Three minutes of searching, then the ball is lost and you play again from where you hit, with a one-stroke penalty. The rules that really matter to a beginner, with the R&A's official penalties in a table.
Golf is played on one principle that underpins everything else: the ball is played as it lies, from the tee to the hole. When that is not possible, the Rules provide a precise solution, almost always with a one-stroke penalty. Here are the ones everyone meets on a first round, with the official R&A figures and the rule each refers to.
The basic principle: play the ball as it lies
Rule 9.1 says it in one line: a ball at rest on the course must be played where it lies, except where the Rules allow you to lift it or to play from another place. If you deliberately lift or touch your ball at rest, or cause it to move, Rule 9.4b imposes a one-stroke penalty, and the ball must be replaced on its original spot. There are five exceptions; among the most useful, no penalty if the ball moves by accident while you are searching for it or identifying it, or by accident on the putting green.
Fourteen clubs, not one more
At most 14 may be in the bag (Rule 4.1b). In stroke play the penalty is two strokes for each hole where the breach occurs, up to four in the round. In match play one hole is deducted for each hole of breach, up to two. If you start out with one club too many, you choose which one to put out of play.
Lost or out of bounds: stroke and distance
A ball is lost if you do not find it within three minutes of searching (Rule 18.2a). It is out of bounds only when all of the ball lies beyond the edge of the course: if even a part of it touches the inside ground, it is in play. In both cases Rule 18.2b imposes stroke and distance: a one-stroke penalty and you play again from where you last played.
To avoid walking back, you may play a provisional ball (Rule 18.3) if the first one might be lost outside a penalty area, or out of bounds. It must be announced before the stroke with the word "provisional": saying "another ball" is not enough.
Water and penalty areas: yellow or red?
Lakes, streams and areas marked by yellow or red stakes or lines are penalty areas (Rule 17). You may play the ball as it lies, without penalty; otherwise relief costs one stroke:
- yellow area: stroke and distance, or back-on-the-line relief, that is, outside the area, keeping the point where the ball last crossed the edge between the hole and the spot where you drop;
- red area: the same two, plus lateral relief, which exists only here.
Some clubs also mark areas where you do not play at all. At the Tesino Golf Club the biotopes have a red stake with a green tip: you may not enter to play, and the ball must be dropped from outside. Always ask for the club's local rules.
Unplayable ball: the choice is yours
It applies everywhere except in penalty areas (Rule 19): you decide that the ball is unplayable, take one stroke of penalty and choose between three options. Stroke and distance; back-on-the-line, with free distance backwards; lateral relief within two club-lengths, no nearer the hole. In a bunker the last two must be taken inside the sand; to get out with the ball back-on-the-line you need two strokes.
In the bunker: do not touch the sand
Before the stroke you may not touch the sand with hand, club or rake to test its condition, nor with the club in front of or behind the ball, nor during a practice swing (Rule 12.2): it is the general penalty. You may remove stones and leaves and dig your feet in to take your stance. Once you have played out of the bunker, the prohibitions lapse.
Marking, lifting, dropping
To lift a ball that must be replaced, you mark its spot with a ball marker, beside it or directly behind it (Rule 14.1): without a mark, a one-stroke penalty. When you take relief, the ball is dropped from knee height, straight down, without throwing it or giving it spin, and without it touching your body or equipment before the ground (Rule 14.3b).
Summary of the most common penalties
| Situation | Rule | Penalty |
|---|---|---|
| Lifting or causing the ball at rest to move | 9.4b | 1 stroke (5 exceptions) |
| More than 14 clubs (stroke play) | 4.1b | 2 strokes per hole, maximum 4 |
| Lost ball or out of bounds | 18.2 | 1 stroke, play again from the previous spot |
| Penalty area, every option | 17 | 1 stroke |
| Unplayable ball | 19 | 1 stroke (2 back-on-the-line outside the bunker) |
| Touching the sand before the stroke | 12.2 | general penalty |
| Lifting without marking the ball | 14.1 | 1 stroke |
Where to learn the rules in Italy
The Federgolf summary guide (version 1.7, January 2023) explains that anyone with the "Carta Verde" and a membership in good standing can take a course free of charge, at any club, with a classroom and on-course part and a test, leading to Handicap Index 54. Some clubs have their own formats: Tiber in Rome lists on its website a three-hour rules course at 20 euros with a lesson included; Colombaro in Salò offers an 18-question test, and with 15 correct answers you obtain EGA 54; Parkhotel Marlena sells "Handicap in 5 days" at Golf Club Lana, with ten hours of lessons and the federation exam. Check prices and formats on the websites.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to search for a lost ball?+
Three minutes: after that, the ball is lost and you proceed with stroke and distance (Rule 18.2a).
What is the difference between a yellow and a red area?+
Both cost one stroke. In the yellow area you choose between stroke and distance and back-on-the-line; in the red one there is also lateral relief (Rule 17).
Can I declare my ball unplayable in a penalty area?+
No: the unplayable-ball option applies everywhere except in penalty areas, where only the options of Rule 17 apply (Rule 19).
How many clubs can I carry?+
Fourteen at most. In stroke play it is two penalty strokes per hole, up to four; in match play you lose up to two holes (Rule 4.1b).
What must I say to play a provisional ball?+
You must announce "provisional" before the stroke: "another ball" is not sufficient (Rule 18.3).
Can I touch the sand with my club before hitting from a bunker?+
No, neither to test it, nor in front of or behind the ball, nor in a practice swing. Once the ball has left the bunker, the prohibition lapses (Rule 12.2).
