Definitions
Rules
Disputes and Claims
Pitch Marks
Improving Lie, Stance, Swing or Line of Play
Embedded Ball
Provisional Ball
Unplayable Lie and Provisional Ball
Loose Impediments
Lost Ball and Hazards

Rule(s): Refers to the USGA Rules of Golf.
Stipulated round: The “stipulated round’’ consists of playing the holes of the course in their correct sequence unless otherwise authorized by the Committee. The number of holes in a stipulated round is 18 unless a smaller number (generally 9 for us) is authorized by the Committee. As to extension of stipulated round in match play, see Rule 2-3.
Teeing ground: The “teeing ground’’ is the starting place for the hole to be played. It is a rectangular area two club-lengths in depth, the front and the sides of which are defined by the outside limits of two tee-markers. A ball is outside the teeing ground when all of it lies outside the teeing ground.
Putting green: The “putting green’’ is all ground of the hole being played that is specially prepared for putting or otherwise defined as such by the Committee. A ball is on the putting green when any part of it touches the putting green.
Through the green: Is the whole area of the golf course except:

You, the player, are responsible for knowing the Rules. During a stipulated round, for any breach of a Rule, the player incurs the applicable penalty. [A player should not be offended by an opponent imposing a rules violation. A player should also self-impose a violation and inform the opponents.]

In match play, if a doubt or dispute arises among the players, a player may make a claim. The claim will only be considered if the player making the claim notifies his opponent: (i) that he is making a claim, (ii) of the facts of the situation and (iii) that he wants a ruling. The claim MUST be made before any player in the match plays from the next teeing ground or, in the case of the last hole of the match, before all players in the match leave the putting green. A later claim may not be considered.

You can NOT repair “any” pitch mark (through the green) affecting your swing or in your line of play until after the shot. Exception: if the pitch mark was NOT there when your ball came to rest, but in fact was made by a fellow competitor after your shot was made. This is true for divots as well.

Rule 13-2 states that a player must not improve the position or lie of his ball, the area of his intended stance or swing or his line of play or a reasonable extension of that line beyond the hole by moving, bending or breaking anything growing or fixed. Thus, in taking his stance for the selected stroke the player should select the least intrusive course of action which results in the minimum improvement in the position or lie of the ball, area of intended stance or swing or line of play. The player is NOT entitled to a normal stance or swing.

Rule 25-2 states that a ball embedded in its own pitch-mark in the ground in any closely mown area through the green may be lifted, cleaned and dropped, without penalty, as near as possible to the spot where it lay but not nearer the hole. The ball when dropped must first strike a part of the course through the green. “Closely mown area” means any area of the course including paths through the rough, cut to fairway height or less. [You are NOT entitled to relief other than in the fairway unless a local rule has been applied.]

You MUST inform your opponents that you are playing a provisional ball, and play it before you or your partner goes forward to search for the original ball. If you do not inform them and play another ball, that ball is NOT a provisional ball but rather becomes the ball in play under penalty of stroke and distance (Rule 27-1); the original ball is considered lost.

If a provisional ball is played because the original ball is believed to be lost, but the original ball is found in bounds, the provisional ball is abandoned. [If you then declare the original ball as unplayable, it is NOT an option to play the provisional ball.]

Sand and loose soil are loose impediments ON the putting green, but not elsewhere. For example, if your ball is just short of the green, you can remove sand and loose soil ON the green, but you can NOT remove sand and loose soil in your line OFF the green. [This applies to pitch marks as well.]

It is a question of fact whether a ball lost after having been struck toward a water hazard is lost inside or outside the hazard. In order to treat the ball as lost in the hazard, there must be reasonable evidence that the ball lodged in it. In the absence of such evidence, the ball must be treated as a lost ball and Rule 27 applies. [You can not assume a ball is in a harzard just because you can not find it. E.g.: #9 hazard when playing #1; lateral on left of #2, left and right of #4, right of #5, and especially right on #8.]