water hazard, you may under penalty of one stroke,
(a) drop a ball at the spot from where the last shot was played, or
(b) drop a ball any distance behind the point where the ball lay keeping a straight line between the hole, the point where the ball lay and the spot on which the ball is dropped, or
(c) drop a ball within two club lengths of where the ball lies not nearer the hole.

If your ball is in the bunker you may proceed as above, except that if you are dropping within two club lengths or back on a line, you must drop in the bunker.

If your ball is in a water hazard, you must proceed under the water hazard Rule if taking relief.


Conclusion

A good score may be spoiled, or a match lost, due to a penalty incurred through ignorance or confusion concerning the Rules. A sound knowledge of the above summary should aid the golfer in tackling a "Rule problem". Nevertheless, the complete Rules of Golf as approved by R&A Rules Limited and the United States Golf Association, should be consulted where any doubt arises.