The Rules of Golf-And You.

In a previous post I briefly mentioned the rules of golf. Well to be honest, it's not something that should be mentioned briefly. Every golfer should be aware, at least to some extent, of the rules that govern our game.

Now I don't mean we should all be so tuned in that we know the rules backwards. If you have ever had a look at a rule book, you will have realised you need a Philadelphia lawyer to understand quite a few of them. So to remember every single one, and to recall them when you are on the course, is simply not possible for your average golfer. The pro's even have a referee that they can call on for a ruling, just to be sure that they have got it right.

But we should have a general idea of any given situation. You can bet that one of your partners will be up on the rules, so if you are not sure of a situation it could cost you, and ultimately could lead to disqualification.

The easiest way is to have a rule book in your bag. You can get rule books that are made to slip easily into your bag nowadays. They hardly take up any room and can be just as handy as a set of waterproofs. Knowing the rules can win you a match. Not knowing them can cost you.

To obtain a copy of the rules, there are two places to go, one on either side of the Atlantic. If you visit the R & A website there is a full page of publications that you can obtain for free. All you have to pay is postage.And for our American friends, the USGA website has similar publications at a small cost. Click on these links to take you to the relevant pages.

Invest in a copy of the rules today, and make sure you don't get caught out by something you didn't know.