Golf Rules • In Plain English

Stop giving away strokes to rules you don't know

Yardage Book breaks down the Rules of Golf into quick, practical guides — cheat sheets, drop procedures, and penalty answers you can settle an argument with in ten seconds.

Get the Free Drop Rules Cheat Sheet Browse Rule Answers
24Rules of Golf, decoded
2–4Strokes saved per round
100K+Golfers reached on TikTok
10 secTo settle any rules argument

Tired of arguing on the course?

Most golfers lose 2–4 strokes per round to rules they don't understand. Here's what we see every weekend:

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Bad drops cost you strokes

You take relief from a cart path but drop in the wrong spot. Now you're playing from a worse lie — or worse, you get penalized for it.

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Arguments kill the vibe

Your group spends 10 minutes debating whether a ball is lost or whether you can move a loose impediment in a bunker. The round's ruined.

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The rulebook is 200 pages

Who has time to read the USGA's official rules? You just want to know what to do when your ball is stuck in a divot on the fairway.

The rules that actually cost you strokes

The ten situations that come up in almost every round — and that most golfers get wrong.

Rule 16.1

Cart path relief — done right

Find the nearest point of complete relief, drop within one club-length, and never take a penalty for a paved path again.

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Rule 6.3c

Playing the wrong ball

Two penalty strokes in stroke play, loss of hole in match play — and exactly how to fix it before you tee off on the next hole.

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Rule 18.2

The 3-minute search limit

The clock starts when you begin searching, not when you arrive. Know what counts and what happens when the ball stays lost.

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Rule 19.2

Unplayable lies — your 3 options

Stroke and distance, back-on-the-line, or two club-lengths lateral. One penalty stroke, three escape routes.

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Rule 3.2

Gimme putts aren't real (in stroke play)

Gimmes are match-play only. In stroke play, holing out is required — skip it and your scorecard can get you disqualified.

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Rule 13.2

Flagstick in or out?

You can putt with the flagstick in since the 2019 rules change — but there are still ways to get it wrong and get penalized.

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Digital guides built for your golf bag

Printable, phone-friendly, and organized the way rounds actually happen.

Save Strokes — Golf Rules Quick Reference cover
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Save Strokes: Golf Rules Quick Reference

Every drop, penalty, and relief procedure on one laminated-style reference. Settle arguments and save 2–4 strokes a round.

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Golf Bet Games Bundle

20+ side games with clear rules and payouts — Nassau, Wolf, skins, and more. Make every round a match.

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Course Notes Template

The yardage-book system tour caddies use. Map greens, pin positions, and misses like a pro — for your home course.

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Golf rules, answered

Quick answers to the questions golfers argue about most.

What are the most commonly broken golf rules?
Improper relief from cart paths and obstructions (Rule 16.1), moving a ball in play (Rule 9.4), gimme putts in stroke play (Rule 3.2), playing the wrong ball (Rule 6.3c), and exceeding the 3-minute search limit (Rule 18.2). Our free cheat sheet covers all ten.
How do you take relief from a cart path?
Under Rule 16.1, find the nearest point of complete relief where the path doesn't interfere with your ball, stance, or swing — not nearer the hole. Then drop within one club-length of that point. It's free relief: no penalty.
What's the penalty for playing the wrong ball?
Two strokes in stroke play (Rule 6.3c), and you must correct it by playing your own ball before teeing off on the next hole — otherwise disqualification. In match play, you lose the hole.
How long do you have to look for a lost ball?
3 minutes, starting when you or your caddie begin searching (Rule 18.2). If it's not found in time, it's lost — proceed under stroke and distance or use a provisional ball you hit earlier.
What are my options for an unplayable ball?
For one penalty stroke (Rule 19.2): (1) replay from the previous spot, (2) drop back on the line between the hole and where the ball lies, or (3) drop within two club-lengths of the ball, not nearer the hole. Anywhere except in a penalty area.
Are gimme putts legal?
Only in match play, when your opponent concedes the putt. In stroke play, Rule 3.2 requires holing out on every hole — and a scorecard with a missed hole means disqualification.

Get the Free Drop Rules Cheat Sheet

Every relief situation on one printable card: where to drop, how far, when it's free, and when it costs a stroke. The kind of card caddies keep tucked in a yardage book — so you never lose a stroke (or an argument) to a bad drop again. Enter your email and it's yours free.

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