Rules Guy

Rules
man replacing ball

Rules Guy: When replacing your ball from off the green, can you intentionally line it up?

If you have to mark and replace your ball off the green, are you allowed to line it up when you put it back? Rules Guy has the answer.
Rules
golf ball on edge of hole

Rules Guy: How long can you wait for a ball to drop in the hole in match play?

If your match play opponent concedes a putt that rolls to the hole’s edge, how long can you wait for it to drop in? Rules Guy has the answer.
Rules
Is it permissible to play a full round of golf using a rubber tee from the driving range? Rules Guy has the answer.

Rules Guy: Is it legal to play a round using a rubber driving-range tee?

Is it permissible to play a full round of golf using a rubber tee from the driving range? Rules Guy has the answer.
Rules
PGA golfer Rory McIlroy hits out of a fairway bunker on the 2nd hole during the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro AM on February 2, 2025, at Pebble Beach Golf Links in Pebble Beach, California.

Rules Guy: Can you practice from a different bunker than the one you’re in?

If your ball lands in a bunker, are you allowed to take a practice swing from a different one? Rules Guy has the answer.
Rules
What do the rules say about taking relief from newly-planted trees that haven't been staked?

Rules Guy: Can you take free relief from newly planted but unstaked trees?

If you find your ball near a freshly planted, unstaked young tree, can you still take free relief? Rules Guy has the answer.
Rules
Two male golfers going through a round of golf

Rules Guy: What happens when teammates hit the wrong ball in a four-ball match?

What if two teammates hit each other’s ball? Can the second one re-hit from the correct spot without penalty?
Rules
A grass area full of divots

Rules Guy: The drop zone is full of divots. Can I drop behind it instead?

If the drop zone is full of divots, is it legal to drop your ball behind it instead? Rules Guy has the answer.
Lifestyle
gambling golf

I lost a bet to a sandbagger. Did I have to pay? The Etiquetteist weighs in

Some golfers cheat. But a wager is a wager. And even if the match was unfair from the start, you still have to live up to your word.
Lifestyle
a golfer tees off on the golf course

Pro says high-handicappers could play faster doing this. Is it a good idea?

One PGA Tour player said high-handicappers could speed up play by being more prepared for poor shots while on tee boxes, but is he right?
Lifestyle
two golfers shaking hands on green

Can A.I. help golfers with golf etiquette? We found out

Decades after the rise of Iron Byron, robots don’t just play golf anymore. They’ve got into talking about golf, too.
Lifestyle
lose-up of a golf ball with the flag of South Korea realistically rendered in 3D.

8 ways South Korean golf course etiquette differs from the U.S.

In the golf-obsessed nation of South Korea, golf etiquette is unlike what you’ll experience in the U.S. Here are eight major differences.
Lifestyle
A pair of clean golf shoes alongside a golf glove and a ball.

At a private club, should I feel obligated to have my shoes cleaned? | The Etiquetteist

The privilege of playing as a guest at a fancy club comes with pesky questions, including whether you should have your shoes shined.
Lifestyle
A golfer hanging on to the back of a golf cart.

My playing partner asked to ride in my cart. Could I have said no? | The Etiquetteist

Offering a ride on a course to a stranger is like picking up a hitchhiker on a lonely highway. You might get an oddball in the passenger seat.
Lifestyle
Justin Rose lines up a putt using the AimPoint method.

Should weekend hackers use AimPoint? The Etiquetteist gives his read

Like plumb-bobbing before it, the time-consuming green-reading technique has seeped into the amateur game. Should it be condoned?
Courses
The 17th green at Yeamans Hall golf course in South Carolina

Why this low-country gem was my favorite course I played in 2024

Nestled in the low country of South Carolina is Yeamans Hall Club. It awed me with its views — and unlocked striking memories, too.
Travel
A look down the 6th hole at the "Old" at Leven.

A course that exists just one day a year inspired our best-read travel story of 2024

A Top 100-worthy layout that few have ever heard of and even fewer get to play, the Old at Leven hosts a one-day event in July.
Travel
best golf courses in the us

The best golf courses in all 50 states for 2024-25, ranked!

These are the best golf courses in all 50 states for 2024-25, according to GOLF’s panel of expert course raters.
Travel
Shooting Star, Teton Village WY

Best golf courses in Wyoming for 2024-25

These are the best golf courses in Wyoming, according to GOLF Magazine’s 2024-25 ranking by its expert panel of course raters.
Travel
The par-4 2nd hole at Erin Hills.

Best golf courses in Wisconsin for 2024-25

These are the best golf courses in Wisconsin, according to GOLF Magazine’s 2024-25 ranking by its expert panel of course raters.
Travel
Pikewood National

Best golf courses in West Virginia for 2024-25

These are the best golf courses in West Virginia, according to GOLF Magazine’s 2024-25 ranking by its expert panel of course raters.
Travel
Gamble Sands is located in Brewster, Washington.

Best golf courses in Washington for 2024-25

These are the best golf courses in Washington, according to GOLF Magazine’s 2024-25 ranking by its expert panel of course raters.
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