Any game is more enjoyable when played within the rules.
Some
common breaches of the rules:
1.
The proper measuring point for lateral hazard relief is the point where the
ball last crossed the hazard line, not at a point opposite
where it splashed down.
2.
The nearest point of relief from a cart path is sometimes on the bad
side of the cart path, and may be different for right- and left-handers.
3.
When taking relief from water or lateral hazard or for unplayable lie, one
may choose the option to go back as far as desired along a line to the
hole through the point where the ball last crossed the hazard, not
along the line of flight back to the tee.
4.
When taking relief within one or two club lengths from a given point, one
should be sure to drop the ball within the stipulated distance, not
beyond it.
5.
For an unplayable lie, a golfer may drop within two club lengths from where
ball came to rest, not two club lengths from boundary of troublesome
feature.
6.
There is no relief from a sprinkler head on one’s line of putt; relief is
for stance and area of swing only. That one chooses to putt from off the
green has no relevance.
7.
Taking relief under the rules does not necessarily provide line of flight
relief.
8.
If a ball is found after a provisional has been played, the provisional must
be abandoned. Then, if unplayable lie is declared, one option is to go back
and hit again from previous spot. Sometimes it is better not to find
a ball if an unplayable lie is likely and the provisional is good.
9. A
golfer has no authority to concede putts to a teammate or fellow
competitor, and no authority to accept concessions of putts from a teammate
or fellow competitor.
10. A putt must be fairly struck, not raked or pushed, into hole. Gimmes are not permitted!
11. If a ball rolls back into a water hazard (yellow stakes), or is hit into a water hazard from the green side, the next shot can be from across the water hazard towards the tee at a spot which keeps the point where it last crossed the hazard line between that spot and the flag; or, from the spot where the previous shot was played; or, from the drop area if one is provided. Penalty is one stroke.