Golf Study Sheet
Historical Background:
The game of golf as we know it today started in the fourteenth century in Scotland. It was actually illegal to play, however, because it interfered with the practice of archery which was essential to the defense of the country.
The game was introduced in the United States about 1855, in Yonkers NY.
Terminology:
Address- The position the golfer takes before hitting the ball.
Birdie- A score which is one under par on a hole.
Bogey- A score which is one over par on a hole.
Divit- Taking up part of the grass or sod as you strike at the ball. All divits must be replaced.
Eagle- A score on a hole that is two strikes under par.
Fairway- The area on the course between the teeing area and the putting green.
Fore- A warning signal to any person ahead of a stroke that is to be played.
Green- The well developed area at the end of a fairway which is used for putting.
Hole- The distance between the teeing ground and the corresponding green.
Honor- The privilege of teeing off first.
Hook- a ball which when hit by a right handed player curves to the left and vice versa.
Lie- The position of the ball when it is stationary.
Match play- Competition in which the number of holes won determines the winner.
Medalist- The player who scores lowest on a qualifying round.
Out of Bounds- That area which is not considered part of the golf course and on which play is not allowed.
Par- The designated number of strokes required to play each hole.
Penalty- The addition of one or more strokes to a players score.
Putt- To stroke the ball toward the cup while on the green.
Rough- The area on either side of the fairway that is unmowed.
Slice- A ball, which when hit by a right handed player curves to the right and vice versa.
Tee Off- The initial shot made on each hole.
Basic Rules:
Legal clubs and golf balls must be used
A player may have a maximum of 14 clubs
Tee markers are found at each tee. A player must tee his ball between these markers or anywhere in a rectangle 2 club lengths behind them.
Every time a player intentionally strikes at the ball he must count a stroke, even though he misses it. On the tee box, if he knocks the ball off the tee he may replace it without penalty.
A ball is lost when not found within 5 minutes or when another ball is played.
After the first hole, honors shall go to the man or team winning the last hole.
The ball must be fairly struck at and not pushed, scraped, or spooned with the head of the club.
Any flag stick, implement, vehicle, or loose impediment may be removed. A ball lying near an immovable obstacle, such as a shelter, bridge, drain, hydrant, or by a ball lying in a hole made by a greens keeper may be lifted and dropped as provided by the rules. The ball should not be moved more than 2 club lengths and must not get moved nearer the hole.
In dropping the ball the player should stand facing the hole and drop it over his shoulder. If the ball falls into a hazard or back into the place it formerly rested, it may be dropped again without penalty. If it is not possible to drop the ball without causing it to roll nearer the hole or more than 2 club lengths from the spot, it should be placed.
The lie of the ball or the player's stance may not be improved, however anything which hinders a golfer from fairly taking his stance may be removed or held back by the golfer himself in order to address the ball.
If a ball lies out of bounds, the player shall play his next stroke as nearly as possible to the spot from which the ball that is out of bounds was played, adding a penalty stroke. If it was hit out of bounds from the tee, he may re-tee it. The penalty remains the same.
Casual water is any temporary accumulation of water not constituting a water hazard. A player is allowed to drop his ball out of casual water, but not nearer the hole. When the ball to be dropped from the casual water is in a hazard, in the rough, or on the putting green, the ball must be dropped in the same.
If the ball moves after a loose impediment has been removed within one club length, there is a one stroke penalty.
Touching the line of the putt is not permitted, except in removing loose impediments, repairing ball marks, cleaning ball, and immediately in front of the ball while addressing it before putting.
A player may require any ball lying on the putting surface to be lifted if he considers that the ball might interfere with his play. The lifted ball is replaced in its original position after the player has played his shot.
If a player's ball strikes an opponent's ball, the opponent may replace his ball in the original spot, and no penalty is incurred. The player must play his ball as it lies after hitting the opponent's ball. If a player strikes an opponent's ball while both balls are on the putting green or within 20 yards of the hole, stroke rules dictate that the player add 2 strokes to his score for the hole and the opponent immediately replace his ball. In match play, no penalty is incurred, but the displaced ball must be replaced.
Grips: Overlap, Interlock, Baseball
Stance: Open, Closed, Square